THE MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP ON THE FARM. 43 
PUMPKINS. 
Pumpkins are a very satisfactory stock food and are readily eaten 
by sheep. Their keeping qualities, however, are such that they can 
be fed only through the fall and early winter. They should be cut 
into small pieces and fed in about the same quantities as roots. A 
crop of pumpkins can often be grown in the cornfield, and their 
feeding value and the variety they add to the ration amply repay 
the extra cost. 
SOILING CROPS. 
Little work has been done on soulimg market sheep. Daintiness 
on the part of the sheep in refusing to eat feed that is in any way 
unclean, the variety desired by the sheep, and the extra amount of 
labor necessary preclude this practice. Henry, at the Wisconsin 
Experiment Station’ soiled a lot of sheep on green-corn fodder and 
clover, and produced gains at a reasonable cost, but it is hardly 
possible that soiling will ever be important in commercial - flock 
husbandry because of the difficulties mentioned. Show sheep are 
more often soiled, as more time and attention can be devoted to 
them. 
CONCENTRATES. 
Although sheep are eminently adapted to digesting large amounts 
of roughage, they also can use grain to good advantage and under 
many conditions give the best results only when they receive it. 
Corn.—Corn has been fed more to fattening sheep in this country 
than any other grain. The ears are sometimes chopped and fed in 
this way. More often it 1s fed shelled, cracked, or ground into meal. 
Corn-and-cob meal is also used. The value of the cob lies in the fact 
that it lightens the ration. It should be ground fine or the cob will 
not be eaten. While corn is an excellent grain for fattening stock, 
it is suitable only in small amounts for breeding and young stock. 
It is too carbonaceous in character to form more than a small part 
of their ration. 
Barley.—Barley is widely used in fattening sheep outside of the 
corn belt. In the West and Northwest it has gained its widest 
popularity, and the results from its use have been quite favorable as 
compared with corn. 
Oats.—Oats are an excellent grain for growing sheep or for breeding 
stock, especially when fed in connection with other grains. When — 
fed alone for fattening purposes oats are not generally as satisfactory 
as corn or barley. However, some western trials report very satis- 
factory results. 
Wheat.—Because of the continued high price of wheat it is of little 
importance as a feed for sheep. Damaged wheat and screenings are 
fed to sheep, but not to as great an extent as formerly. 
1 Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Wisconsin, Eighth Annual Report (1891), Madison, 
1892. 
