THE CULTIVATOR. 
29 
to take the size of the animal into consideration; and it must 
be borne in mind, that a large sheep requires more food than a 
small one, and that a sheep which gives five or six pounds of 
wool, must consume more than one which gives but three 
pounds. 
These considerations lead to a proposition which has receiv¬ 
ed but little or no attention from the great mass of our farmers 
who keep sheep, namely: 
The influence or effect of feed on the quantity and quality of 
the uwol and carcass. 
It maybe laid down as a rule, that two pounds of good hay, 
or its equivalent in grain, roots and straw per day, fed regu¬ 
larly at three fodderings, are sufficient for a grown sheep of 
the Merino family, producing three pounds of fine wool, pro¬ 
vided it enters winter quarters healthy and in good condition 
For breeding ewes, or a larger race of sheep, this quantity 
would not be sufficient; and lor a race by nature small and 
weak, it would be more than they require, and if fed to them 
would greatly diminish the quality of the wool, though it in¬ 
creased its quantity. 
Farmers in Germany generally allow their sheep an average 
of from one and three-fourths to two pounds of hay daily, in¬ 
cluding the whole flock, and their sheep are vigorous, healthy 
and in good condition, and attended with the best effect upon 
the wool. Others allow their sheep one and a half pounds 
daily, and they do not suffer by this quantity, but are healthy 
and rather thriving upon it; still they do not yield so much 
wool, nor is the carcass so heavy; while others, through ill- 
advised economy, limit their sheep to one and one-fourth 
pounds of hay daily; but it was found that they sheared from 
ten to sixteen ounces less of wool per head; that the constitu¬ 
tion of the animal could not be matured, and he ultimately 
became a diminutive and feeble animal. The wool from such 
sheep is termed “ hungerjine,” and appears to possess a high 
degree of fineness upon the sheep’s back, and is extremely 
mild and soft to the touch. “ But,” says Mr. Eisner, a writ¬ 
er on sheep husbandry, “this kind of mildness is as excep¬ 
tionable as its fineness, both arising from the poverty of the 
animal; for after shearing and washing, it lessens to an unu¬ 
sual degree in volume.” It is deficient in strength, elasticity 
and the felting properties, and it does not make as perfect und 
durable a fabric, as it would, had the sheep been kept in a 
thriving condition. Its intrinsic value, therefore, to the ma¬ 
nufacturer, is not so great as its apparent fineness would in¬ 
dicate, and the grower who anticipated a “good clip” of 
wool from his flock, is very unpleasantly awakened from his 
dreams, when he finds that they shear much less than he ex¬ 
pected; and this we fear is too often the case with many of 
our economists who undertake to keep flocks of fine woolied 
heep. 
It is, however, certainly a most erroneous conclusion, that 
sheep produce an increased or extra quantity of wool in pro¬ 
portion to an increased or extra quantity of feed. “Farmers 
who were deceived by this theory,” says Mr. Eisner, the au¬ 
thor above quoted, “ have been disappointed; for the increas¬ 
ed quantity of wool was scarcely half in proportion to the 
extra quantity of feed, and the quality was considerably dete¬ 
riorated.” Such is the opinion of one of the most intelligent 
breeders and close observers of the economy of sheep in Ger¬ 
many. The experience of one of your committee fully goes 
to confirm the above position. And his experiments, made 
with great attention and exactness for a senes of years, both 
here in and Germany, enable him confidently to offer the follow¬ 
ing result: Thatsheep of goodsize, superior fineness and thick 
fleece, when rightly fed and managed, produce on an average 
two and three-fourths to three pounds of clean wool, washed 
on the sheep’s back. But a flock is only rightly fed and ma¬ 
naged, when they are not allowed quite as much as they would 
eat, thus insuring thriftiness and bodily health. To effect 
this desirable object, as has been already stated, two pounds 
of good hay, or its equivalent in grain, roots and straw, per 
day, are required; whereas, the same sheep, were they allow¬ 
ed as much hay as they could eat, would consume over three 
pounds or its equivalent in grain, roots and straw. Now in 
order that the increased or extra quantity of wool be equal 
to the increased or extra quantity of hay, they ought to 
shear from four and an eighth to four and a half pounds of 
wool per head. But this is not the ease: the increase seldom 
amounts to more than 25 instead of 50 per cent In other 
words, six pounds of hay fed to three sheep produced from 
eight and one-fourth to nine pounds, while the same quantity 
and of the same quality, fed to two sheep daily produced from 
six and seven-eighths to seven and a half pounds of wool only, 
leaving a balance in favor of the former of from one and three- 
eighths to one and a half pounds; an item in the profits of a 
sheep establishment of some importance, especially where 
large flocks are kept. But this is not the only disadvantage 
of high feeding, for while it ruins the natural constitution of 
the animal, it injures the wool. 
