VERT WM dd rT é Profitable Sheep Production on mere Farm ' : : YW UML ML WMVIWUW“s“u“ FayeneRTIRIONE NER MC!" WW CMM lo i Poe ATW IP AS y "i ; LIBRARY ok BIB OUR AIM Profitable Sheep Production on Every Farm What The Leading Agriculturists Say “T shall be glad to do what I can to assist you in what I regard as a wise move- ‘ment and one which in my judgment is likely to have in some states at least far reaching and beneficial consequences.”—William P. Brooks, Director Massachusetts Agricultural College. | “We shall be most happy to cooperate with you in stimulating interest in sheep raising in our state.”—Jacob G. Lipman, Dean and Director, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stations. “Tf we could get one or two ‘bankers in each county to loan money for the pur- chase of flocks of sheep, it would not only interest the farmers but the business men in the sheep industry. I believe it could be accomplished so we would at least have a dozen or more flocks in each county.”—H. A. Morgan, Dean of University of Tennessee. “The College of Agriculture will be glad to co-operate with you in promoting the sheep industry.”—F. B. Mumford, Dean and Director, University of Missouri. “This department is very much interested in a movement of this kind. You can rest assured that we will render any assistance that you may wish in putting across your plan in this state.’ ma S. Templeton, Professor of Animal Husbandry, Alabama. , “We are very much pleased Phat you realize the seriousness of the shortage in mutton and wool and trust that your undertaking will meet with the greatest of suc- cess.”—R. B. Cooley, Professor of Animal Husbandry, Rhode Island. “T believe that your idea is a very good one and should be encouraged in every way possible, since sheep may be very profitably raised by a large number of persons.”—R. L. Hagen, Assistant State Leader of Clubs, California. “Offers such as yours will do much I am sure to arouse a greater interest in the work and I have no doubt but that we shall be able to get several hundred boys and girls interested in the care and management of sheep.”’—F. L. Griffin, In charge of Junior Extension Work. New York. | , “T believe that you have an excellent plan and one that will appeal to the people of this state very much, indeed, We have an excellent state for the development of the sheep industry. We have approximately 100,000 sheep and the state could easily support 3,000,000 sheep. It only needs a movement such as you have started together with some good follow-up plans to develop the industry very greatly in this state.”—W. L. Carlyle, Dean of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College. “Your plan of stimulating the sheep and wool industry appeals to me to be very sensible. I believe if this plan is carried out something worth while will be ac- complished.”—H. L. Price, Dean of Agricultural Department, Virginia. “T assure you that we gladly take advantage of every offer of assistance to promote club work on a permanent basis in Indiana.’-—Z. M, Smith, Boys’ and Girls’ Club Leader, Indiana. “We shall be very glad to help in any way that we can in the campaign you are promoting.” —W. E. Carroll, Professor of Animal Husbandry, Utah. “T believe that your sheep club idea is a splendid SHS inte L. Farley, Super- visor, Junior Extension Work, Mass. “T am very much interested 1 in your proposition ai hope we can do something to further your campaign.”—F. S. Harris, Director Utah Agricultural College. “fam pleased with your suggestions and believe that we shall be able to cooperate with you in this project.”—Otis E. Hall, State Club Leader, Kansas. “We shall be glad to assist you in any way possible in this undertaking.” —W. H. Tomhave, Professor of Animal Husbandry, Pennsylvania State College. “T believe your Sheep Club to be a good one. Call upon me at any time to assist you.”—James W. Wilson, Professor of Animal Husbandry, South Dakota. “T think this plan has some very excellent features.’—J. H. Skinner, Head of Department of Animal Industry, Indiana. “T wish to state that we are wholly in sympathy with this effort which you are putting forth.”—H. B. Pier, Assistant Professer, Animal Husbandry, Nebraska. JU™ youn Y Profitable Sheep Production on Every Farm Tee Wool is one of the few every-day essentials that we do not raise in sufficient quantities to meet our wants. Our annual consumption of wool is about six hundred million pounds, this year we will raise about two hundred sixty million pounds. increasing, our sheep are decreas- ing. In 1900 there were one mil- lion farmers keeping sheep—today there is but few more than half a million engaged in raising sheep and wool. There are more than twelve million less sheep today than in 1900. In’ the warring countries sheep have been slaught- ered by the millions, and conse- quently there will be a great short- age of sheep and wool for years to come, which means that the sheep raiser is going to receive large profits from his flock. It is claimed that the United States can profitably.increase the num- ber of sheep to one hundred and fifty million. After taking all of these facts into consideration, we decided to do all in our power to bring the seriousness of this situa- tion to the attention of the boys of the United States. In our opin- While our population is ion that is about the only way to remedy it, as they will be the farm- ers of tomorrow and we want to im- press upon them the importance of sheep raising. We want to show them that it is a most valuable branch of animal husbandry. After taking the matter up with various agricultural colleges, and men high in the live stock world, we decided on the Bradley Sheep Club as a means of showing the young men of the country the importance of ‘sheep raising. -Details of the Club have been carefully worked out. You will find the plan on pages 15 and 16. It is our hope to get sev- eral thousand boys interested in sheep raising. Many of these boys will receive a flock of sheep with- out any cost whatever to them- selves, as you will note that we will cancel a number of the notes each year. Quarterly Bulletins will be issued to keep up their interest, and keep the boys informed as to just what their brother workers are doing. It is hoped that at the end of the five-year period this Sheep Club will