224 MODERN SHEEP I BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



If ensilage is fed in the fall, feed it sparingly, and never if frozen 

 or moldy. Don't expect straw to take the place of hay at this 

 season of the year for it will not answer the purpose. 



WINTER CARE. 



To the novice it might seem that the winter care of sheep 

 involved a good deal more responsibility and attention than would 

 be in evidence in spring, summer or fall, but such is not the case, 

 since there is more system or daily routine in winter care than in 

 that of any other season of the year, regularity in feeding and 

 watering being the principal matters to be considered. Trouble 

 from parasites, except where dipping has not been properly attended 

 to and scab and ticks are allowed to run rampant, are not present 

 at this time of the year. Of course, the proper sheltering of the 

 sheep is important. One thing to be observed is that the sheep 

 must not be too warmly housed, as nothing will bring on pulmon- 

 ary troubles so quickly as this. Of course ventilation must not be 

 mistaken for draft. Although warmly clothed, the sheep cannot 

 long remain healthy if compelled to remain in a drafty build- 

 ing. What ventilation is given should be given either through 

 the windows or overhead with proper ventilators. It is always best 

 to allow the sheep to go in and out of the barn at will, unless in 

 very stormy weather. Exercise is important to the welfare of the 

 sheep, hence close penning is not advisable. To insure a good crop 

 of lambs the ewe must have plenty of exercise and not be kept in 

 too high condition during the winter. Dogs of all kinds, except 

 it be the "old reliable" shepherd dog, should be kept out of the 

 sheep barn. The barn should be kept well bedded. The rams 

 should be kept in separate barns by themselves and sheep of dif- 

 ferent ages of both sexes should have separate compartments. 

 Only the best clover hay should be fed. Timothy hay is not a good 

 hay for sheep. An oat-straw stack is a splendid thing to have in 

 the sheep 'yard, provided proper arrangements are made to prevent 

 the fleece of the sheep from becoming damaged with chaff, etc., 

 in pulling out the straw. An important matter in the winter care 

 of sheep is to see that the water is always pure and abundant. 



The Iowa Experiment Station gives the comparative cost of 

 wintering- ewes of the different breeds of sheep enumerated below 

 as follows: Merinos, 1.03 cents; Cotswolds, 1.35 cents; Dorsets, 

 1.21 cents; Oxfords, 1.32 cents; Hampshires, 1.26 cents; Shrop- 

 shires, 97 cents, and South downs, 60 cents per day. The hay used 

 in the experiment in which this was determined was a mixture 

 of timothy and clover, mainly clover of fair quality. The grain 

 ration was made up of varying quantities of oats, corn and oil- 

 meal to meet the requirements of the different stages of pregnancy. 



