852 VETERINARY HYGIENE 



while later lambs of all breeds have necessarily to be fed 

 through the winter. 



The chief means of winter feeding lies in roots ; of these 

 turnips are the great standby. The change from open 

 grazing to close folding on turnips must be made with the 

 greatest care and judgment, or ill effects will occur. The 

 sheep should only be close folded on turnips for a short time 

 each day, and then returned to the stubble or such grass as 

 is still available; or a few turnips, preferably white to begin 

 with as they are softer, may be scattered over the pasture. 



Sheep at this time should not be turned on to turnips 

 in the early morning when they are hungry, but be kept 

 until later in the day when they have hay, grass, or straw 

 inside them. The tops of the turnips may be dangerous at 

 any time, but particularly so when wet. 



If no grazing is available some hay must be allowed, the 

 feeding of a breeding flock on turnips alone is wrong, and 

 though nothing approaching rich and high feeding is 

 required for the ewes before the lambing period, yet they 

 must be kept in good store condition, and this can only be 

 effected by giving dry food with the turnips. 



In Scotland oat straw and turnips are considered sufficient 

 for the keep of sheep, but there are many flock masters 

 who do not regard straw in this light, and the practice in 

 England is to give an allowance of hay where necessary. 

 Clover and sainfoin hay chaffed is excellent feeding for 

 sheep, though ordinary hay is regarded by many as the 

 best. With a sufficiency of hay and roots the winter may 

 be faced with equanimity ; the evils of overstocking are 

 strongly brought home in the winter, when the land fails 

 to help, and the hay crop is short. Without hay to mix 

 with the roots the winter prospect is a poor one, further, it 

 has to be remembered that hand feeding may have to be 

 carried into May. 



Swedes follow turnips, they require slicing owing to their 

 hardness ; mangels may be used after swedes, but their 

 tendency to produce urinary trouble in male sheep (see 

 p. 261) must not be forgotten. 



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