22 



farmers' BULLETIN 029. 



most commonly used. The amount of grain needed seems to depend 

 much upon the other feeds available and to some extent upon the 

 season. If plenty of the finer varieties of hay, particularly clover, 

 has been used, together with succulent feeds in the form of roots or 

 silage, but little grain is needed. On the other hand, if the rough- 

 age has consisted largely of coarse, inferior hay, and little or 

 no succulent feed, grain needs to be fed in much larger quantities 

 and for a much longer period. As a general thing it will not pay to 

 keep sheep 'unless the hays cited as best adapted to their needs can 

 be grown together with some form of succulent feed. Some growers 

 feed no grain at all, but the better ones make a practice of graining 

 for a time, from 4 to 6 weeks in the spring of the year before turn- 

 ing out to pasture, and without doubt it is feed well worth while. 

 The principal thing is to keep the flock in good condition at all sea- 

 sons of the year, and in order to do this some grain is usually essential 

 for at least a month in the spring of the year, especially if the Lambs 

 come before the ewes go on grass. 



FRESH AIR AND EXERCISE. 



It is known that these two factors of care, which have so direct 

 an effect upon the health of sheep, are too often ignored, and their 

 importance can not be overemphasized. Elaborate and expensive 

 ventilating devices or buildings 1 are not necessary, the main prin- 

 ciple to be observed in making provision for ventilation being to 

 make sure that fresh *air is to be had at all times without exposing 

 the flock to drafts. The pens should be roomy, at all times dry, and 

 the sheep should be allowed a chance to get out of doors during the 

 day. If necessary to induce exercise, a part of the feed can be scat- 

 tered out of doors on the snow, but at no time should sheep be ex- 

 posed to driving snow storms or drenching rains. 



ATTENTION IN THE SPRING. 



Sheep require relatively little time as compared with other kinds 

 of stock, but attention at certain times is important. At lambing 

 time sheep require close attention, the importance of which is well 

 expressed in Farmers' Bulletin 840, page 14, in the following state- 

 ment: ''The lambing season is the shepherd's harvest time, and the 

 size and quality of the crop practically determine the profits * * *. 

 At this time extra attention must be given to the ewes and lambs. In 

 no other way can time be used to better advantage on the farm." The 

 sort of attention necessary at this season is fully discussed in the 



1 Equipment and building construction for farm sheep raising are fully discussed in 

 Farmers' Bulletin 810, which is obtainable from the Department of Agriculture upon 



request. 



