236 MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 



Again : it is essential that the sheds or buildings in 

 which they are confined should often be supplied with fresh 

 litter, and plenty of it ; in short, everything must be done to 

 promote complete rest, ease, and contentment. 



Sheep, when fattening, should not be fed oftener than 

 three times a day — namely, when day has fairly dawned, at 

 noon, and an hour before sunset. The interim between 

 feedings will enable them to fill themselves leisurely, and to 

 have time sufficient for that quiet digestion which is inter- 

 rupted by too frequent feeding. Water should be given 

 without limitation, and that immediately after their meals. 



The sheep-fattener must not lose sight of that peculiar 

 habit of the animal exhibited in its fondness for variety of 

 food. Indeed, change is very essential, as otherwise it may 

 become cloyed on one species of diet. In fattening all ani- 

 mals, the shortest time in which it can be accomplished, the 

 most profit will result. To effect this, we will suppose that 

 it will take at first only of one kind of sustenance sufficient to 

 maintain good store order ; if it can be induced to eat one 

 quarter more of another sort, then it begins to acquire fat ; 

 but if in addition to this, its appetite can be stimulated to eat 

 yet another quarter of something else, it will readily appear 

 that the animal will fat all the sooner. A great point to 

 gain, is to induce it to eat as largely as possible of the most 

 nutritious food ; but we shall fail in this if the appetite of 

 the sheep is not courted and stimulated by variety. An au- 

 thor remarks — " Variety of food, with animals, operates like 

 cookery in the human subject, enabling more sustenance 

 to be taken." 



When sheep are put up for fattening, care should be ob- 

 served at first not to feed in full quantities of grain or meal, 

 as, in so doing, acute diseases of the intestines will be 

 avoided. Again : those of the same age with similarity of 

 condition should be put together, as better calculations may 

 be made of the aggregate quantity of food they will require 

 daily. This is suggested for the reason that animals, when 

 growing, require longer time and additional feed to make 

 them fit for the butcher, as a portion of it nature appropri- 

 ates for the development of muscle or flesh. Hence the 

 great excellence of some of the improved English breeds, 

 whose early maturity allow of fattening when only eighteen 

 months old. 



The following sound observations by Mr. Spooner will 