have been the means of increasing the number of sheep in the United States by many thousand. | ‘ BRADLEY KNITTING COMPANY DELAVAN, WISCONSIN How to Care For Sheep By ANTHONY R. GOULD, Associate Editor of the American Sheep Breeder. Sheep husbandry is as varied in its methods and practices as any occupation. There are as many ways to shear a sheep as there are to plow corn or throw an “in”, A southpaw does not throw to first the same as a right hander. The prac- tices explained here are not the only ways. to do a certain thing, but they are commended to the beginner with a few breeding ewes. These ideas must be adapted by you, to your sheep, your farm your general conditions. Remember your success depends on fitting these ideas to the task at hand. If you read_ these pages with that in view you will stand a good chance to cop a prize. The first day that you receive your ewes you will be inclined to start to fat- ten them right away. Dont. Let them have a good drink of water and then all of the dry hay they will clean up readily. The next morning give them hay and then put them on pasture. When you go to get your ewes it would be well to ask the breeder how he has been feeding them and that will give you an idea as to how to continue. Cold and wet weather will now be ap- proaching and you should remember that rain, sleet, and wet snow are enemies of The your flock. Don’t make the Value of mistake of not sheltering Shelter your ewes until they have become wet, in other words, don’t’ wait until most of the damage is done. A dry, sheltering shed or a corner of the barn should be reserved for the ewes. Plenty of fresh air and no drafts are precautions © to follow in selecting your sheep quart- ers. A heated barn is dangerous rather ' than a safeguard. Don’t make them lie on a pile of manure for this means filthy fleeces that will sell under -price at shearing time. In wet weather bring your ewes up every night for a bad soak- ing means suffering’if not loss. More- over, the dogs may be after your sheep if let out in the field. Dogs will run your ewes and possibly catch and kill them. You should now begin to consider that your ewe will soon be dropping a lamb and she must take from her body or her Feeding food the substance for her Pregnant young. The lamb is made Ewes of muscle tissue and bone and not fat and while your ewe should be gaining weight she should not be fed to an over fat condition. Exercise com- bined with clean feed will help your ewe to produce a strong active lamb and to have sufficient milk to nourish it. Such ewes are less likely to have trouble in lambing and not as apt to disown their lambs. On most farms there will be spare pasture, oat or wheat stubble, old clover pasture and corn stalks that can well be used in carrying the flock into the winter. Such pasture will usually prove sufficient ' to feed the sheep until the middle of De- cember or first of January, when you should begin to feed a half to _ three- fourths of a pound of grain each day. If in thin flesh this may be increased to a pound for ewes weighing 150 pounds. Whole oats make a -very satisfactory feed for sheep and particularly the preg- nant ewe if fed with legume hay. Other grains and manufactured products as cotton seed meal or cake, linseed oil meal or cake, soy bean meal and bran can be successfully used to a limited extent. Corn alone is not considered a good feed for pregnant ewes for it is too fattening and not a good bone and tissue builder. If mixed with oats or any of the con- centrates above mentioned it may be very successfully used as a part of the ration or if fed with legume hay. The feed to be used must depend on the cost which is largely determined by the section of the country. In the Watch the south pasture will be the Expense most economical feed and Account ‘usually good the year around. Hay and corn will easily tide over the short period of the scanty feed. In the eastern two-thirds of the country corn will be the cheapest grain, while the meals and bran will be comparative- ly high priced. In this case a third to A typical range ewe. —Courtesy Mo. Agr. Coi- Mr. Gould is interested in the Sheep Club, He says he hopes to have time to answer all questions the Club Members may ask. half a pound of corn and two pounds of legume hay each day would be most eco- nomical. Clover, alfalfa, soybeans, cow- peas, lespedeza, vetch and field pea hays are commonly called legume hays. In case one of these hays is available in abundance as it is in the west it will be unnecessary to feed grain until six weeks before lambing time which is around 145 days after breeding. Hay and all the cornstalks the sheep can pas- ture through in six hours will prove suf- ficient as long as the stalks carry any leaves. Oat and wheat straw may be used in place of the hay if cotton seed meal or oil meal is also fed. An eighth of a pound of either of these is all that can profitably be fed to sheep at present prices, Silage may safely be fed to pregnant ewes provided it is made from well ma- tured corn, cut fine and tramped down well. All mouldy or frozen silage must be carefully avoided. A pound and a half a day is sufficient with plenty of hay. If the sheep fall in condition a little grain should be added. Sheep will not relish filthy feed or that which has once been fed and left. Clean troughs and clean feed are every bit as essential as having feed at all. © In order to clear the situation the fol- lowing typical rations are listed with amount fed each day. It must be remem- bered that only one of these should be used at one time and sudden changes of feed avoided: Ration 1—Pasture, corn stalks, etc. DOMINO ELA Y © hate) aheegeys se ste 1 pound Ration 2—Pasture, corn stalks, etc. RE Coat gM oi ea Re ons SS 3-4 pound merumeiiay eo. 6. ek es 1-2 pound Ration 3—Silage .......... 1 pound egame) Hayooy ...)6 ase *,..2 pounds Ration 4——-Silage. 0. vcs. 2 pounds Shelled Corn ©. ic. 5s oe 1-2 pound PATO C wit Vinee inte vrae arte eos 2 pounds Ration 5—Alfalfa Hay ..2 1-2 pounds Shelled Corn) ....4-7. 