FEEDING SHEEP AND GOATS 325 
turpentine, or benzine. The dose for lambs is 5 ounces of cows’ milk, 1 
tablespoonful each of gasoline and raw linseed oil, well mixed and given in a 
drenching bottle; for older sheep, 114 tablespoonfuls gasoline are given in 
the mixture. 
The general rules in regard to feeding sheep are similar to those 
for feeding other classes of farm animals. Regularity of feeding 
is all-important, as are cleanliness, gentle treatment, patience, and 
exercise of good judgment on the part of the feeder. Ss 
Feeding Fattening Sheep.—The production of fat mutton 
sheep is of increasing importance in this country, and the industry 
is capable of still further development, as the quality of the mutton 
is improved by'the feeding of special mutton sheep, and more people 
learn to appreciate tender, juicy mutton. As with other farm ani- 
mals, the largest and quickest returns are made by fattening young 
lambs. The influence of age and the results obtained in fattening 
sheep are illustrated by feeding trials with range sheep conducted 
at the Montana station.’ Four lots of lambs, one- and two-year-old 
wethers and aged ewes,.about 55 in each lot, were fed on rations 
consisting of clover hay and whole barley for a period of 88 days. 
The main results obtained are shown in the following table: 
Fatiening Range Sheep of Different Ages 
. Two-year- 
Yearling Aged 
Lambs old 
wethers | wethers ewes 
Average weight at beginning, pounds..... §3 95 116 92 
Average daily gain, pounds.............. 27 27 28 18 
Average ration: Clover hay, pounds..... 2.1 3.8 4.1 2.3 
Barley, pounds......... 68 68 68 68 
Feed for 100 pounds gain: Clover hay....| 763 1413 1469 1320 
arley........ 253 256 248 387 
Digestible feed per pound increase........ _ 10.2 16.6 17.1 17.5 
Per cent dromed alg tama Reui ievanteonfeNSaeae ee 54.2 52.9 53.6 50.6 
The lambs made the most rapid and economical gains of the 
four lots. The amount of feed required for maintenance and in- 
crease in weight was smaller and the average percentage dressed 
weight was higher for this lot than for the older sheep. 
Clean, fresh drinking water should always be provided. The 
amount which sheep will take will vary with the character of the 
rations fed and the weather, from less than one quart per head when 
on succulent feed to five quarts or more when on dry feed only. 
Sheep fed dry roughage and concentrates crave salt, and even when 
on pasture it should be supplied regularly in order that they may 
7 Bulletin 35; also Bulletins 47 and 59. 