Some German writers on sheep husbandry estimate this re¬ 
duction in quality at ten per cent, and maintain that the great¬ 
er waste in cleansing it increases the loss to twenty per cent; 
such wool containing a larger quantity of oily or greasy sub¬ 
stances, which go far to make up the increased weight of the 
fleece. Assuming this to be a correct estimate'—arid it is be¬ 
lieved to be a fair one—-it will be found that for an outlay of 
50 per cent in extra feed, only five—at the most ten-—percent 
of wool is obtained in return. It would, however, increase 
the carcass and the quantity of manure, but this would be 
done at too great a price. If, however, the sheep were in¬ 
tended for the shambles it would alter the case. 
Flaving considered the influence or effect of feed upon the 
quality and quantity of the wool, and shown that either ex 
treme, the too little, or the too much, is unprofitable to the 
wool-grower, your committee will, in the next place, proceed 
to the consideration of the care and management of sheep du¬ 
ring winter. 
It may be classed under three heads'— Feeding, Watering and 
Shelter 
Food —Should he such as to agree with the habits and eco¬ 
nomy of the sheep, and should contain nourishment and bulk 
equivalent to two pounds of hay. 
The varieties of winter provender, to be considered, are hay 
of all the cultivated grasses, such as clover, lucerne, &c. &c. 
hay from natural but dry meadows; sound oat straw, barley, 
rye and wheat, well cured vetches and pea vines; all kinds of 
grain, but with the exception of the less healthy rye, roots, 
such as potatoes, carrots, ruta baga, mangold wurtzel, turnips 
and the different kinds of beets; all are conducive to the 
health, prosperity and internal economy ol the sheep. 
Of the different kinds of hay, white and red clover, sain- 
oin and timothy, stand first, and seem to be best adapted to 
the nature of the sheep; they eat it with great avidity, and 
with but little abatement in appetite through the whole of a 
long winter. Of red clover, there are two kinds, the northern 
and southern—the latter makes much the best hay. Sheep 
should be made to eat their hay up clean when it is cut at the 
right time and well cured, and that time is, when clover, lu¬ 
cerne and sainfoin is in full bloom, and timothy when about 
one-quarter to one-half of the blossom is off. But if the growth 
is large, lodged or decayed at the bottom, then they should 
not be forced to eat it clean; but an allowance must be made, 
as the decayed parts, were they compelled to eat them, would 
prove hurtful. And if hay is somewhat injured by rains du¬ 
ring the process of curing, then again an allowance should 
be made. Mow burnt or mouldy hay should never be used 
in the sheep cot, for it causes a general debility of the system, 
and if continued would ultimately create the rot. 
Hay from low land meadows is not so good as that from the 
uplands, if these can be renovated by occasional ploughing 
and reseeding, it improves the quality; but in portioning out 
the quantity of hay to sheep a suitable allowance should be 
made, and the more of the wild and sour grasses are mixed in 
with it, the greater should that allowance be. 
Hay from wet meadows is not w'holesome for sheep, and 
should never be given them unless from necessity; then dou¬ 
ble the usual quantity must be allowed. Were they confined 
to such hay and compelled to eat it nearly or quite clean, it 
would prove ruinous to the flock. 
Hay from meadows that have been very highly enriched by 
top dressings, afford a luxuriance and rankness of growth pos¬ 
sessing a laxative property, and should be dealt out to sheep 
very cautiously, especially to lambs, and if it is pretty freely 
salted with a view ol preserving it, the greater caution is ne¬ 
cessary. Sheep will then eat it greedily, especially if salt 
has been withheld from them for some length of time, but it 
is then the more dangerous; as foddering from it a few days 
in succession, even a few' times, creates great thirst. Sheep 
drink an unusual quantity of water, and scouring is produced, 
which often proves to be very fatal. 
But before entering upon any course of feeding, if is advi¬ 
sable to divide the sheep into different flocks. The breeding 
ewes into one flock 1 —the wethers into another—and the 
lambs into a third. From these maul divisions, subdivisions 
may be made as circumstances require, taking care that the 
individuals composing the different flocks, are as nearly as 
possible, of equal size and strength ; if not, the weaker por¬ 
tion are not apt to get a due share of the fodder. And if there 
are any individuals that are old, feeble, &c. an invalid depart¬ 
ment ought to be added, and extra care and attention bestow¬ 
ed upon it. 
Having all the different arrangements completed, a careful 
supervision must be extended over the whole, and the course 
of treatment regulated by circumstances. 
