138 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



age is more in favor as a food for sheep that are being 

 fattened than for breeding ewes. 



The concentrates fed may include any of the cereals, 

 but to keep the ration in approximate balance the con- 

 centrates should be chosen with a view to supplement 

 what may be lacking in the roughage. As leguminous 

 fodders are more commonly fed than other fodders to 

 ewes that are nursing their lambs, it is in order to feed 

 more of the grains rich in carbohydrates with such fod- 

 ders. But should the fodder consist largely of such food 

 as fodder corn and corn silage, the grain should be fed 

 rich in protein. When leguminous fodders are fed, from 

 say 50 to 60 per cent of the ration may be corn, but when 

 opposite in character, bran should be fed freely with the 

 grain. In the absence of field roots, wheat bran or oil- 

 cake, or both, should be fed to keep the digestion in tone. 

 A mixture of grains is always more relished than one kind 

 of grain, at least under prolonged feeding. Along with 

 leguminous fodders the following rations will be found 

 suitable: (i) Corn or barley, wheat bran, oilcake, in the 

 proportions of five, four and one parts by weight ; (2) 

 oats, wheat bran and oilcake in the proportions of six, 

 three and one parts; (3) oats and oilcake nine and one 

 parts. 



The amount of grain to feed is influenced by the 

 amount of the field roots or corn ensilage that is fed. 

 With increase in the proportion of these, there may be 

 decrease in the amount of grain fed. While the supply of 

 the grain should be liberal, it will seldom be necessary 

 to feed more than two pounds of grain per animal daily 

 for prolonged feeding. The grain is fed whole. When 

 much wheat bran is fed, it will be more readily consumed 

 when fed on sliced or pulped roots, as sheep, especially 

 when young, do not usually show great fondness for bran. 

 The grain is commonly fed in two feeds daily, and it is not 

 necessary to grind it except in the case of aged ewes 

 whose teeth show signs of failing. Nor is it necessary to 



