SHEEP CHARACTERISTICS. 47 



By shearing in the fall of the year and again in the spring 

 more wool is obtained than from a single spring shearing, but 

 the market value of the two clippings is not any greater than of 

 the single clipping, in which the fibres of the fleece are larger. 

 When the lambs are to be fattened during three or four winter 

 months, there appears to be no practical advantage in fall shear- 

 ing. A rather surprising result obtained in this question of 

 sheep fattening is, that unlike the steer, very little advantage is 

 to be gained by in-door feeding. Evidently to make up for the 

 difference of temperature in the two cases, more food is required 

 to obtain the same results. Whatever be the success in feeding, 

 there will always follow a certain shrinkage when sent to their 

 destination, and the question is open to discussion whether in 

 the long run it would not be more profitable to have the stock 

 yards in the direct vicinity, especially as the resulting blood 

 could be combined with the molasses and cossettes to form part 

 of the regular daily rations. 



There is very little available information as regards the exact Beet cossettes 

 advantage of introducing beet cossettes on an extended scale in and the woolt 

 sheep feeding, but the results in Nebraska show in a general 

 way that the advantages are considerable. Just whether it is 

 advantageous to use corn, wheat, etc., depends upon the locality 

 in which the feeding is done, and when the beet cossette feeding 

 has become very general in its applications, we are convinced it 

 will completely change all existing modes, resulting in greater 

 economy and facility. Certain facts always remain, whatever 

 be the mode of feeding. A long series of investigations will be 

 needed to determine exactly what influence cossettes have on 

 the quality of the wool; however, in this respect, as every one 

 knows, the environment has more influence than the actual food 

 eaten. 



Among all the animals the breeder has to handle, none can sheep char- 

 subsist on more varied rations than can sheep; they evidently acteristics. 

 adapt themselves to any circumstances that may arise. The 

 general characteristic of the sheep is that its general condition 

 improves when in flocks of several thousands. When these ex- 

 tensive flocks existed some years since, it always necessitated a 

 large area of ground in some corn State, and the experienced 