Supposing the breeding ewes to be in good condition, they 
should receive one and a half pounds of hay and one and a 
quarter pounds of grain per day, until the rutting season is 
over; the gram must be then withheld and the flock go through 
the winter on hay, increasing it to two and a quarter pounds, 
and an occasional foddering of straw, until within five or six 
weeks of lambing, when it is decreased a little and roots sub¬ 
stituted, commencing by degrees, with one bushel of potatoes, 
or one bushel and five-eighths of rutabaga to one hundred 
ewes, and increasing the quantity gradually, of potatoes to 
three bushels, and of ruta baga to four and three-quarter bush¬ 
els per day. With this kind of treatment, there will be but 
very little difficulty in raising lambs. 
But if a flock of ewes are not in such condition, and require 
therefore more feed and better treatment, two pounds of hay 
and one-quarter of a pound of grain ought to be fed daily un¬ 
til the rutting season is over, when the grain is withdrawm, 
and roots immediately given, of potatoes two or ruta baga 
three bushels to a hundred per day, until about lambing time, 
when that quantity is increased to three bushels of the former, 
and four and three-quarter bushels of the latter. Both flocks 
receive a foddering of straw or good corn-fodder, three times a 
week, generally at night, of which they will eat a considera¬ 
ble portion, and the orts serve for litter. 
The three years’ old wethers will go through the winter 
on hay, with an occasional foddering of straw, the orts of which 
serve ttiem for liiter. But the younger wethers require bet¬ 
ter feed, and being hard to winter, the best of hay should be 
given them, with some small additions of grain or roots, say 
one-fifth of a pound of grain, or three-quarters of a pound of 
potatoes, or one and a quarter pounds of ruta baga. 
It being very desirable that the lambs should go through 
the winter in the best possible condition, much care is requir¬ 
ed, and having given them a few sheaves of oats every eve¬ 
ning, before they were taken out of the pasture, it remains 
now to be determined the kind and quantity of feed they are 
to receive. This ought to be the best of hay, and as much of 
it as they will eat without cloying them. If it is well mixed 
with white and red clover, and was cut in good season and w'ell 
cured, it should be eaten up clean. In addition to this, from 
a quarter to half a bushel of oats per hundred may be their 
daily allowance, as circumstances require. 
The flock of invalids having been placed in the warmest 
situation, claim every care and attention, and no pains nor 
trouble must be spared, to carry them through the winter; so 
that the old ewes shall be enabled to raise a lamb each, which 
will pay for all the extra expense and trouble the whole has 
cost. 
In view of the foregoing remarks, it becomes necessary to 
ascertain the feeding properties of grain, roots and straw, as 
compared with hay, to enable the farmer to make his estimate 
of the quantity he will require, and to calculate the probable 
profit or loss of raising certain crops, and feeding them to 
sheep. 
The experiments of Mr. DeRaomer, of Kaltwasser, in Sile¬ 
sia, in Germany, go far to establish certain facts on this sub¬ 
ject. They are interesting to the inquiring mind, and may be 
considered as conclusive evidence. Mr. De Raumer is a tho¬ 
rough, practical and scientific farmer, and is considered high 
authority on agricultural subjects; his farm establishment is 
very extensive, and his experiments may be relied upon. 
“ REMAP KS. 
“ Potatoes raw and cut into slices, sheep eat with continu¬ 
ed good appetite and greediness; they ate seven pounds 
per head daily, with an allowance of straw'. The animals re¬ 
mained healthy and lively, and drank one and a half quarts of 
water per head daily. 
“ Mangold wurtzel, sheep eat with less greediness; they 
ate in duration eight pounds per head daily, straw as with the 
potatoes, and drank scarcely one quart of water, 
mals remained likewise healthy. 
The ani- 
KINDS OF FEED. 
Increase of | 
weight in the 1 
live animal. |g 
pf Produced 
o of wool. 
N 
1000 pounds raw potatoes, with salt,.. 
46.2 
6 8| 
1000 do do without salt 
41 
6 8 
1000 do raw mangold wurtzel,.... 
38 
5 3g 
1000 do peas, . 
1000 do w'heat,. 
1341 
14 11 
155 
13 13| 
1000 do rye, with salt,. 
90 
13 m 
1000 do do without salt.... 
83 
12 10i 
1000 do oats,. 
146 
9 12 
136 
11 61 
1000 do buckwheat,. 
120 
10 4 
1000 do good hay. 
1000 do hay, with straw, without 
58 
7 10i 
other fodder,. 
31 
15 8 
1000 lbs. whiskey still grains or wash,. 
35 
6 1 
CD 
a £ 
T3 o 
C —3 
Jr 
P-l ** 
lbs.oz. 
12 5i 
io m 
6 5 £ 
41 6 
59 9 
35 11 i 
33 Si 
40 8 
60 1 
33 8 
12 14 
6 11 
4 0 
“ Peas, sheep eat very eagerly, two pounds per head per 
day, drank two to three quarts of water in twenty-four hours, 
and the animals remained perfectly healthy. In an unsoaked 
condition, they are hard for sheep to eat and affect their teeth. 
