272 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA. 



mature sheep tlian for lambs. The writer 

 believes, however, that the greater profit comes 

 from regular feeding in troughs of rations a 

 little under the appetites of the sheep. 



A better and safer self feeder is the self 

 feeding corn* crib. This is built with a capacity 

 of hundreds or thousands of bushels, with a 

 large trough at the side into which com 

 descends. Sheep shell this com at their will 

 and the cobs are thrown out as they gather. 



Sheep will gain on feed from one to four 

 pounds per week, depending on their condition 

 and the stage of feeding. The gains are most 

 rapid just before approaching ripeness. 



Death losses in feeding mature sheep should 

 be slightly less than in feeding lambs. Natur- 

 ally gains are less since there is not oppor- 

 tunity for much growth along with fattening. 

 The writer once made a gain of 45 lbs. with 

 lambs in the bam while his wethers outside, 

 very well fed, gained 20 lbs. The wethers con- 

 sumed more com than the lambs but had no 

 wheat or bran which the lambs had. 



Sheep will consume better than lambs vari- 

 ous coarse fodders. Soy bean straw they relish, 

 if it is not weather damaged, and bean and pea 

 straw. When only a maintenance ration is fed 

 it may consist largely of these fodders, with a 

 trifle of grain to keep up the weight. 



While in the region west of the Missouri 

 sheep feeding is carried on in this rather 

 primitive fashion, in Michigan and Ohio it has 

 progressed further toward a better solution of 

 the problem. The writer has a neighbor who 