40% Ys 1-2 pound In addition to feed and_ shelter the ewe needs salt and water. Salt should be supplied weekly or kept in a box near the feed troughs. Clean fresh water is a requirement for successful sheep keep- ing. The statement is often made that sheep get enough moisture from the snow and grass but if you will keep them supplied with water you will appreciate the extent to which sheep drink. The importance of cleanliness cannot be over emphasized, both in connection with feeding and also in regard to water. If This ewe is daughter of the Western ewe and a pure bred ram. —Courtesy Mo. Agr. Col. you are going to water them see to it that it is clean water. ; During the winter when on feed there is danger that the ewes will not get enough exercises to keep in active, thrifty Exercise condition. It is a good prac- Has Its tice to scatter the hay in | Place the field on dry days and let them walk about for it. If they get no exercise naturally, they should be driven | around slowly for half an hour. As long as they are on pasture such a precau- tion is unnecessary. Pregnant ewes should not be made to go over places where they must strain themselves nor through narrow passages where they crowd as abortion may result. Caring for a ewe is mainly the ap- plication of patience and good sense. It stands to reason that fat, sluggish, pampered animals will not make good mothers nor have strong lambs; neither will thin, worn out ewes produce healthy, thrifty young that come quickly to their feet and look for mother’s milk. . As stated before the period of. preg- nancy is one hundred and forty-five days. The date the ewes may be expected to The Approach lamb will be furnished of Lambing each boy with his ewes. Season As this time approaches the ewe should be watched. The first indication of pregnancy will be a notice- able falling of the underline and a tend- ency for the loin to stand out due to the sinking in of the sides in front of the hips and over the rump. This will. usual- ly not appear until shortly before the day the lamb comes. Later the udder be- gins to fill out and a few days before - lambing will have reached some size. In rare cases the bag does not fill until Get the Sheep and win a thoroughbred Ram then you will have the Start of a Valuable Flock. after the lamb comes. A few hours be- fore lambing, it not infrequently hap- pens, that the ewe will begin to look for her lamb and call for it. She may even go so far as to claim other lambs in the pen. Warm quarters should be prepared for _the ewe and her lamb in climates where it is.cold and the lamb comes early. An airy, open barn may be made warm by stuffing straw between the wall and a few boards that are nailed six inches from it holding the straw in position. When first born the young lamb is wet and weak and easily affected by the cold so each ewe as she is about to lamb should be put in the warmest corner of the shed. During the last few days the ewe should be fed lightly on grain but may receive all of the roughage and succulent feed she can consume. The use of much grain at this time may mean milk fever and caked udder afterwards. You should also trim the wool away from about the udder for the new born lamb will suck a tag as readily as a teat. Before lambing begins you should have a few supplies gathered so that you will not be delayed in case of trouble. The most important drugs include carbolic acid or liquid sheep dips for disinfectant; castor oil and epson salts for physic, fluid extract of belladonna for swellings, ginger’ for stimulant, and soap for in- jections in case of constipation. Appli- ances that you will find use for includes a nipple and a small necked bottle for feeding and something warm to wrap about a chilled lamb. Whenever there is indication that a ewe is about to lamb (she may start to paw the bedding with her front feet) it is When the’ well to place a _ hurdle Lamb around her to keep the other Comes ewes away and to keep her lamb or lambs from straying before she becomes acquainted. Such a partition must be of slats of wire so that she can . see her kind and not feel restless from being in a strange place. It can be made out of’ one by four inch boards built as two sections of a fence thirty inches high and four feet long, hinged together so they will stand. A frame covered with woven wire fencing will do very well, See drawing for combina- tion lambing pen and creep. Now is the time to leave her alone. Unless she is very well acquainted with you keep out of sight. I know it is your first lamb—weak and helpless—but leave ~ Mother it alone. There may be another lamb coming and you will needlessly excite her. _As soon as the lamb is born the mucus should be wiped from its nose and mouth so that it may breath. It is well to smear a little over the ewe’s nose so that she will more quickly recognize her lamb. There is a very slight possibility that she may have difficulty in laboring due to wrong presentation but the chances are not one in ten, so it is up to you to leave her alone. If there is trouble call some experienced stockman in .your neighborhood and let him help you. It is something that takes experience and cannot be taught by reading. If the ewe is strong and motherly she will soon come to her feet and care for the lamb. If she is weak or a poor Helping mother place the lamb close the to her nose and she will soon respond to its bleating. Then she should be left alone again so that she-may clean the mucus off the lamb, feed it and become acquainted. In half an hour you should visit her again for the lamb may be unable to get milk due to the anxiety of the ewe to see her lamb in which case hold the ewe until the lamb gets its first meal. She may be backed into a corner and held with the knee, leaving the hands free to help the lamb. It may be necessary to squeeze a little of the milk into the mouth of the lamb if weak or stubborn. A good sleep and several more fills of milk will put a weak lamb on its feet. In the case of very weak lambs it may be necessary to draw a little milk and pour it in the lamb’s mouth. Some lambs may appear lifeless so that you must blow into their mouths and pat their chest to revive them. They are then treated like any weak lamb. A granddaughter of the Western ewe. —Courtesy Mo. Agr. Col. In cold and chilly damp weather the newborn lamb may become chilled so badly that it will die if not helped. Us- ually revival can be affected by placing the lamb up to its head in water as hot as can be comfortably born by the hand. The purpose is to restore the temperature of the lamb and start