“ Wheat, sheep eat greedily, two pounds per head daily, 
and ’disposes them to great liveliness—drank from two to three 
quarts of water in twenty-four hours, and remained perfectly 
healthy. 
“ Rye, sheep do not eat readily, and does not suit them well, 
as ihe above results in the increase of weight show—they 
drank from two to three quarts of water. 
“ Barley, sheep ate two and a half pounds per head daily— 
they thrived upon it, and drank three quarts of water in twen¬ 
ty-four hours. 
“ Oats, the same as barley. 
“ Buckwheat, sheep ate with great avidity and with the best 
results as to health and liveliness. A sheep can eat from 
three to four pounds, and drink from two and a half to three 
quarts of water in twenty-four hours. 
“Of good hay, a sheep can consume four and a half pounds, 
and drink from two and a half to three quarts of water in 
twenty-four hours.” 
Mr. VV. A. Kreisig, a celebrated farmer in East Prussia, 
considers that one pound of oil-cake meal is as nutritious as 
two pounds of good hay. 
80 lbs clover hay* equal to 100 lbs. meadow' hay; 
80 lbs. lucerneand sainfoin, equal to 100 lbs. ofmeadowhay; 
200 lbs. sound and well cured vetches and pea vines to 100 do. 
300 lbs. sound barley and oat straw, equal to 100 lbs. do. 
400 lbs. sound wheat and rye straw, equal to 100 lbs. do. 
100 lbs. water turnips, equal to 40 lbs. of potatoes, or 50 lbs. 
of mangold wurtzel. 
Mr. John Philip Wagner says, in his work entitled “ Con¬ 
tributions to the Science and Treatment of Wool and Sheep,” 
that “ 200 pounds of potaioes, 266 pounds of carrots, 350 
pounds of ruta baga, and 90 pounds of clover hay, lucerne 
and sainfoin, are each of them equal to 100 pounds of good 
hay.” 
Your committee beg leave further to cite the practice of a 
few of the most celebrated breeders of sheep in Germany, and 
firstly that of Mr. Albricht Thaer, of Moeglin, in Prussia.— 
Potatoes and straw constitute the main feed for his large flock 
of 1500 during w'inter He cuts them into small slices, feed¬ 
ing them alternately with straw. When his pastures, in the 
fall of the year, begin to fail, he commences feeding potatoes 
by scattering them in the field in such quantities as he deems 
sufficient, with the best effect upon their health and condition; 
his flock fully attests that sheep may be kept principally on 
roots and straw; and one of your committee, who has been 
familiar with sheep husbandry, both here and in Germany, 
confidently believes, from his knowledge on the subject, that 
the same practice can be profitably applied in our sheep hus¬ 
bandry. 
Mr. Block, of Schieraw, in Silesia, Germany, one of the 
most intelligent and experienced breeders of sheep, keeps a 
flock of 500, in the following manner. He fodders six times 
a day. 
1st fodder—208 lbs rye straw, of which they ate.. 52 lbs. 
2d fodder—130 lbs. oat do do do .. 97 lbs. 
3d fodder—the dry sheep received 160 lbs. of pea 
vines, of which they ate. 120 lbs. 
the ewes received hay.120 lbs. 
4th fodder—potatoes mixed with cut straw 750 lbs. 
rye bran,. 31 lbs. 
oil cake meal,. 8 lbs. 
barley meal,.33 lbs. 
822 lbs. 
5tli fodder—the ewes received hay,. 120 lbs. 
the wethers rec’d 160 lbs. pea vines. 
of which they ate.. 120 lbs. 
6th & last fodder—208 lbs. of rye and wheat straw, 
of which they ate. 52 lbs. 
Total amount consumed per day,. 1651 Jbs. 
The flock was of superior quality, the animals large arid' al¬ 
ways in excellent condition. 
Count Magnis, of Eckhardsdorf, gave to 100 breeding ewes, 
the following per day: 
1st fodder—straw and clover hacker,. 69 lbs. 
2d fodder—the same,. 69 lbs. 
3d fodder—clover hay,. 100 lbs. 
4th fodder—potatoes and straw hacker,. 72 lhs. 
5th fodder—straw, . 75 lbs. 
Total,.. 385 lbs* 
The Electoral flock of Rennesdorf, the private property of 
the king of Saxony, consisting of 400 breeding ewes and rams, 
1,000 pounds of hay in two meals, and at night a foddering of 
straw, was their daily portion. 
Although there might be many other valuable practices of 
the German shepherds cited, but your committee fearing that 
they have already exhausted your patience, forbear to enlarge 
* Note by the Translator. —The clover in Germany grows 
finer than the clover in this section of country—it resembles 
more the Pennsylvania clover—-and yields two crops a sea¬ 
son. It is cut when in full blow, and well cured in cocks. 
r 
