FATTENING SHEEP AND LAMBS IN WINTER 213 



during the advanced stage of the fattening process. Straw 

 of the small cereals may in some instances furnish one of 

 the two feeds given, but not for long periods of feeding. 

 Some breeds of sheep, as the Merino, for instance, will 

 consume such straw more readily than others. 



The amount of coarse fodder required cannot be 

 given with accuracy, as it will vary with the age of the 

 sheep, the kind and quality of the fodder and the propor- 

 tion of the concentrates fed, also the kind of the same. 

 If the fodders are such that sheep will eat them with a 

 relish until satisfied, they will consume about as much 

 fodder as grain (see page 218). But usually there is some 

 waste of fodder ; hence a greater weight of fodder is required 

 than of concentrates. With the best of alfalfa or clover 

 hay, it would be practicable to fatten sheep, when the 

 weight of the hay to the grain is as two to one. 



Succulence that is suitable The chief sources of 

 succulence in providing food for sheep that are being fat- 

 tened in winter are silage and field roots. Tubers may be 

 used to some extent, but usually they are too costly for 

 such feeding. Almost any kind of field roots will answer 

 the purpose, but rutabagas and mangels are most in favor, 

 largely for the reason that they are most cheaply grown. 

 Sugar beets are sometimes used, but these are more com- 

 monly fed in the form of pulp. Potatoes may be fed, but 

 usually they are too valuable for such feeding. 



The value of silage in fattening sheep and lambs de- 

 pends in a considerable degree upon the character of the 

 silage and the conditions under which it is fed. It is 

 claimed that lambs especially take more kindly to en- 

 silage made from corn harvested at a somewhat more 

 advanced stage of growth than is usual in harvesting 

 corn intended for the silo. In other words, they prefer 

 silage not over-succulent and probably for the reason that 

 it is sweeter than other silage. In extremely cold weather 

 some care is necessary with reference to the quantity fed, 

 as the silage will freeze in a very short time in such 