circulation, there- fore, when the lamb is active it may be taken from the water and thoroughly dried, given a feeding and put in a warm place for a sleep after which it can be put with the ewe. Do this as quickly as possible for if kept away- too long the ewe may disown the lamb. Another plan is to place the lamb in half a barrel of bran with hot water bottles in it. This will dry off the lamb as well as warm it up. Moreover the ewe in licking off the bran will leave the smell of its own body on the lamb and will be more apt to own it. The most common difficulty and a very vexing one is the disowning of a lamb. A ewe may refuse her lamb at The birth or may recognize only Disowned one of a pair of twins. Lamb Again she may care for it for several days and then disown it or she may refuse her lamb if taken away for a few hours. No one method will persuade some ewes that they have a lamb demanding their attention. Here are some suggestions in case this hap- pens. A strange dog placed near them while they are confined in a lambing pen may cause recognition of one another for, protection. If a little of the ewes milk is rubbed on the lambs rump and her own nose she may permit the lamb to A great granddaughter of the Western ewe. The use of a good pure bred sire has made this ewe as valuable as many registered animals. --Courtesy Mo. Agr. Col. $100 in Gold—Say won’t it be great to win it. suckle, due to the similarity in odor. A ewe seems to’ recognize her lamb by the smell and on this basis various plans may be worked out. Persistently holding the ewe, causing her to permit the lamb to nurse, may eventually reform her. In the case of twins the situation is even more vexing for one lamb gets an over supply of milk while the other. is starved. In this case both lambs may be kept from her and turned in together in which case they have nearly equal chances particularly if the ewe is held. A lamb orphaned by the death of its mother or her inability to furnish milk, as well as the disowned lamb that has been unsuccessfully offered the ewe, may be given to a ewe which has lost her lamb or has sufficient milk for two. Where a ewe is used whose lamb has ‘died the skin of ‘the dead lamb should 7 ‘a few days. be removed and placed on the new one for Some of the other methods mentioned may also be followed. In changing mothers the lamb should go to a ewe whose lamb would be about the same age. In case of insufficient milk it may be substituted with cows milk with a little sugar in it. Such milk should be warm The and fed frequently in small Hand-fed quantities, about two table- Lamb spoonfuls every two hours on the first day. Here is where the nip- ple and bottle comes in handy. The common diseases and ailments of lambs are listed here for reference: PINNING is the collection of the first sticky dung on the underside of the tail so that it must be scraped away. This is the novice’s most common trouble. INDIGESTION appears as a convul- sion and is best relieved by a scant table- spoon of castor oil. WHITE SCOURS is a digestive dis- order caused by improper feeding.of the ewe. Give her clean feed and do not suddenly change the ration. CONSTIPATION is indicated by straining and distress in passing feces and may be remedied by a teaspoonful of castor oil or an injection of warm soapy water. IMPACTION—Milk curdles. in lumps in the intestines, particularly the best nourished ones and those on cow’s milk. Drooping ears and sluggish action are the symptoms. Treat the same as con- stipation. SORE MOUTH is the result of scabs and sores which should be opened and treated with a solution of liquid dips or Three Boys will have their notes cancelled each year—You be one of the first. medium strength copper sulphate solu- tion. - SORE EYES are detected by a milky appearance of fiery reddish color. Get a little 16 per cent. solution of Argyrol and put one drop in the eye twice a day. The successful lamb grower keeps his lamb growing from the day it is born. A strong lamb at birth should make Growing steady and uninterrupted the gains, as at this _ period Lamb weight is put on more eco- nomically than in the mature animals. At first your lamb receives all of its nourishment from its mother’s milk, but later it is natural for it to feed on the grasses, grains and hay. To make your animals do their best it is necessary not only to insure a good milk supply but also that they learn to eat early. The ewe is growing wool, producing milk and striving to maintain her body weight. Because of these heavy demands it is necessary to feed her liberally with feeds of good quality. If she is a good suckler, she will even then lose weight. To encourage her in eating as much as possible she should be supplied with a variety of feeds since these stim- ulate the appetite and will insure that she is getting an all-around good ration. Variety does not mean daily change but a number of different feeds fed regularly. A valuable addition to the ration at this —_— °o Block for hole when slide is drawn —s ——— = ° a a ae es HE ° = ° Ce Ae oe ie, | ads ° Vd ° Y) oe ’ a OS ae ene I nr egg en ° fr) a t hy ° ° 1 4 Gs | 4"ll "| 2" A Re (mm ma] time is a succulent or juicy feed to stim- ulate the appetite and increase the flow of milk. Such feeds possess a marked toning effect on the body besides regulat- ing the digestive system. Silage, pas- ture, and roots are the principal feeds of this class. Two pounds ‘of good silage goes well with the average ewe and should be increased to three pounds after the lamb gets to taking large quantities of milk. On most farms silage is not available and pasture will be the only succulent feed that you will have. It is not always advisable to wait until the grass gets a good start so that tem- porary, early pastures are valuable. The earliest pasture for sheep is winter rye. In fact it can be sown early enough to provide a little pasture in the fall if nec- essary, but this is not advisable since it does not do so well the next spring. If it must be pastured in the fall it should be sown in early August in the northern . states and later farther south. Under no conditions in the extreme north should it be sown later than the middle of Sep- tember. It requires two bushel of seed per acre when drilled. In pasturing, sheep may be put on very early in the spring because they can crop more close- ly than other animals. It should be kept closely grazed so that it will not joint as after that time it is woody and less productive and palatable. If it gets the Temporary Pastures y RE era Peer aan : | [=< io) | besa | = ry - . SECTION THRV A.A. “A Combination Hurdle for a Lambing Pen and Lamb Creep.” 