FATTENING SHEEP AND LAMBS IN WINTER 229 



dippings should be given. Since the presence of internal 

 parasites cannot usually be known when sheep are pur- 

 chased, when brought to farms for fattening they should 

 not be allowed access either to the pastures on which the 

 breeding flocks graze, or the pens in which they are con- 

 fined. Although the life history of these parasites is not 

 fully known, experience has abundantly proved that 

 breeding flocks may be infected through the introduction 

 of sheep for fattening. The danger would seem to be 

 greatest when sheep thus introduced are given access to 

 the pastures on which the breeding flocks graze. If the 

 sheep introduced can be confined to sheds and yards to 

 which the breeding flocks have no access, the hazard in- 

 curred is reduced to a minimum. 



Because of the hazard of introducing parasitical dis- 

 eases, it is at least questionable if sheep should be brought 

 in to be fattened on the same farm on which a breeding 

 flock is kept. Where practicable it would seem better to 

 increase the breeding flock to the full capacity of the farm, 

 and to fatten on it only such supplies as the farm was 

 thus able to furnish. The importance of keeping breed- 

 ing flocks of sheep free from parasites cannot be over- 

 estimated. Nor should it be forgotten that the danger of 

 introducing parasites with sheep purchased on other 

 farms is as great as when they are purchased at the stock- 

 yards. 



Sheep fattened only on the farm — It is unfortunate in 

 several respects that all the sheep and lambs that are fat- 

 tened are not finished on the farm. The benefits from 

 such feeding include the following: (i) The percentage 

 of loss from feeding in such lots is less than in those that 

 are large ; (2) roughage is utilized that may otherwise 

 be wasted; (3) the fertilizer is turned to good account; 

 and (4) the farmer is given work that should bring a 

 profitable return at a time when other work is not press- 

 ing. 



The percentage of loss with sheep fed in small lots 



