Feeding Sheep 235 
vented in part by mowing the entire pasture twice each year. 
The sheep will then pasture on the tender second growth. 
375. Turning to pasture. — Care should be exercised in turning 
sheep to pasture, otherwise some of the flock may be troubled 
with bloat. The extent of the trouble depends much on the con- 
dition as well as the kind of grass, young succulent grass being 
more troublesome than older and riper grass, and alfalfa or clover 
more than blue grass or orchard grass. In regions of much dew, 
alfalfa is likely to be the most troublesome of all. After alfalfa 
Fig. 99.— Flock of Shropshire ewes. 
becomes woody there is not so much danger from bloating. Mixed 
grasses are also less dangerous. There are many methods sug- 
gested for turning sheep to pasture, but the one suggested on 
page 181 is as good as any. 
376. Change in pasture. — When convenient, an occasional 
change of sheep from one pasture to another will prove advan- 
tageous. On farms heavily stocked with sheep, there are two 
reasons for this: first, the change gives a chance for the fresh grass 
to grow, thereby preventing the sheep from cropping parts of the 
pasture too closely; and, second, it lessens the danger from para- 
sitic germs by allowing the larve to die before finding lodgment 
in the sheep’s body. More satisfactory results would be obtained 
by dividing large pastures into several small ones, and pasturing 