8 Tell all the boys in your neighborhood about the Bradley Sheep Club—We will help them all to get sheep. “Baby’s Bottle for the Lamb.” best of you let it grow up and it will pro- duce the usual grain crop. Rape makes a very excellent pasture. Although not as early as rye it can be pastured heavily for a long season and gives much excellent feed. An average acre will carry ten to fifteen sheep. Rape requires no more preparation for a seed bed than oats. It may be sown as soon as the ground is dry enough to work. Seed with a drill at the rate of two pounds per acre or it may be broadcasted and harrowed in at the rate of three to five pounds, For late sheep pasture it may be sown as late as the first cultiva- tion of corn. In the south it is possible to sow it in the autumn so as to provide very early spring pasture. It should not be pastured until well established and will soon come up again after once eaten down, if the season is not exceedingly dry. Sheep should not be _ turned upon it when hungry nor’ when the rape is wet as there is consid- erable danger of bloat. It is a good prac- tice when first turning sheep in to leave them in but a couple of hours immediate- ly following a good feed. This time can be gradually increased until it is com- paratively safe to leave them on all day. It is a good practice to put sheep on grass at night and during the day run them on rape while it is dry. Rape may be pastured until badly frosted after which time there is danger of digestive troubles. Bloating, or swelling of the paunch, may occur when sheep are on green pas- ture of any kind but particularly on Treatment clover, alfalfa, and rape. It oO comes on suddenly and may Bloat smother the animal before relieved. Placing a piece of broom handle or something of the kind far back in the jaws of the sheep and pressing RAC. with the knees against the flanks may expell the air. Again a pint of fresh, warm cow’s milk may absorb the gas. Asa last resource a trocar and cannula should be inserted three to four inches in front of and a little below the hip on the left side. In the extreme northern sections oats and Canadian peas make a good pasture. The peas should be drilled two or three inches deep and the oats lightly harrowed in at the rate of four pecks of each per When young the oats are too watery but after the oats have headed out this is an excellent feed particularly when cut and fed. This is the time of the year to be con- sidering the pasture crops that will carry your sheep over the periods of scant feed during the summer. We return now to the feeding of the ewe while suckling her lamb. In addition to the silage or pasture including blue- Other grass as well as the annual Feeds for crops mentioned, the nursing the Ewe ewe should receive grain and roughages. As stated before, a heavy grain ration should not be fed around lambing time. Three or four days after the lamb is born it is well to resume the feeding of grain unless the supply of milk is very scanty, The first grain to be fed is bran as it is bulky and has a laxative effect. A few days later oats should be added and in a week corn, oil meal and other feeds can be used to supply variety. Each addition of new feed should be spread over several days and not made effective at one feeding. Such a system of feeding in the first ten days following lambing is nearly | ideal but the cost is a factor that must receive consideration in adopting this ra- tion to your conditions. In modifying this plan remember that bran or oats should be used first because they are not heating and their bulk tones up the di- gestive system. Corn, wheat, and oil meal are richer foods and should be with- held until the animal is over the effects “Moving a Light Burlap Shade.” i ae ro Be yf ba TT of ‘ fog ghee ped ad \ Ra eV BON, IC AA Re } 24 ia iA ASK in bF i We hope to have the Ewes that you get Bred to a Pure Bred Ram—this will be the basis of a fine flock. of lambing and accustomed to the other feeds. The following are a few suggested grain mixtures that can well be fed the ewe. 1—The first ration after lambing may be Wheat? brantioc sete 10 pounds Oats #uhs,: ccrvae rope ees tye 5 pounds Note: The oats can be increased to ten pounds and corn substituted for the bran, 2-——Shelled sCOrn: wine ee ae 5 pounds Oats VAs idee Nee Apt ete 8 pounds Brant. os ok eee eee 2 pounds Linseed oil meal ....... 1 pound Sj onelled, COTM 1. 4s.c fee tee 10 pounds Oats Woe tee tee epee 10 pounds Wheatsbran]... 3.50. s4 6 pounds Linseed oil meal ,...... 1 pound 4—Shelled- corn .........%;5 10 pounds Oats’ (ane ticbae sn cele’. ose 10 pounds Wheat pralicotsmis se <2 oe 3 pounds Linseed oil meal ....... 2 pounds 5—To be used not sooner than two weeks after lambing. Shelled corn Oates.) Set Meee neue, 10 pounds Many experienced sheepmen, particu- larly in the south and west, do not ad- vocate feeding grain except to weak ewes. The practice of feeding grain, however, is followed by the successful sheep rais- ers everywhere. They have found that the gains in the lambs and the lower loss in weight of the ewes more than re- pays for the grain consumed. You are raising your ewe lambs for breeding pur- poses and, therefore, they should be well grown out and not scrawny, half starved animals. In addition to the succulent feeds and grain, hay should be used to supply bulk and add further variety to the ration. The legume hays mentioned, as clover, alfalfa, soybean, and cowpea are better than timothy and prairie hays, _ since they contain the kinds of feed needed in growing out a strong thrifty lamb. Of course they must be clean and sweet as damaged hay will lead to digestive dis- orders that quickly affect the young lamb through the milk. The amount of the various feeds to be given the suckling ewe depends on a number of factors. The early lamb in 10 pounds see eer eee eee How a cold, damp spring re- Much quires more harvested feeds To Feed than the late one in warmer weather, A ewe suckling twins of course