﻿THE MANAGEMENT OP SHEEP ON THE FARM. 37 



condition of the sheep. Disease or a change in condition are reflected 

 in a weak place in the fiber, known as a "break." The same causes 

 may effect a lack of luster in the wool, with the accompanying dead 

 appearance that is undesirable. 



An abrupt change 1 of feed may cause sheep to lose their wool. For 

 instance, sheep that have been raised upon grass, if fed a heavy grain 

 ration without having gradually become accustomed to it, may shed 

 their fleeces. 



FEEDS. 



It is practically impossible to give a definite feeding value to any 

 particular feed. The value varies widely under different conditions. 

 A certain feed will give quite different results when fed in connection 

 with other feeds than when fed by itself. It may serve excellently 

 as a partial ration, while it is altogether unsatisfactory for a total 

 one. It_may be rich in carbohydrates and fats, for instance, but 

 lacking in protein, which is equally essential. 



The digestibility of a feed is also influenced by the other ingredients 

 of the ration, and this might affect its feeding value. Again, a feed 

 may be too dense or too bulky, too dry or contain too much water to 

 be suitable alone. 



Neither is it practical to advise the particular kinds of feed, unless 

 acquainted with local conditions. In the Middle West corn can 

 often be fed profitably to a greater extent than elsewhere, because the 

 transportation charges are unimportant. The same might be true 

 of the cottonseed products of the South. Thus it is evident that the 

 economy of a feed varies with the locality. However, there are 

 certain groups of feeds some of which are essential for the best results 

 with sheep. It is worth while mentioning these groups, leaving it 

 to each farmer to select those particular ones best suited to his own 

 conditions. 



ROUGHAGE. 



For roughage alfalfa, alsike, red-clover, cowpea, and similar hays 

 are undoubtedly superior. Feeding tests in various parts of the 

 country indicate that there is little difference in value between these 

 forages, all of them giving excellent results. Corn stover, nonlegu- 

 minous hays, and the various straws have been fed, in many cases 

 with good results. Quite often these may profitably form a portion 

 of the ration, but as a sole roughage they are inferior to the legumes. 

 Timothy hay and millet are undesirable roughage for sheep; the 

 former causes constipation and the latter often produces scouring. 



METHODS OP FEEDING. 



It is hardly necessary to say that there is less waste when roughage 

 is fed in racks rather than upon the ground. When fed in the latter 

 way much of it is trampled upon and soiled and the sheep then refuse 

 to eat it. 



