16 



BULLETIN 573, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of February and had received no grain. Their mothers, however, 

 had received good feed and excellent care. Where the pasture has 

 been well started and properly cared for, on the heavier soils of the 

 project as many as 10 ewes and their lambs are carried on 1 acre for 

 the entire season. The average pastures, however, will not carry so 

 many stock, seven ewes and their lambs being a common carrying 

 capacity. The best results are secured by having the pasture 

 divided into three parts, so, that the stock are off the pasture during 

 irrigation and for some time afterwards. Neither horses nor hogs 

 should be allowed in the pasture with the sheep, but excellent results 

 are secured where sheep and cattle graze together. Pure drinking 

 water and salt should be provided at all times. It is desirable, also, 

 that shade be provided in each pasture, as this- adds to the --comfort 

 and thrift of the animals. When, as the result of overstocking or 

 unfavorable growing weather, the pasture becomes temporarily over- 

 grazed, it should be supplemented by feeding some grain to the lambs. 

 In some instances the ewes become too fat on irrigated pasture, so 

 that they do not breed satisfactorily. This difficulty can be elimin- 

 ated by turning the ewes into stubble fields or otherwise providing a 

 relatively scanty feed for a short time. 



There are occasionally instances in which it seems advisable to 

 pasture clover and alfalfa, although the practice is somewhat hazard- 

 ous on account of bloat. There are many theories as to the best 

 method of preventing bloat. The safest practice appears to be to 

 have the sheep well filled with hay or other feed before they are 

 turned on the alfalfa and clover pasture. Some farmers maintain 

 that if no shade is provided bloat is less likely to occur. They argue 

 that when shade is provided the sheep remain in the shade too long 

 on hot days and then consume large quantities of succulent feed in a 



Fir,. 5.— Typical shed and winter yards for a farm flock of sheep on the Minidoka Reclamation Project. 

 A common and satisfactory practice, is to have the closed shed used for lambing face to the south, and 

 the open shed, for general uses, face the east. 