needs more feed than the ewes with sin- 10 gles. When first starting a pound of grain will prove enough for a hundred pound ewe but she may eat a pound and a half in addition to two pounds of hay and two or three pounds of silage or daily pasture. With an abundance of pasture the ewe will probably not clean up more than a pound of hay. When at full feed sheep should re- ceive a little less than they will clean up. Feed the grain first and if using several kinds mix it up and feed at one time. If feeding silage or roots it should fol- low the grain and be fed in a quantity that can be quickly cleaned up. Hay comes last and should be just as much as they will eat before the next feeding. If sheep do not have an opportunity to drink between feeds they should be wat- ered before feeding. It is important that feeding be done regularly twice a day. You cannot lie abed Sunday morning and expect your sheep to do well if they are kept waiting for feed. The statements made in regard to the amount of feed and the extensive variety suggested are suited to the cold climates. Some grain, however, should be fed in all sections for two months fol- lowing lambing or until abundant pas- ture. Hay should be fed as long as the ewes are suckling. The -lamb will begin to imitate its mother by eating a little when from ten to fifteen days old. Every opportunity The Lambs’ should be seized of encour- First aging the lamb to nibble. Meal At first all grain should be ground to a meal not a flour. After they are five or six weeks old they will be able to handle shelled corn very readily. A good grain mixture for the lamb just beginning is made up of Ground) (corn: 4. .e asa ee 1 pound Crushed oats". 1.3.55. 1 pound Linseed oil meal ........ 1 pound Wheat bran:=). 25. 2 pounds . * fe 6-12-19" Lf iu . : i Peesthe { cmt nation hay and grain rack with solid front to keep feeding msterialp out of ficec ee \ Again the bran has a laxative effect and although it may:be left out of the ration if choice clean alfalfa or clover leaves can be found but it should be used if pos- sible. ; Since the feed for the lambs is the choicest that can be found it should be ‘Kept away from the ewes who can get along on less choice food. A lamb creep is designed for this purpose. A drawing of a combination lamb creep and hurdle for a lambing pen will be found on page 8. This can be set against the feed trough in the pen where the ewes are and the lambs may go through the open- ing to the feed in the trough. A special grain trough that is low lambs may be made flat-bottomed, nine inches wide, four deep, and with a six- inch board supported eight inches above the center, thus preventing the lambs from climbing into the trough. Surplus feed from the lamb trough should be given to the ewes each day so that the lambs can have fresh feed. Too much emphasis cannot be placed on cleanliness in caring for lambs. The surplus feed should be cleaned out daily and once a week the trough scrubbed _ with lime water as this sweetens them and leaves a pleasant odor. Place just a little feed in the trough when first beginning. A curious little lamb will soon find that there is some- thing tasty there and will begin to nib- ble. It isn’t long before they will all be eating a little each day. A lamb will seldom eat over a pound of bran the first week of eating unless he is very late in learning. At the end of four months he may be eating a pound a day while on pasture. The question arises, should a lamb be fed all it can eat? Your ram lambs that _ have been castrated when ten days old should be given all they will eat if they are to be marketed before extremely hot weather. If not marketed they should be fed more slowly and carried well into the late fall on pasture, being finished on a little grain. The ewe lambs that are being saved should receive a light grain ration until three weeks after weaning when there should be enough pasture to carry them along. During their first winter they should not require as much feed as a bred ewe that is de- veloping a lamb. When your lambs are a week old you should dock every one of them as the long tail gathers burrs and filth of all Docking kinds and makes a choice and place for Castrating maggots. The advisability infection with Help the Boys in the Trenches by helping supply wool for warm clothing. enough for 11 of this practice is indicated by the fact that very few sheep reach the market with tails. The best method is to use a hot pincers such as a blacksmith uses. They should be heated until red hot and the tail seared off one inch from the base. A thin board with a hole large enough to pull the tail through should be _ placed against the lamb’s body so as to prevent burning. With the use of the iron there is little loss of blood. Some people use a pruning shears, a block and chisel, or a sharp knife but there is danger of bleeding which may be stopped by tying a string around the stub. All males should be castrated as the use of a grade sire is not advisable. Castration insures rapid gains, higher finish, and a choicer meat and _ hence should be practiced on all animals in- tended for market. Three or four days after docking cut off the lower third of the scrotum with a clean, sharp knife, that has been disinfected in dip or car- bolic acid. Force one testicle down and grasp it with the thumb and two fingers and pull it out with the attached cord. If you have left the animal entire until the cord is tough it should be scraped off a couple of inches above the testicle. Treat both alike and disinfect the wound. If you use dip be sure to dilute it as it is very caustic. Place the sheep in a cleanly bedded pen and keep them quite. Both of these operations should be per- formed early in the morning before the lambs have had much exercise as this reduces the bleeding. ; As suggested before, lambs bring the highest price early in the season so that if your lambs come early they should be Weaning pushed hard and marketed when three to four months old without weaning. Otherwise they must be wean- ed from their mothers. The best way to wean is to put the flock on a good pas- ture for three or four days and then take the ewe away from morning until noon, when they may be let in for half an hour and returned again for the night. After two days of this they should be kept