Field Feeding 



Grain: It's Importance 



51 



The writer has always believed that sheep should be brought to a 

 lot near the barn yard at night. It gives the feeder an opportunity 



Western Lambs Coming in From the Cornfield to Receive Their Bite of Mixed Grain and 



to be Yarded for the Night 



to inspect them carefully, as he should, to weigh them to note their 

 progress and to count them. These things should be done from time 

 to time. Even though the feed in the field is excellent, it has been my 

 experience that the feeder who gives his sheep or lambs grain each 

 evening, even if only a little taste, is always well repaid for doing so. 

 They will be at the gate each evening to get it, and it will quiet them 

 so they will lie down and fatten. Men who practise yarding their sheep 

 at night get about two pounds gain to one by the fellow who leaves 

 them in the field at night. Feed troughs must also be kept well cleaned, 

 and any left overs given to the hogs. When troughs get dirty they 

 should be given a thorough scrubbing with lime water. 



Number to Be Shipped in Car 



The feeder should bear in mind that he cannot load as many large 

 sheep in a car as small ones. In taking feeding lambs out, generally 

 from three hundred to three hundred and fifty fifty-five to sixty pound 

 lambs can be loaded in a thirty-six foot, double deck car. More close 

 wooled lambs can be loaded than open wooled lambs. One double or 

 two single loads going out will make three decks going back to market. 

 Overloading should be avoided. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in 

 dead and excessive shrink is suffered every year through overloading. 



