218 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



with, but there is no objection to feeding them other than 

 that which arises from cost. (4) Since corn is as a rule 

 the cheapest grain food, the aim should be to make it 

 form as large a part of the ration as is compatible with 

 the requirements. (5) While oats furnish a reasonably 

 good fattening food when fed alone, the ration is much 

 improved by feeding corn freely along with the oats. (6) 

 While the aim should be to feed the grains so as to bal- 

 ance the fodders, because of the cheapness of some kinds 

 of grain, it may be more profitable to feed them some- 

 what out of balance. (7) The value of wheat screenings, 

 one of the safest of foods, may vary from what is simply 

 nominal in a concentrate to what is highest value in the 

 same, according as they contain much or little grain. 



It is not necessary to grind the grain fed to sheep 

 and lambs that are being fattened any more than it is to 

 chaff the coarse fodders for the same. They chew their 

 food finely, hence the digestion is very complete. The 

 only benefit from grinding screenings is that which arises 

 from making it impossible for the sheep to scatter the 

 weed seeds while eating them. They are usually fed 

 unground. When the cobs are fed with the corn, of 

 course both must be ground. It has not yet been shown 

 that such grinding will prove profitable. 



The amount of food consumed by the sheep will vary 

 with the age, size and breed of the sheep. Sheep more 

 than one year old will consume more food than lambs, 

 and they will also consume more in proportion to the differ- 

 ence in the weights. It would seem safe to say that sheep 

 beyond the age of one year will consume not less than 

 33 per cent more food than lambs, the age at which they 

 are usually fattened. Such lambs when on full feed will 

 consume about one and one-half to two pounds daily of 

 grain, the amount, of course, varying with the decree of 

 the concentration. About the same quantity of alfalfa or 

 clover hay of high quality will be consumed, but a larger 

 amount will be necessary, of course, when a part is re- 



