FEEDING SHEEP 385 



great objection, to the shade tree as a resting place for sheep 

 is the danger of parasite infection. (There is also danger from 

 lightning.) There is an accumulation of droppings, which 

 either bear or afford a convenient brooding place for such 

 harmful parasitic germs as "grub in the head," throat worms, 

 stomach worms, nodular disease, and the like. The droppings 

 encourage the growth of sweet rich grass near the tree. The 

 germs are harbored about the base of this sweet grass. 



When the pasture is near the shed or bam, 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. The shed or barn should be kept 

 well bedded, as this preserves the manure which otherwise would 

 be largely wasted. Hay kept in the racks will prove advanta- 

 geous, as the sheep will eat much of it and be benefited thereby. 

 If small sheds are provided in the field, they should be placed 

 on runners in order to move them from place to place as the 

 sheep are changed from one field to another. This plan scat- 

 ters 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. 



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 at- 

 tack sheep during the summer season. There are many plants 

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