1863. 



NEW ENGLAXD FARMER. 



45 



■WINTER MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 



We are aware that, in some sections of New 

 England, there is an unusual attention called to 

 the subject of sheep culture, and it is j)ossible, as 

 in most other matters, that extravagant notions 

 are entertained, and that prices are asked and 

 paid that cannot be justified by any past expei'i- 

 ence. This state of things, however, has not yet 

 reached Massachusetts, where some of it would 

 have a wholesome influence both upon our prac- 

 tice and our pockets. 



There are now unoccupied in this State many 

 localities admirably adapted to the culture of 

 sheep, where farms are gradually going back to 

 foi-est, and where sheep may be introduced with 

 profit. Judiciously managed, they would restore 

 many exhausted farms to their original fertility, 

 and furnish occupation and homes to thousands 

 who are dissatisfied with the meagre returns of 

 lands that are not adapted to the cultivation of 

 the grains and grasses. 



The Hon. Richard S. Fay, of Lynn, Mass., 

 has given great attention to the culture of sheej) 

 for many years. He is a close observer, discrimi- 

 nates with sound judgment, deals in facts and fig- 

 ures, and if he makes a statement, has the facts be- 

 hind to confirm it. He furnished to the last Pa- 

 tent Office Report an article on "The Breeds of 

 Sheep best adapted to Neio England, with sugges- 

 tions as to their treatment," and we copy from it 

 that portion which relates to their toin^er manage- 

 ment. 



The first mistake frequently made is to keep the 

 flock too long at pasture, with no other food than 

 what the pasture aff'ords. The change from the 

 pasture to the fold should be gradual ; that is to 

 say, the sheep should be allowed their usual range 

 abroad as long as the ground is not covered with 

 snow ; they, as well as the mowing fields, will be 

 benefited by an occasional run over them. After 

 the severe frosts of October, however, the herb- 

 age, even if abundant, loses a part of its nutri- 

 tive qualities ; and when this is the case, it should 

 be made up by artificial food. This period indi- 

 cates the time of folding at night. Sheep should 

 then have, before going out in the morning and 

 on their return, the needful addition to their pas- 

 ture food. Crushed corn, oats, beans, oil cake, or 

 roots, in very moderate quantities, will keep sheep 

 at this period in good condition, aided by what 

 they get during the day from the field, and pre- 

 pare them for their regular winter treatment. 



The fold is a matter of some importance. It is 

 a very cheap and simple business to house sheep 

 in the winter ; at the same time there is a right 

 and wrong way in going about it. Cold is not so 

 much to be guarded against as wet. A plenty of 

 cover, therefore, with yard room, is essential. 

 They must always have a retreat from snow and 

 rain. At the same time they should not be de- 

 prived of the o])en air, when they desire it. There 

 is scarcely a farm in New England that has not 

 waste barn floor room in w-hich to winter f(n-ty or 

 fifty sheep. A yard opening from it is easily and 



cheaply constructed. A portion of a cellar under 

 the barn, o])en at one end, with a small enclosure 

 attached to it, makes comfortable quarters for 

 sheep. The manure from the sheep can be left 

 through the winter where it falls, provided coarse 

 litter or dry sand, or both, is occasionally sprinkled 

 over it. Ventilation or fresh air is essential to 

 the health of sheep. This and dryness are the 

 two leading objects to aim at, bearing in mind the 

 old adage: "One-third more shelter, one-third 

 less food." 



Next in importance to proper folding is the 

 feeding. Here, too, the profit or loss depends 

 less upon the quantity than in the method of its 

 distribution. Regularity in the time of feeding, 

 and variety in tlie food given, are essential. 



Sheep should be fed, when in fold, at least 

 three times a day, and always at the same hour. 

 No animal knows better than a sheep his usual 

 meal time, or is more impatient of its postpone- 

 ment. The appetite comes with the appointed 

 hour, and the food is then eaten with the greatest 

 relish and the least waste. 



Every observant flock-master knows the fond- 

 ness of sheep for variety in its food. It has been 

 said that it cannot exist long upon any one kind 

 of herb, or root, or grain — not even upon the tur- 

 nip. Change in food, in order to preserve the 

 healthy condition and well-doing of sheep, is, 

 therefore, a necessity. 



The following table represents the value of 

 different articles of food which may be given to 

 sheep, taking hay of the best quality as the stan- 

 dard : 



100 lbs 



hay, best quality, equal to 90 lbs. clover. 

 " " 102 " afterm 



' " « 374 



442 



195 



153 



504 



276 



339 



SOS 



45 



54 



59 



50 



45 



45 



105 



106 



45 



44 



aftermath. 



wheat 8tra\7. 



rye straw. 



oat straw. 



bean straw. 



common turnip. 



carrot. 



mangel w<;rtiel. 



Swedes turnip. 



wheat. 



barley. 



oats. 



corn. 



peas. 



beans. 



wheat bran. 



wheat and oat chaff. 



linseed oil cake. 



cotton-seed oil-cake. 



The return in manure, which is not taken into 

 account in fixing these values, is largely in favor 

 of the oil cake and other highly nitrogenized sub- 

 stances. 



A sheep should receive daily about three \ier 

 cent of his live weight in food ; if, however, it 

 consists of hay and other coarse herbage a lil)eral 

 allowance should be made for waste. Taking the 

 above formula as a guide, one pound of good liav, 

 half a pound of maize and two pounds of oat straw- 

 would be a fair allowance for a slieep weigliing 

 one hundred pounds, the three being equivalent 

 to three pounds of hay, or three per cent, of its 

 weight. Observation and practice will soon cor- 

 rect over as well as under feeding, the great ob- 

 ject being to keep every animal in an improving 

 condition. 



It is not a good jjlan to fold too many sheep to- 

 gether, and tlie breeding ewes should be kept 

 apart from the rest of the flock. Thirty or forty 

 sheep are as many as should be together for health 



