FATTENING SHEEP AND LAMBS IN WINTER 207 



if any, from feeding them. When purchased by weight, 

 the less of fat which they carry in proportion to the entire 

 weight the less opportunity is there for making increase, 

 but the lack of flesh should not be such as is associated 

 with a condition of positive lack of thrift. In other words, 

 when purchasing such animals, capacity to make increase 

 is more important than increase already made. But lean- 

 ness must not be present to the extent of calling for a 

 period too long relatively to bring the system into a con- 

 dition that capacitates it for making rapid increase. 

 Should the animals be purchased by the head, then, of 

 course, the more fat that they carry at the time of pur- 

 chase the less the quantity to be added thereto, and the 

 less the expense in completing the fattening. 



Quarters suitable for feeding — The quarters suitable 

 for feeding sheep are much dependent on the climate. The 

 kind and character of the precipitation exercise a more 

 potent influence on the quarters that should be provided 

 than the degree of the precipitation. In some climates 

 shelter is not really called for other than protection from 

 winds. In others it should be so accessible that the sheep 

 could be put under cover on very short notice. The quar- 

 ters provided for sheep should always protect from falling 

 storms that are hurtful, strong winds and also from 

 drafts, and they should furnish a bed free from damp- 

 ness. 



In northern areas it is usually if not in all instances 

 necessary to have a shed or stable in which the sheep may 

 be protected from adverse precipitation and a yard at- 

 tached to which they have the freest access, save in time 

 of storms. Under such conditions reasonably warm 

 quarters are not detrimental when the doors are kept 

 open giving access to the yards. Dry, well-lighted and 

 airy basements are not objectionable where those condi- 

 tions are observed, but it would be disastrous to a flock 

 to confine them in quarters overwarm. If fattened in a 

 shed it should be possible to close it against storms that 



