Fattening Sheep 257 



they should receive all the grain they will eat up 

 eagerly. To secure the best results, it is a good plan, 

 when it is possible to do so, to feed the grain in two 

 or even three feeds. This may be done easily when 

 less than one hundred are fed together, but with more 

 than that it is not a commendable plan. By feeding 

 only one-third of the full feed intended, it is easy to 

 gauge the appetites of the wethers, which is a very 

 important matter. The smallest degree of over- 

 feeding is certain to react on the gain of the sheep, 

 for in some instances it will probably cause scouring, 

 in others constipation, and it may even result in the 

 loss of some of the lambs. 



Essentials in management. — There are two essen- 

 tials that contribute to cheap and rapid gains, and 

 these are quietness and confinement. The least 

 excitement brought on by the appearance of dogs, 

 haste, or abuse on the part of the attendant is cer- 

 tain to be shown by the scales. For some time the 

 Wisconsin Station used yards in connection with 

 the fattening pens, but for the two years they were 

 removed, better results seem to follow. 



Quantity to feed. — Careful attention must be 

 given to the amount of grain that is fed. This part 

 of the ration costs most, gives the quickest returns, 

 and is the most likely to produce some disorder in 

 the digestion of the sheep. For the first two weeks, 

 it is much better to give them only one-half what 

 they need than to feed them too much; especially 



