274 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



When at the fairs food should not be given to the 

 sheep in quantities too large the first day. Subsequently 

 they should be in condition to go on a full ration again, 

 and the food should be the same in kind as that fed be- 

 fore shipment. Succulent food especially is much rel- 

 ished at such a time, and should be fed up to the limit of 

 what Tna.y be judicious. Kohl-rabi, cabbage and green 

 clover make excellent food adjuncts at the autumn fairs, 

 and all these may usually be had at that season in any 

 state. Where the facilities will admit of it, the aim should 

 be to allow the sheep to take a little exercise in the cool 

 of the day while picking over some portion of the grazing 

 such as may be near the show pens. 



It is of much importance that the fair grounds shall 

 be reached a day or two before the regular opening of 

 the fair. The sheep are thus given opportunity to recover 

 bloom lost in transit; the shepherd has time to groom 

 them again with the shears, and in this way they come 

 into the show ring with the best possible chance which 

 can be given to them for winning in the competitions. 



Management subsequently to the fair season — In 

 some respects the management of lambs, rams and ewes 

 subsequently to the fair is very similar. In other respects 

 it is different. More especially with reference to certain 

 details that apply to the management of each. All classes 

 of sheep that have been shown and are to be shown again, 

 whatsoever the age, should be fed less heavily for a con- 

 siderable period on their return from the fairs, but the 

 reduction should be made gradually. The benefit from 

 such reduction lies in relaxing the tension put upon the 

 digestive organs, and in holding back premature develop- 

 ment. The management of shearling wethers subse- 

 quently to the season for exhibiting need not be consid- 

 ered, as in nearly all instances they are slaughtered at 

 the close of the exhibition season. 



When lambs return from the fairs that are to be 

 shown in the shearling form as wethers, the grain por- 



