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BULLETIN 20, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



grass has been the basis of most of the permanent pastures, and 

 it is undoubtedly the best pasture grass. Very often a mixture 

 of several grasses proves quite satisfactory. The different clovers 

 have been used for sheep pastures with success, but care should be 

 exercised in their use, especially if they have been frosted. Alfalfa 

 is also used and it is gradually gaining in popularity, but there are 

 several precautions to be observed in its use. Bloating must be 

 guarded against, and sometimes this is almost impossible. Sheep 

 that have been successfully feeding upon alfalfa fields for weeks will 

 suddenly be affected. No plausible reason can be given for this. 



Fig. 13. — Combination rack for feeding hay and grain. Note construction for keeping chaff, etc., out of 



fleece. 



The loss from bloat can be cut down to a minimum by careful 

 management. It is generally agreed that having the sheep well 

 filled up with their regular ration and watered before turning in will 

 lessen the danger. Another precaution is to allow the sheep freedom 

 upon the field. It is considered injurious to drive or hurry them. 



Annual pastures are used in America more to supplement per- 

 manent pastures and to flush and fatten sheep than as a complete 

 pasturage system. However, Shaw of Minnesota 1 maintained sheep 

 throughout the season on annual pastures with fairly good results. 

 A number of crops are used for annual pasturage, the most widely 

 known of which are rape, oats and peas, rye, cowpeas, soy beans, 

 barley, kale, and wheat. 



i Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Minnesota, Bulletin 78, St. Paul, 1903. 



