WESTERN LAMB FEEDING. 261 



manure by seeing the com reach toward heaven 

 and flaunting its banners of deepest, darkest 

 green, while following the corn are lush mea- 

 dows of alfalfa or clover. 



When lambs are fed long, until after green 

 grass comes in spring, it is a temptation to 

 turn them out to graze for a time. This is a 

 mistaken practice, sure to result in great loss. 

 The lambs will not continue to gain on grass, 

 even though fed their grain as usual, at least 

 there will be a period of reaction when they 

 will actually lose flesh, though if the practice 

 be continued long enough they will gain it back 

 again. It is most profitable to send them to the 

 market right from their dry lot. 



Sometimes, however, lambs are bought in the 

 spring with the expectation of feeding them off 

 on grass, with corn. This may prove a satis- 

 factory enterprise if it is carefully managed. 

 The troughs should be placed in a yard or tem- 

 porary corral in the pasture and when grain is 

 put in them the entire flock must be called or 

 driven within and fastened there for a sufficient 

 time for them to consume their ration. They 

 may then be loosened and permitted to roam 

 where they will until the next feeding time 

 arrives. 



The feeder must use care that every lamb 

 comes up every time. Also he will have cases 

 of indigestion and founder; many will be "off 

 their feed." 



Sometimes self-feeders are used on pasture. 

 They seldom result well, owing to the essen- 

 tially short memory and weak original impulse 



