94 SHEEP FEEDING 



abundance of grass. Pastures that are not to be used in this 

 way should have the entire fall grov/th left for the sheep, 

 and in some cases the spring growth as well. It is claimed 

 by many that horses and cattle should be pastured with 

 sheep, for it is said that the large animals eat the coarser 

 grasses and leave the young and tender for the sheep. 

 When blue-grass pastures furnish the roughness for corn- 

 fielcl feeding, the sheep should be given free access to the 

 pastures at all times. In some cases old meadows will be 

 quite as satisfactory as blue grass. 



What has been said here in' reference to pastures applies 

 equally well to the handling of pastures in conjunction with 

 Feedmg System IV, where corn is fed on blue grass. 



When hay is to be fed. It is a common mistake among 

 beginners to think that the sheep can gather all the rough- 

 ness they need, as well as the grain, from the ordinary 

 cornfield. If it seems impracticable to balance the ration 

 with rouglmess in any of the ways previously mentioned in 

 this chapter, then hay must be supplied. Alfalfa or clover is 

 first choice at all times and almost essential with lambs. 

 Older sheep can handle cane, prairie, or timothy hay, but 

 these feeds should not be used unless no better are avail- 

 able. From one to one and one-half pounds of roughness 

 per pound of grain is about the proportion in which sheep 

 consume feed. 



Instead of giving the theoretical benefits to the land from 

 pasturing down corn, let us see what those who have had 

 some experience with the practice say. 



Results following cornfield feeding of sheep. An Iowa 

 farmer reports : " I have pastured down the corn in one of 

 my fields for three years, and this year the yield is sixty- 

 seven bushels per acre, which is a good deal above my old 



