16 BULLETIN 573, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
of February and had received no grain. Their mothers, however, 
had received good feed and excellent care. Where the pasture has 
been well started and properly cared for, on the heavier soils of the 
project as many as 10 ewes and their lambs are carried on 1 acre for 
the entire season. The average pastures, however, will not carry so 
many stock, seven ewes and their lambs being a common carrying 
capacity. The best results are secured by haying the pasture 
divided into three parts, so that the stock are off the pasture during 
irrigation and for some time afterwards. Neither horses nor hogs 
should be allowed in the pasture with the sheep, but excellent results 
are secured where sheep and cattle graze together. Pure drinking 
water and salt should be provided at all times. It is desirable, also, 
that shade be provided in each pasture, as this adds to the comfort 
and thrift of the animals. When, as the result of overstocking or 
unfavorable growing weather, the pasture becomes temporarily over- 
grazed, it should be supplemented by feeding some grain to the lambs. 
In some instances the ewes become too fat on irrigated pasture, so 
that they do not breed satisfactorily. This difficulty can be elimin- 
ated by turning the ewes into stubble fields or otherwise providing a 
relatively scanty feed for a short time. 
There are occasionally instances in which it seems advisable to 
pasture clover and alfalfa, although the practice is somewhat hazard- 
ous on account of bloat. There are many theories as to the best 
method of preventing bloat. The safest practice appears to be to 
have the sheep well filled with hay or other feed before they are 
turned on the alfalfa and clover pasture. Some farmers maintain 
that if no shade is provided bloat is less likely to occur. They argue 
that when shade is provided the sheep remain in the shade too long 
on hot days and then consume large quantities of succulent feed in a 
P932RP 
Fic. 5.—Typical shed and winter yards for a farm flock of sheep on the Minidoka Reclamation Project. 
A common and satisfactory practice, is to have the closed shed used for lambing face to the south, and 
the open shed, for general uses, face the east. 
