236 Animal Husbandry 
them in turn from the time warm weather sets in until the cool 
weather of the fall. 
377. Providing shade. — Sheep on pasture should be given pro- 
tection from the sun. They are fond of shade and will seek it. 
The shade tree is not sufficient for sheep, artificial shade being 
much preferred. The objection to the shade tree as a resting place 
for sheep is the danger of parasite infection. 
When the pasture is near the shed or barn, no better shade can 
be provided than to give the sheep the freedom of these quarters, 
which should then be slightly darkened by hanging blankets or 
gunny sacks over the windows. A blanket may be so hung over 
the door that the sheep in passing into the shed will brush the 
flies off their backs. If small sheds are provided in the field, they 
should be placed on runners in order that they may be moved 
from place to place as the sheep are changed from one field to 
another. This plan scatters the manure more thoroughly, and does 
away with much of the evil caused by parasites. These shades 
need be only a roof, and may be made of pine boards, as it is not 
essential that they be rain-proof. They need not be high. Such 
a roof sixteen feet square will provide shade for a flock of forty 
sheep. 
378. The use of sown pastures. — The best way to care for the 
flock in summer, in order. to avoid parasite infection, particularly 
with a flock of lambs, is to sow special pasture crops for the flock. 
In this way the owner may have various green forage crops coming 
on regularly at different times, and thus avoid having the sheep 
graze on the same area for any considerable time. It avoids 
practically all danger from the many parasites that attack sheep 
during the summer season. There are many plants that may be 
used as green feeds for summer pasture, chief of which are rye, oats, 
alfalfa, clover, rape, kale, cabbage, turnips, and pumpkins. The 
seeds from the pumpkin are among the best vermifuges known, 
for which reason the pumpkin ranks high as a succulent food for 
sheep. 
