﻿THE MANAGEMENT <)E SHEEP ON TILE FARM. 



17 



The lots and pastures' upon a sheep farm require considerable 

 fencing. Lack of adequate fences has been one factor in the decline 

 of the sheep industry in many localities. A woven-wire fence is the 

 cheapest and most satisfactory, all things considered. If it must be 

 dog-proof the meshes should be close enough together to prevent the 

 dogs passing through, and it should be at least 5 feet high, which is 

 a desirable height for all outside fences. Care should be taken in 

 putting up the fence to see that the wire is close enough to the ground 



Fig. -1. — Convenient arrangement of sheep lots with sorting chute. 



to prevent dogs from crawling under it. For temporary cross fences 

 there are a number manufactured from 32 to 42 inches high. A 

 36-inch fence is very satisfactory and is used extensively. An advan- 

 tage of wire fencing is that neither sheep nor dogs will jump it so 

 readily. Barbed wire is undesirable, except at the top, because the 

 sheep tear out their wool upon the barbs. 



HOUSING. 



It was formerly quite generally thought that the sheep's wool 



afforded it all the protection necessary during the winter. If the 



fleece could be kept dry it probably would retain enough body heat 



to keep the sheep warm, but this is impossible without shelter. When 



7635°— 13 3 



