56 



Practical Sheep Husbandry 



Methods Employed by Michigan Feeders 



Possibly, at this time, our best dry-lot or bam feeders are found in 

 Michigan. These men do not do much pasturing or field feeding. They 

 prefer to grow alfalfa, clover and other good hay in abundance, raise 

 what grain they can and buy the balance. They do not feed much 

 ensilage or roots, and While they produce a highly finished article, and 

 their sheep and lambs dress out well, it is certain they could produce 

 their gains more economically if they fed a ration of succulent feeds. 

 These men, as a rule, buy lambs and place them directly in the barn, 

 and there they remain until they are shipped to market. 



Perhaps I can give the reader a little better idea of the methods 

 employed by some of these feeders by relating a little experience of 

 mine a few years ago, when visiting some customers. These men 

 were quite large operators, and as I had been supplying them with their 

 feeding lambs I concluded one week-end to run up and see them, get 

 better acquainted, and study their methods, for I had learned that they 

 were very good feeders. As I had not advised them of my coming and 

 their place was only a short distance from town, I concluded to walk 

 out. Coming up to their place and seeing their sheep barns, I jumped 

 the fence and walked over to them. When I had reached the barn and 

 was proceeding to do some investigating on my own account, out came 

 a gentleman from one of the adjoining buildings and asked me my 

 business, and what I was doing among the sheep. I told him who 1 

 was, and he said: "We do not allow strangers among the sheep, and 

 I am the only one allowed to feed and care for them." 



Good Care and Big Gains 



He explained that the quieter the lambs could be kept, the bigger 

 gains they would make. He had them under a big open shed or barn, 

 with a loft used as a storage place for hay and grain running through 



This enclosed sheep 

 bam or shed faces 

 south. Combination hay 

 and grain racks may be 

 built around the walls. 

 Windows should be 

 hung on center pivots 

 and placed at a good 

 height above hayracks. 

 A small room should be 

 boarded off in one cor- 

 ner, with stove and cot 

 for shepherd's use dur- 

 ing leunbing time. Note 

 wide door, also well 

 constructed gate to shut 

 sheep in when door is 

 open. This barn need 

 not be expensive, and 

 it can be constructed in 

 any size, allowing 12 to 

 16 square feet for breed- 

 ing ewes, 5 to 8 for 

 lambs being prepared 

 for market. No pro- 

 vision is made for stor- 

 ing fed in this enclosed 

 shed, and feed must be 

 brought from other 

 bams. 

 Drawn by Jet Wimp 



