PASTURING SHEEP ON ALFALFA. 
9 
hay we turned the sheep on the range. In all this time we 
lost only one sheep and it is not sure that this one died of 
bloat. We were very careful not to drive or bother this 
bunch of sheep. When they had all gathered in the corral 
at night the gate was closed and opened again very early in 
the morning. 
The other 400 ewes had no alfalfa field so convenient to 
their night corral and they had to be both driven and 
herded. We had almost daily losses with this bunch until 
finally we made some new fencing that allowed them to 
roam without herding and after that our losses ceased. 
In the light of these three season’s experience, it seems 
to me that if a person wants to make a success of pasturing 
alfalfa and is so situated that he must corral the sheep at 
eight, then this corral should be in the field where there will 
be no need ever to drive the sheep or worry them. 
In the fall of 1898 I took sheep off the cars and turned 
them at once into an alfalfa field that had been cut but once 
during the season and where the alfalfa was so high the 
-sheep could hardly be seen. Yet there were no losses. 
In regard to the profit of thus pasturing alfalfa; I have 
made a little money at it and I believe there is money in it 
for anyone who has sufficient land and capital so that he can 
.arrange matters properly. 
W. B. BALDWIN, Fowler. 
We have had considerable experience in pasturing sheep 
-on alfalfa. At first we lost quite a number, but finally found 
that the loss would be largely reduced if we left the sheep 
•on the alfalfa day and night and kept the alfalfa large. We 
also found it best to have the sheep’s stomach empp, when 
put on alfalfa and then not take them out even if they do 
bloat. Our theory is that if the stomach is empty there will 
be room for a large amount of gas if they do bloat, and as 
soon as they begin bloating they will stop eating and but 
few will die. This theory is altogether different from the 
general opinion, but it is all right. Sheep must not change 
pasture. They must stay on the same pasture all summer 
if you wish to have success. Good alfalfa will keep about 
eight ewes and their lambs per acre. It should be irrigated 
often so as to keep the alfalfa from getting dry. If the al¬ 
falfa should get dry and you have to change the sheep to 
another field, you may expect losses. 
Shropshires are the hardiest sheep I have had on pas¬ 
ture or on range. 
