Domestic Animals: History and description of the horse, mule, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry and farm dogs; with directions for their management, breeding, crossing, rearing, feeding, and preparation for a profitable market; also their diseases and remedies. Together with full directions for the management of the dairy.Allen, Richard Lamb
Science
Domestic Animals: History and description of the horse, mule, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry and farm dogs; with directions for their management, breeding, crossing, rearing, feeding, and preparation for a profitable market; also their diseases and remedies. Together with full directions for the management of the dairy.
Allen, Richard Lamb
Domestic animals
The mixture or salve consists of tar and butter or grease, in different
proportions; 1 gallon of the former to 12, or sometimes 20 lbs. of the
latter; the greater proportion of tar being required for the younger
sheep, or for more exposed situations. The grease is melted over the
fire, and the tar stirred in, and when sufficiently cool, it is applied
to the whole body of the sheep, by carefully parting the wool and
rubbing it on the skin with the fingers. The above quantity is
sufficient for 30 or 50 sheep, according to their size and the character
of the wool.
This application is not required for fine-woolled sheep, whose fleeces
are more appropriately protected by a natural secretion of yolk; and it
is better to omit it in all cases, where the health and comfort of the
animal do not render it absolutely essential. Mr. Stewart, an
experienced Scotch shepherd, uses only tallow and train oil, mixed in
equal proportions. He asserts, that the improvement in the growth and
quality of the wool is at least one-third, and it materially benefits
the condition of the sheep.
Weaning.
The lambs may be weaned from 3½ to 4 months old. They should be put upon
rich, sweet feed, but not too luxuriant; while the dams are turned upon
the poorest, and so remote from their young, as to be out of sight and
hearing. The ewes ought to be carefully examined after a day or two, and
if necessary, the milk removed with the hand. If it continues to
accumulate, the ewe may be fed on hay for a few days.
When thoroughly dried off, they should have the best fare, to enable
them to recover condition for subsequent breeding and wintering. The
fall is a critical period to lose flesh, either for sheep or lambs; and
if any are found deficient, they should be at once provided with extra
feed and attention. If cold weather overtakes them poor or in
ill-health, they will scarcely outlive it; or if by chance they survive,
their emaciated carcass, impaired constitution, and scant fleece, will
ill repay the food and attention they will have cost.
The time for taking Sheep from the Pastures.
This must depend on the state of the weather and food. Severe frosts
destroy much of the nutriment in the grasses, and they soon after cease
to afford adequate nourishment. Long exposure to cold storms, with such
food to sustain them, will rapidly reduce their condition. The only safe
rule is to transfer them to their winter-quarters the first day they
cease to thrive abroad.
Drafting the Flock,
For the purpose of ridding it of the supernumeraries, should be done at
an earlier day. Such of the wethers as have attained their prime, and
those ewes that have passed it, ought to be withdrawn soon after
shearing, provided with the best feed, and rapidly fitted for the
shambles. If they have been properly pushed on grass, they will be in
good flesh by the time they are taken from it; and if not intended for
stall-feeding, the sooner they are then disposed of the better.
Stall-Feeding.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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