CHAPTER XVII 



FEEDING SHEEP 



Sheep are among the most difficult of farm animals to feed. 

 Thorough familiarity with their ha;bits is essential to success. 

 No other farm animal is less understood by the masses of 

 American farmers. A knowledge of their peculiar characteris- 

 tics can be gained only by a careful study and much experience 

 in handling the animals. Sheep are naturally very timid in 

 their disposition, very dainty feeders, and are easily frightened 

 out of their appetite. A sudden noise or disturbance of any 

 kind, as the bark of a dog, will often greatly frighten them and 

 sometimes create a stampede or panic in the entire flock. 

 Sheep have a natural aversion for strange dogs, and one coining 

 near the flock will cause the sheep to run, which excites the 

 dog to the chase, not necessarily because he is a vicious dog 

 but because of his nature to give chase to whatever flees from 

 him. In the excitement of the chase, the dog may tear the 

 skins of the sheep with the teeth, sometimes inflicting fatal 

 wounds. Sheep thus chased may die of exhaustion, and the 

 entire flock will shrink badly in weight. In most cases if the 

 sheep would stand their ground, the dog would not give chase. 

 As goats do not ordinarily run from dogs, one or two placed in 

 the flock often prevents the sheep from becoming frightened. 

 The difficulty is to get the goats to stay with the flock. It 

 may be necessary to raise the goats with the flock to teach 

 them to remain with it at all times. It is very apparent that 

 if sheep are to be profitable, they must be kept free from all 



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