388 MANUAL OF FASM ANIMALS 



remove the snow from parts of the lot and feed them some dry 

 forage in some spot not too near the winter quarters. 



Care of the feet. — During the winter season when the sheep 

 are rather closely confined, it is important to watch the feet and 

 see that the toes do not grow out too long, as they very often do 

 at this season of the year. Long toes should be trimmed. The 

 aim in trimming should be to keep the feet natural, so that the 

 sheep stands squarely upon them. Lack of trimming is some- 

 times responsible for diseases of the feet. The toes may be 

 trimmed with a sharp knife, a chisel and block, or better still a 

 sharp hand pruning knife; take care not to cut them too short, 

 for if the quick is cut, the feet will get very sore and prove very 

 annoying. If the hind parts become foul tag as suggested on 

 page 383. 



Bedding should be used liberally, otherwise the floors will be- 

 come damp and foul smelling. Sheep lying on damp, filthy beds 

 are subject to the same ills as those exposed to draughts. Fresh 

 bedding is of greatest importance during the lambing season, 

 as damp, filthy quarters are particularly hurtful to lambs and will 

 soon prove fatal to them. At this time, fresh bedding should 

 be put down daily. This not only increases the healthfulness 

 of the sheep-fold, but increases the quantity of valuable ma- 

 nure as well. 



FATTENING SHEEP 



Feeding sheep to fatten them differs considerably from feeding 

 the flock in general or feeding for the production of wool; it 

 is somewhat similar to feeding cattle for the production of beef. 



Growing winter lambs 



In recent years a considerable demand has developed for 

 winter lambs, particularly in the eastern cities. Because of the 

 forced methods of feeding adopted in pushing the lambs forward 

 so as quickly to prepare them for market, they are spoken of as 



