142 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



ing of the lambs will depend upon conditions, as is shown 

 below. 



Of course, it would be possible to supplement the 

 grazing by feeding such soiling food as alfalfa, corn or 

 sorghum. For such a use alfalfa has special adaptation, 

 especially in those areas where it is irrigated and would 

 as a result produce many cuttings in a season. When 

 the conditions of cultivation become intensive in such 

 areas and labor sufficiently plentiful, such a system of 

 feeding sheep may be introduced. In the meantime, how- 

 ever, but little soiling food is fed sheep except in the case 

 of those that are maintained for some special use, as in 

 the case of stock rams or sheep that are being fitted for 

 exhibition. When soiling food is fed it should be put into 

 racks to prevent waste. Some foods, as alfalfa and clover, 

 when fed green, should first be wilted to avoid danger 

 from bloat. 



Under existing conditions it has proved cheaper to 

 supplement the grass pastures by growing other pas- 

 tures with this end in view. Nearly all the cereals may 

 be used to provide such grazing, whether sown alone or 

 in certain combinations (see page 170). The great sav- 

 ing in the labor involved has made this method of pro- 

 viding supplemental food for ewes very much more 

 popular than the method that supplies it in the form of 

 soiling food. 



Management when weaning the lambs — When lambs 

 are weaned, the method which takes them quite away 

 from the ewes without permitting them to come together 

 again is considered preferable to gradual weaning. Usu- 

 ally all the lambs in a flock are weaned at the time, but 

 there may be instances when it would be profitable to 

 separate the younger lambs with their dams and allow 

 them to take milk from their dams for a few weeks longer. 

 This is desirable in proportion as the lambing season has 

 been prolonged. The drying off of the ewes will be more 

 quickly accomplished if the ewes and lambs are separated 



