CHAPTER XXIX. 



SALT FOR SHEEP. 



On a large property sheep invariably obtain salt in 

 some of the herbage to satisfy their needs, but on a 

 sheep farm of moderate dimensions, and where artificial 

 grasses have been sown, there is a strong craving for 

 salt. All animals in a natural state roamed about a lot 

 and came across salt grounds or herbage possessing a 

 good percentage of salts. This they will invariably get 

 on a large sheep farm containing natural pasture, but in 

 the confined paddock, of English grasses particularly, 

 and still more particularly where artificial foods are 

 furnished, the supply of salt is strongly advisable. This 

 is well evidenced by the sheep's great fondness for it 

 under such conditions. In moist, damp situations, too, 

 salt is a powerful preventive of the parasitical stomach 

 complaints sheep are so subject to thereon. Salt aids the 

 digestion and invigorates the system, two great essen- 

 tials in the production of quickly grown mutton and of 

 a good fleece, and the flesh of sheep is made sweeter by * 

 supplying salt. 



More artificial the system of feeding sheep is 

 more requirement there is for salt. An experiment in 

 relation thereto, conducted by the French Government, 

 may be quoted. The period covered by the experiment 

 was 134 days, and the feeding was highly artificial, 

 consisting of hay, beans, potatoes, and straw. Those 

 sheep that received Joz. of salt per day gained in that 

 time 4 Jib. more weight than the sheep which received 

 no salt, and cut Iflb. more and better wool. These 

 figures show an extra return, at our prices, of over 2/- 

 per sheep for mutton and wool for the 134 days, or say 

 6/- per sheep per annum. This, of course, is on extra 