out at noon and in a week kept away entire- ly. While weaning, the lambs should be on good rich pasture and the ewes on a dry sparse one.. When completely sep- arated the ewe’s udder should be inspect- ed to see that it does not become full and cause caked. udder, After the lambs have been weaned a couple of weeks it is usually safe to turn them in with the ewes and carry them together the rest of the summer. One other operation that comes in the spring time is shearing. In the northern For years to come large profits from wool and mutton are assured. states, sheep that are sheltered at night The should be shorn in April. In Wool the southern states sheep Harvest can best be shorn in the few weeks preceeding corn planting, as work is not pressing and the weather is warm enough to save the sheep from the extreme cold. Too frequently sheep are left with their wool on until the very hot weather in summer. A heavy warm fleece is a burden and results in lower milk flow and much discomfort. Lambs that are coming yearlings may be shorn at the same time with the older stock. _abuse. Newly shorn ewes should be sheltered from cold rains and the hot sun and should not be kept in damp quarters. Fleeces should never be shorn when wet as such wool will mold. Shearing should be done on a clean smooth floor or a platform so as to keep the fleece clean and free from straw and dirt. For the young boy the hand shears are the cheapest as they can be bought for $1.50. A shearing machine shears closer to the body, can be operated quicker and the sheep become less restless. How- ever, a hand power shearing machine can be purchased for $12.00 which is not too great an investment for the young shepherd who expects to stay at the busi- ness. Machine shearing gets more wool than does hand shearing and with the same amount of care the sheep will not be so badly cut. There are several ways of shearing sheep and each shearer usually develops a system of his own. The following sug- . gestion, however, may prove profitable. Sheep when being shorn should be han- dled carefully to prevent struggling and Opening the Fleece at the Throat. ; 12 If your ewe starts to get away from you do not make a grab for her wool and hang on as this leaves a very tender spot. Roll the sheep carefully on to its rump. When you begin shear- ing hold the sheep’s head and open the fleece down the throat and all the way along the under line. If you are right handed begin to shear to the right, clean- ing the wool off the face and legs. In going over the legs go from the bottom up. The idea is to work from the short fleece into the long. You can now be- gin to take long smooth strokes, remov- ing the fleece from the sides and finally from the back. If you can watch some- body shear you will get a lot of good pointers. As you cut work the fleece back over the unshorn wool so as to keep it out of the way of the knives. When you have finished the right side roll the sheep over and do the same on the left, until the fleece is entirely off. In preparing your wool for market roll it with the flesh side out and tie it with common twine or the special paper fleece twine which can be purchased. Never use binder twine as it cannot be cleared from the fleeces and ruins the cloth into which it goes. A little care in preparing your fleece will insure a con- siderable better price. In the fleeces that will be sent in the contest shearing and tying will all be given consideration along with the quality of the fleece. Soon after shearing the sheep should be dipped. On a large scale dipping is done in a long tank built for the pur- The pose but such is an expen- Coming of sive plan and for a few ewes Summer a barrel or hogshead should be used. There are many dips on the- market but the most practical is the fluid dip which is sold in a concentrat- ed form to be diluted. It is a disinfect- ant as well as a means of killing ticks and scab mite. If your sheep were free from ticks when you get them it is prob- able that you will not have to dip for a few years, but if you do you should dip the lambs as well. During the summer the flock will be on pasture, waste fields and such pastures as were mentioned in connection with care in the fall. In the field in which your sheep are kept shade should be pro- vided. An accompanying picture shows a simple form made of boards and cov- ered with burlap. It is shown as it is being moved on a cart. A box for salt can be fastened in the frame and car- ried along. During the summer the sheep should be moved from one pas- Want to go to College? —the Sheep Club offers you the opportunity. Clearing the Belly of the Short Wool. ture to another every ten days and not returned for over a month. This will greatly reduce the danger from stomach worms. (For treatment see diseases.) Do not neglect your sheep during the summer. Too many owning a few. sheep forget that they have them and they are _ allowed to suffer from heat, worms, mag- gots, and may be pursued by dogs. Take time at night to bring them to a small yard with a six foot fence so that they will not be chased by dogs. You will then see them and will remember to give- theme a drink of water. As a further precaution against dogs bells on your sheep will let you know when they are being chased. As fall approaches you should have a pretty clear idea of the best time to have your lambs come the next spring. You The will then be able to calculate Breeding the date to breed. This - Season should be in ‘cool weather for the ewes do not breed at other times. Prior to breeding, the ewe should be fed hay so that she is gaining weight as she is more apt to have twins and will come into heat sooner. This is called flushing. The ram should be placed with the ewes during the night and kept up during the day as it will be much easier on him. Some ewes may not “get” at the first breeding in which case they may be expected to come in again in sixteen days. During the breeding season the ram should receive a feed of grain twice a day. After the breeding season he should be removed from the ewe flock as he will annoy the ewes and by his butting cause abortion. The ewe lambs cannot be bred 13 a as it is hard on them even when receiv- ing the most exacting care. No breed- er intentionally permits his rams to run with his lambs. Just how you will