FEEDING SHEEP 383 



bloating. Mixed grasses are also less dangerous. There are 

 many methods suggested for turning sheep to pasture. The 

 following is as good as any; when the grass is very succulent, 

 make the change from dry forage to pasture gradually ; that is, 

 after feeding the sheep, turn to pasture say two hours during the 

 middle of the first day, taking the sheep off the pasture before the 

 dew falls. The second day leave them on a little longer, and by 

 the fourth or fifth day they may remain in the pasture over night. 

 When the sheep are familiarized with the pasture in this way, 

 they must be carefully noted the next morning to see that none 

 is suffering from bloat. 



Tagging the sheep. — When sheep .are first turned to pasture, 

 the succulent grass often induces a more or less lax condition of 

 the bowels. The soft dung soils the wool below the tail-head, 

 causing the parts to become foul, and may produce troublesome 

 and vicious sores unless given attention. Such troubles are not 

 likely to occur when the sheep have been shorn previous to turn- 

 ing to pasture. If, however, it is desired to turn to pasture 

 before shearing, the wool should be carefully clipped away be- 

 neath the tail-head and along the inside of the thighs behind. 



Change in pasture. — When convenient, an occasional change 

 of sheep from one pasture to another will prove advantageous. 

 On farms heavily stocked with .sheep there are two reasons for 

 this : first, the change gives a chance for the fresh grass to 

 grow, thereby preventing the sheep from cropping parts of the 

 pasture too closely; and, second, it lessens the danger from par- 

 asitic germs by allowing the larvse to die before finding lodg- 

 ment in the sheep's body. More satisfactory results would be 

 obtained by dividing large pastures into several small ones, and 

 pasturing them in turn from the time warm weather sets in until 

 the cool weather of the fall. While this system would no doubt 

 largely enable the sheep to escape parasite infection, it involves 

 extra equipment in the way of fencing, shade, water supply, and 

 the like, and there may be other means of accomplishing the 



