SHEEP RAISING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 7 January 1928, Page 14

SHEEP RAISING

NEED FOR GOOD WATER.

It is often advisable to provide some sort of shade for sheep in very hot weather. If there are trees or hedges under the shade of which the panting animals may seek‘retreat from a broiling sun, especially when flies are troublesome, no special erection will be needed, but in the open fields a rude

hut or fold would be an advantage. Sheeii shepherded on the hillsides seek the liill top or climb higher up the mountain sides, in hot weather. Those

grazing in enclosed fields are possessed of a. like “wanderlust,” and tliey will often do their utmost to break bounds. One thing too often forgotten, as well as the timely provision of shade from a hot January sun, is a good supply of water. Sheep are rather fastidious in their tastes, and will not drink] from stagnant pools and unsavoury i watering troughs as cattle may do. Salt is a good tonic for all classes of grazing stock, and sheep should not be denied a good supply of rock salt unless they are grazing on the seashore. '

A change of pasture is good for sheep. They do not thrive so well if continually kept on the same field. After they are dry the ewes may be run on fresh pasture in order to flush them for mating.

About this time the ewes may come under a critical inspection, and thdso that are considered unsuitable for breeding again may be cast aside. The condition of the teeth, is perhaps the determining factor. If “broken mouthed,” ewes can hardly be expected to be thrifty stock. Thin ewes may also be drafted out of the flock. Ewes which have not made much of a success of their lambs need not he retained for another season. Udders may also receive attention, for unless the ewes are capable of suckling their lamlw they should have no place in the breeding flock. Only in exceptional cases are ewes retained after they are five or six years old, but, of course, a great | deal depends upon the breed and the < general hardiness of the flock. 1