| Show l n nn IE a D U UY Y n nv v n u SHEEP CARE DURING WINTER I Breeding Ewes Should Be Kept Thrifty and Not Allowed to Lose In Weight Prepared by the United States Department of ot Agriculture At this season the flock owner Is principally Interested in fall and winter winter winter win win- ter feeding and maintenance The he shepherd should train himself to read the condition of his sheep by feeling the bone of the loin or back At no notime notime notime time while they are In lamb should ewes be allowed to lose weight In open wet fall seasons there Is danger of waiting too long to start feeding Winter management Is very Important important important tant In its effect upon the returns from the flock Leguminous hn hays 1 straws and ancl cornstalks usually form the main part of economical winter rations CloY Clover r alfalfa or cowpea ha hay if of good goad quality may be used as tho the sole feed until near lambing time from 3 to 3 31 pounds daily dally being sufficient for ewes weighing less than pounds Oat and wheat straw are better than rye or barley straw Cornstalks Cornstalks Corn Corn- stalks placed where the ewes can eat ent off the leaves may be used as a part of the roughage ration If this tills ration is made up largely of cornstalks or straw strow a nitrogenous ous concentrate should also be us used cl Timothy hay Is not good sheep feed Silage will reduce the cost of the ration but It is best to use It with ha hay Feed only silage made from well ma corn and be sure that it Is not notI I spoiled frozen or moldy Three pounds per head a da day is the limit for this feed For breed ewes roots particularly particularly par par- turnips should be used sparingly spar spar- sparingly until after lambing The two rations rations' here lere given will be found satisfactory satisfactory satisfactory satis satis- factory for ewes from 1 0 to pounds in weight Ration No 1 2 pounds alfalfa or cowpea hay 2 pounds corn corn silage pound shelled corn Ration No 2 V t pounds alfalfa hay 2 pounds corn silage sHalle If It the ewes run on fall wheat or rye during the winter the pasture must be supplemented by some dry or concentrated concentrated con con- feed Silage and roots are not desirable when the pasture Is green One-half One pound of cottonseed meal contains the tho dally daily protein re- re i o r k k Wg ft f ff M r A Good Pasture to Range Ov Over Provide Provides Pro Pro- vides vide th the Best E Exercise for the Breeding Flock for pregnant ewes and It should be used when the price Is right However a quarter-pound quarter along with other feeds containing protein may be better than one containing a n larger amount of cottonseed meal Exercise for the ewe in winter Is necessary If It strong lambs Jambs are to be produced The They can be Induced to take exercise by scattering their feed over the ground which will Induce them mem toem to 10 ao do a great cleat Of or walking Another way Is to do clo the feeding some distance from tire the sh shelter lter Winter pasture will of course solve the problem problem problem lem of exercise But the flock ought not to be out In rain or wet snow as a wet fleece Is a frequent cause of colds and pneumonia A sheep will shake off oft dry snow and be none the worse for tor having been out In a storm Present conditions should be no discouragement die dis I to a n person who thinks of starting a flock for the man man who succeeds with live stock Is the one who goes In and stays In through fat years and lean enn Perhaps It Is better betterto to go in III when prices are low for then It costs less for foundation stock It Is doubtful whether a man should start keeping sh sheep p unless his farm tarm will allow the keeping of at ot least 30 ewes and in most cases CO GO or more will be handled better and more economically economically economically eco eco- than a a. a ver very small flock Old ewes should be discarded at five the years ears of ot age uge When this Is done and the poorest of the ewe lambs are sold n a flock ock will ordinarily double In tl Sze ze In Jn three years ears |
