Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 126, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1915 — Shelter for Sheep [ARTICLE]

Shelter for Sheep

Probably too much shelter for sheep is a more common mistake than too little. The sheep is by nature better fitted to withstand extreme cold than any other farm animal. The two inches or more of dense wool on a sheep’s back Ts a warmer covering than the hair of a horse or a cow and as warm as the feathers of a hen, but the hen is more exposed at her extremities, and of course much warmer than the hog’s scanty covering of rather coarse hair. But one disadvantage attends the' sheep’s soft thick coat and that is its ability to absorb moisture and the long time it takes the fleece to dry out once it has become thoroughly soaked. In the summer a thorough wetting does not matter much, but in late fall or winter a sheep exposed to cold rains, especially if those rains are followed closely by Bharp freezing weather, must suffer acutely, which of course does not constitute good management on the shep* herd's part

Protection from cold in winter is the least of the sheep’s needs, but an opportunity to keep dry is most important Shelter for sheep need not be tight or expensive. Any cheap shed will do, so it is made comparatively snug on three sides, and has a naturally dry floor that is kept well bedded. Sheep positively cannot thrive in wet filthy yards. Lack of shelter should not keep any man out of the sheep business. Most farms afford plenty of cheap lumber to construct a shed that will do very well for a small band of ewes and the only outlay necessary will be a few days of labor, keeping footing, tight overhead, three tight rides and sufficient room for the sheep to be sheltered.

The fact that sheep suffer less from cold than other farm animals indicates one reason why they may be more es ficient as profit-makers. We, know a oartain amount of feed must be used by Mimaiu in keeping up body temperature. If the coat of the sheep aids decidedly in this respect, why it is not safe to assume that sheep are able to use to better advantage, from the meat-making standpoint, what they eat? Sheep given a decent chance will never cause a man to regret owning them. >:

A m*" with a large family can live better on the farm, where money grows, than in the city, where money lose. -~ " ■ • ■ MSB «| —•