Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1891 — THE SHEEP FOLD. [ARTICLE]

THE SHEEP FOLD.

From tho Western Rural wo compile the following: Look carefully after tho ewes and the lambs. Tho one should bo kept in good health and the other well protected. Sheep cannot pull stumps nor eat stones, but they can do about everything else that it is necessary to do to clean up a piece of land. Wo see it stated that a dog was sold recently for $«,00() and yet it is likely that the animal would kill a sheep aa quickly as any other dog would. Tho slowest movement forward im mutton connected with sheep husbandry is in securing it protection from tho ravages of dogs. It is a shame that it is so. Climate has much to ao with the quality of wool. Tho North is an ideal place for wool production so far as climate la concerned. Wool and apples grow best in a cold climate. Tho tlmo may come when growing wool of itself will never again pay, but we do not believe that, producing both wool and good mutton will over fall to pay. The better management of sheep during the last few years has resulted in much less disease among flocks. Moore green foqd in winter and better shelter have been the chief Improvements. Will too much corn scour lambs? I say it will not, if properly fed, says a writer In National Stockman. I will give my experience of five years’ feeding. I feed my lambs from tho time I wean them, commencing with bran, one gill per day, and gradually Increasing, mixing in oats; so by the time I stable them I feed one pint per day, oats and bran. Then I begin mixing in corn, and by thefirst of February I feed all corn, one and a half pints per day. I still increase, aud by the first of March I feed one quart. With plenty of good clover hay and good clean water they will be ready for market by the first of ApriL It Is not unusual when twffis arrive, says a writer, that the first one born has had the advantage of a superior start in the struggle for existence which it asserts after birth. If the ewe has an abundance of milk there is enough for both; but If not it won’t do any harm to assist the weaker one to get its share and give it a very little new cow’s milk and as much sweetened water. Do this for a few days and, in the meantime, gradually increase the ewe’s food so as to induce a good milk flow. For such ewes warm bran slop will not come amiss. Remember that success in any avocation comes from attention to details. Instead of taking the weak lamb take tho strongest one, and if you have a ewe that has lost her lamb give it to her, says a writer in the National Stockman. But you must tie her in a small stall and get it to suck. Sometimes a lamb will not suck a strange ewe, but in a tew days (by keeping them together) they get the same smell, as sheep tell their lambs by their smclk Do not let the mother be near the lamb, so she can hear it, or it will not suck the other. If a ewe loses her lamb, 1 milk her twice a day until another has twins, then make her take one of them. In a few days let them out together in a lot with a rope around the ewe’s neck to drag, so that if she tries torun from her lamb she tramps on the rope and it stops her, and Ihe lamb can suck. If the farmers’ wives would look after the young stock they could save many dollars. Women are better adapted to taking care of the young than men, as a woman has more patience. I often take weak lambs that the ewe has not enough milk for aud let them suckle a cow. But do not let them have too much. Should you have to raise one by Aand,teach it to drink the same as a calf. Feed about four times a day, always giving new milk.