436 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



to the amount of space required, some stating that ten square 

 feet is sufficient, others that they desire eighteen square feet for 

 each animal. In practice, twelve square feet of floor space will 

 be ample for each breeding ewe. 



The feed-racks. — Movable feed-racks are to be preferred. 

 They should be comparatively long and narrow and, as suggested, 

 may be used as partitions between the pens, thus economizing 

 on material, and the racks may be used in different places if 

 desired. A very good combination hay-rack and grain-trough 

 is made as follows : With l" X 8 ' boards for the bottoms and 

 l" X 4" boards for the sides and ends, construct two grain- 

 troughs. Place these side by side and fasten together. Or 

 make one shallow trough 16 inches wide and put a partition in it 

 longways, thus making two shallow grain-boxes. With 2" X 

 4 scantling and 1 X 10 boards construct a frame 2 feet 

 wide at the top and as long as the grain-troughs, to serve as the 

 top of the hay-rack. Now on the center partition of the grain- 

 boxes nail 1" X 2" slats 30 inches long, placing them V-shaped 

 and nail to the frame above, thus making a hay-rack. These 

 slats may be placed 7 inches apart in order that the sheep may 

 thrust their heads clear into the rack to feed. If the slats are 

 placed closer together, say 3 inches apart, as is often the case, 

 the sheep pull the hay through the cracks and drop much of it 

 under their feet. We now have a combination grain- and hay- 

 rack which, when properly braced, makes a very efficient feed- 

 rack for the breeding flock. When it comes to forced feeding, as 

 in fattening lambs, such a rack has the objection that more or 

 less dirt filters down into the grain-troughs, and the sheep with 

 their dainty appetites do not feed as well as when the grain- 

 troughs and the hay-rack are separated. 



Quantity of bedding. — Bedding should be used very liberally 

 in both the sheep barn and at least a part of the lot. A fresh 

 supply should be put down every few days. There is much dis- 

 agreement among experienced sheep owners as to the frequency 