breed your ewes the fall of 1918 has not been completely worked out but some system will be devised. Eventually you will want to select a breeding ram and it is well to know what characteristics he should pos- sess. First he should be a pure-bred of the breed you most prefer. Since you began with grade ewes, you will have a very high grade flock by the time your note is due if you use a good pure-bred ram. The accompanying pictures illus- trates just how much you may expect from such a practice. In changing sires do not change the breed or else all your breeding work will be in vain. A pure- bred ram carries the ability to stamp his character strongly on his offspring so that his lambs will resemble him. Therefore, he should be symmetrical-or evenly developed throughout, have well filled thighs, deep full twist, wide loin, well spring ribs, smooth shoulder and neck, a clean, even, deep covering of fine flesh. His fleece should be dense, long, and with a fine crimp or wave. He should be active and vigorous, an athlete of his kind. Wide open bright eyes, well ex- panded nostrils, deep chest, well extend- ed and filled brisket, and bold, direct, brisk movements are the indications of a “breedy”’ sire. Do not breed a sire back to his daugh- ters as it will intensify his bad char- acteristics. When that becomes neces- sary exchange rams or sell him and buy a new one from a reliable dealer, de- manding a registration pedigree. Having bred your ewes you are again back to the season at which this book- let began, but before closing we will add a brief list of books and bulletins which will help you if you wish to go farther into the sheep game. Two books of national scope are Sheep Management by Frank Kleinheinz of the University of Wisconsin and Productive Some Sheep Husbandry by Prof. Other W. C. Coffey of the Uni- Books versity of Illinois, which will be off the press in the fall. We-will be glad to connect you with the publish- ers of either of these books. Farmers’ Bulletin 810 published by the Department of Agriculture deals with “Equipment for Farm Sheep Raising” and two of the plans in this booklet are taken from it and there are many more good ideas to be found there. For years to come large profits from wool and mutton are assured. Prof. B. O. Severson of Pennsylvania State College, State College, has writ- ten a very excellent booklet entitled “Sheep Raising”, Extension Circular 49 and covers all phases of the industry, particularly for eastern conditions. “Sheep Husbandry in Oklahoma,” Bul. 111 of the Oklahoma Experiment Sta- tion at Stillwater, has just been issued by W. L. Carlyle and D. A. Spencer. It is full of good ideas for the shepherds of that section of the country. “A Brief Discussion of Sheep for Lou- isiana Conditions” was preparaed by W. H. Dalrymple as Circular 22 of the Louisiana Experiment Station at Baton Rouge. It summarizes the conditions existing in the south and will prove very helpful in those conditions. The bulletins mentioned may be ob- tained free by writing and asking for them. There are many others on all phases of the sheep industry that may be obtained at the different experiment sta- tions that are usually located in connec- tion with the State Agricultural Colleges. These people furnish a very reliable source-of information and will furnish advice whenever asked, Here are arranged in_ alphabetical order the most common troubles you may have and brief directions for relief. Diseases Lamb troubles were dis- cussed in connection with the care of the lamb. ABORTION—Throwing the lamb may be a contagious disease but is usually due to rough handling, crowding or in- jury. Prevention is the only hope. BLOAT—Excessive paunch that may smother the animal. Fasten piece of wood like broomhandle between the jaws and knead the sides of the animal. Use trocar and cannula as a last resort, in- serting four inches in from end and a little below of left hip bone. CAKED BAG AND GARGET—Keep the udder milked out and do not allow the ewe to be exposed. Massage the udder with a lininent made of — 1-2 pint tincture of arnica. 1 1-2 ounces tincture of belladonna. 1 ounce spirits of camphor. COLDS—May well be let alone except in long continued cases, when a tea- spoonful of carbonate of iron, a wine- glassful of whiskey, and as much quinine as can be held on a nickel should be.ad- ministered every other day for three or four doses. — CONSTIPA TION—Suckling lambs, tea- spoonful to tablespoonful of castor oil. Mature sheep, four to six ounces in a — pint of warm water. In extreme cases small quantities of stimulants should be used in addition. In case of pain do not use salts but castor oil. DIARRHEA or SCOURS—In suckling lambs give a teaspoonful to tablespoon- ful of castor oil. In older animals a change of pasture or feed is sufficient. In the latter case it may be caused by weeds in feed or by worms. FOOT ROT—Cut away the diseased parts and treat with a salve of blue - vitrol and lard. Keep the foot protected until healed. GRUB IN THE HEAD OR GAD FLY —No cure but may be prevented by smearing noses with tar, Unless preva- lent in the neighborhood may well be left alone. | IMPACTION—Milk becomes hard in the intestines of suckling lambs, par- ticularly the best nourished ones. A fat lamb with drooping ears and sluggish action is most likely a victim. A table- spoonful of castor oil should clear out but if it does not give an injection of warm soap suds. Improper feeding in mature sheep may result in impaction in which case use a purgative. LAMENESS—Probably caused by a small pore just above the hoof becoming filled with mud that can be pressed out. MAGGOTS—A worm that develops in the filth that collects on the wool. The worm feeds on the flesh. Clean and dis- infect with diluted dip solution. — SCAB—Use a standard dip as directed. STOMACH WORMS—Serious in sheep and often fatal to lambs. Wasting away and blue papery skin are the principal 14 A Long Sweeping Stroke Should bodiaed on the Sides. In 5 years the value of your flock together with the money you have made from the Sale of Lambs and Wool should make quite a respectable sum. symptoms. Withhold all feed and water at night and in the morning give a tea- spoonful of gasoline mixed with half a glass of milk as a drench. Feed after three hours. Repeat three successive days.