Field Feeding 



47 



there may be found on nearly every farm throughout the central and 

 eastern states, a considerable amount of roughage which makes excel- 

 lent sheep and lamb feed. It is found in the form of oat, wheat, rye, 

 and barley stubble fields, blue grass pasture, weedy corn fields and 

 Waste patches generally. Farmers have learned that they can market 

 this otherwise wasted roughage via the sheep route and at the same 

 time clean up their farms and fertilize their land. Some falls, when 

 weed seeds ripen, and quite a little grain is left in the stubble fields, 

 sheep will get quite fat without any added grain, but this is very unusual 

 and should never be depended upon. Ordinarily, this class of feed will 

 put on a big, growthy gain, but will not produce the finish required at 

 the market. Quick gains are generally the most economical, and most 

 successful field feeders have found that they make more money and 

 have less risk if they feed grain with this roughage to the amount re- 

 quired to insure a finished product by the time rough feed is gone, or 

 at most enough grain so as only to be required to feed in a dry lot for a 

 short time after green feed is gone. 



Feeders Adaptable to Feed 



If the field feeder feels he wants to utilize his green feeds first, and 

 only feed grain in the dry lot after green feeds are gone, then he should 

 use caution in regard to the class of feeders he buys. There is a very 

 important rule to follow in selecting feeders, so no mistake will be made 

 in getting something that will be adaptable to one's feeds. Always buy 

 a class of sheep or lambs that you can be sure to offer better feed than 

 they have been receiving. This rule holds good among all kinds of 

 live stock. During the past few years conditions on the range have 

 greatly improved. On many 



ranches good feeds are provided 

 and flocks are brought through the 

 winter in good shape and start out 

 in the spring strong, with the ewes 

 giving a good flow of milk for the 

 lambs. In some places tame pas- 

 tures have been developed to give 

 the ewe and lamb an early start, 

 and later to graze on bulf alo, wheat 

 and other western grasses, much 

 more fattening and nutritious than 

 the average grasses or roughage 

 found in the central states. Idaho 

 and Washington, which states are the big contributors during July, 

 August and September, produce very fine stuff and sheep and lambs 

 from these states are, as a rule, fleshy, even the feeding end. Some 

 of these western sheep and lambs come to market as fat as the farmer 

 can make them with grain. The farmer taking these fleshy feeders out 

 to feed must know this and be prepared to offer them nutritious feeds, 

 and generally a grain ration must be added, otherwise his sheep and 

 lambs will grow but will not fatten, and may lose flesh. There are, 

 however, ranges that do not produce such fleshy stuff, or it may be 

 drouthy in that section, making it possible to obtain a thin class of 



Range Ewes Brought Thraugh the Winter 

 Strong and Vigorous 



