152 PROFITABLE STOCK RAISING 



liberally, a small ration of cracked corn and, per- 

 haps, a little oil meal occasionally, will serve to bal- 

 ance up the ration very evenly. In case mixed 

 hay and grasses or oat straw is being used, the 

 ration should include some grain rich in protein. 

 Bran or oats mixed with the corn will serve to 

 supply this need. The oil meal should always be 

 fed in the lump form to sheep, as they seem to relish 

 it more. It is best fed mixed with bran or cracked 

 grain. 



Succulent feed of some sort is essential to the 

 best development of sheep under farm conditions. 

 This need may be met in a number of ways. Vari- 

 ous root crops may be grown which are easily 

 stored throughout the winter, and which furnish a 

 very satisfactory addition to the ration. Sugar 

 beets are probably the best crop which can be 

 grown for this purpose. The English and Scotch 

 shepherds are very partial to turnips for their 

 sheep feed, and these may be grown almost any 

 place in this country in liberal quantities. Ruta- 

 bagas, mangel-wurzels and other roots form very 

 satisfactory succulent feeds. The roots should be 

 fed finely chopped or sliced, so that there will be no- 

 danger of choking. Where roots are not available, 

 silage is an excellent winter feed, furnishing not 

 only succulence, but having a high degree of nutri- 

 ment. Sheep will learn to eat it very readily, and 

 relish it. There is frequently danger in feeding it 

 in a frozen condition, and this should be guarded 

 against, as best results will not be possible from 

 its use for any kind of animals while in this con- 

 dition. Frequently, it is desirable to scatter the 

 grain upon the silage, so that the entire ration will 

 be consumed together. Mr. Richard Gibson of 

 Ontario, after 50 years of experience in sheep breed- 



