SALT FOR SHEEP.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLII, Issue 87, 9 May 1916, Page 1

SALT FOR SHEEP.

HINTS FOE ADMINISTRATION. There exists in most, farmers' minds a dimly conceived idea that salt is good for sheep, and «o at regular intervals they supply it to them in varying quantities, but probably few of them really understand the effect this condiment has upon the digestion, nor the actual need that exists for it.

It is not an accidental craving that causes sheep to so eagerly devour salt, but rather it is a. real physical want that demands satisfaction. Hyrochloric acid is one of the chief constituents of tlio gastric juices of tiie stomach that play so active a part m digestion, and it is to help supply the chlorine of this acid that salt is necessary. It will be noticed that when sheep have not had salt for a long time they eat it in simply enormous quantities." This is because the supply of chlorine lias become depleted and requires replenishing. So it is not simply to lend variety or improve the flavor of food' that' salt should be given, but rather to supply chlorine for the gastric juices. Another reason why salt is useful to sheep is because it increases their thirst and causes them to drink water in sufficient quantities to carry on the normal functions of the body." If foods are eaten and only a small amount of water drunk, impaction often occurs in the digestive tract and trouble or loss < 11sues. Moreover, when the water supply is small the assimilated food is not so readily carried to different parts of the body and distributed to the tissues.

Particularly when sheep are oil grass and crops do they need salt, because these crops contain potassium salts. Potassium has a greater affinity for chlorine than oxygen. Hence, unless plenty of chlorine is supplied to the body the potassium takes a portion of that which otherwise would combine to form hydrochloric acid.

Either coarse ground or rock sail may be used for feeding, as preferred. There is probably more waste 111 connection with the ground salt but licking rock salt sometimes makes sheep's mouths and tongues sore. If coarse salt is used a tight trough, covered with a little roof as a protection from the rain, should be provided. The average ewe requires from three to five pounds of salt a. year, the variation depending very largely upon the amount of natural salts contained in the feed given. This would mean that she should have from two to three pounds during the summer. It would lie well to weigh out the amount that the whole flock should have during the summer upon this basis, then there will he no danger of giving too little. It is a mistake to give sheep salt only occasionally, and in large quantities, for under these conditions their appetites are so sharpened for it that they eat too much. If it is kept constantly before them when they can eat it at will, they will eat what is necessary for the carrying on of bodily functions and will not take too much at once.