FATTENING SHEEP WHILE GRAZING I99 



The highest adaptation to this method of fattening 

 sheep is found in areas where the normal weather condi- 

 tions of the autumn are dry rather than moist, and where 

 the advent of winter does not come with such suddenness. 

 These conditions are usually found in areas within or bor- 

 dering on the semi-arid belt. But even in areas with 

 more rainfall sheep may also be finished thus with ad- 

 vantage and profit. Especially is this true of sweet corn 

 that may be too smutty for canning. Store sheep will 

 also make a reasonably good use of frosted corn in the 

 fields when they are judiciously given access to it. 



Finishing sheep on peas — During recent years the 

 finishing of sheep on peas mainly has grown into an ex- 

 tensive industry in the San Luis Valley, Col. The eleva- 

 tion is about 7000 feet above the sea level. The summer 

 climate is cool, light frosts being present almost every 

 month in the year. The crop is grown in part by subter- 

 ranean irrigation natural to much of the valley, but some- 

 times it is grown by irrigation applied in the usual way. 

 Among the principal varieties grown are the Mexican and 

 the small green and white varieties of the Canada field 

 pea. 



From 40 to 50 pounds are sown per acre with the 

 ordinary seed drill, and enough oats are sown along with 

 them to sustain the peas, which tends to lessen the waste 

 while the peas are being harvested. When the peas are 

 ripe, sheep and lambs are turned in to graze upon them. 

 In some instances the flock is given a wide range, but 

 where it can be done the method that grazes off the field 

 in successive divisions is preferred. Other sheep are 

 sometimes made to follow those that are being fattened, 

 as they are, of course, much better adapted to such glean- 

 ing. An acre of good peas should fatten, it is said, from 

 ID to 15 lambs, and that the lambs should gain about 10 

 pounds per month. This would make the feeding value 

 of such peas about equal to that of a good crop of well- 

 grown rape. The peas, however, would have the ad- 



