FATTENING OLD EWES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19320, 6 May 1926, Page 14

FATTENING OLD EWES.

METHODS AND RESULTS. // ■ VALUE OF TURNIP TOPS. SOME SERVICEABLE HINTS. BY W.P. The ,/iattening of old ewes is a problem ■which often puzzles the modern farmer. Old gummy ewes that were of practically no value in days of the past, most of which found their way to tho boilingdown factory, aro now fattened and sent to tho market or freezing works to be used for local consumption, or for export purposes. The one chief factor in fattening old ewes is to provide plenty of soft succulent feed; as their teeth are worn down they are unable to eat roots, or anything of a hard nature. Those who lave rape or greon oats in abundance are in a good position to get their old ewes off as fats. Others less fortunate, however, are placed in an awkward ' position, unless, of course, the grass feed is sufficiently long and succulent t-o give the sheep a full bite. Otherwise they may have to be sacrificed at a very low figure. Many fanners who have a good area of turnips run their old ewes on the turnip tops, that is after tho rape is done and there is no other succulent feed available in quantity. Tho above practice is usnally much more profitable than sacrificing the animals at a low figure. In comcme furrow, the shoep will in this case mencing to feed turnip tops, however, great care is necessary at first to guard nips are taken directly after lea on the against undue loss. If sheep are taken directly off pasture, especially dried-up grass, and allowed to have the run of the turnip tops, without a shift-back on to the pasture, , tho losses in deaths will in all/ probability bo excessive, and instead of the practice proving profitable, may prove otherwise. The sheep should be graded up gradually, so as to get them accustomed to the leed before finally putting them on altogether. This is a lesson some farmers aro very slow to' learn, though they have had heavy losses from time to time, which considerably reduce the net profits of the fattening process. Providing Mixed Peed,. There are many farmers who wean their lambs, f or bny store lambs, as the cas-3 may be, and put them directly on to pasture, where they have been running with their mothers, and in some instances, without even a run off. The consequence is that many of the lambs, especially the weaker constitutioned ones die, owing to the too sadden change, together with the heating character of the feed. The percentages of deaths are, of course, kept at a lower rate when a mixture has been sown with the rape, such as, for instance, when/a field is sown down to grass with the rape, or, failing this, when a little white mustard or oats are sown with the crop. This gives the animals a little variety, which helps to keep them healthy. The same thing applies to feeding ewes on turnip tops. If there is plenty of rough, grass or other picking among the turnips, as is often the case, when turget enough of this to counteract the effects of tlie turnip tops. This, in a measure, may help to explain the reason whv, in a mob of old sheep, there are usually more deaths about the second or third week than there are at tho commencement of the feeding, because by this tjme they have probably picked out tho best of the feed from among the turnips, and they then devour the tops so greedily that they overload their stomachs. [When/this happens it sets up a ferment in the stomach, which either causes excessive swelling or induces scouring, which often terminates in death. In some instances as much as twenty per cent, of tho total number have been lost in this way. It is, therefore, evident that special care should be taken to guard against such excessive loss. If, however, a little care is taken in the way of providing some dry food, such as clean, sweet, oaten straw, or straw . chaff, or, if this is not available, a run off on to a rough pasture,;, there, should be few, if any, deaths while feeding such food. , Late . Lambs - on Turnips. The fattening of late lambs on turnips has become universal, and is largely practised in all parts of tho Dominion. For this purpose some soft turnips are usually giown, tho harder varieties being re- • served for late feeding. There is good reason, for this practice, as the soft turnips are more suitable for lamb fattening because at this season some of the young animals' teeth begin to trouble them. They, become either worn down or get loose, usually the latter, and when in tnis state it is somewhat paiDful for the • youngsters to break the turnips. The consequence is they go back instead of fattening. ' For the above reason soft turnips are preferable to the harder varieties. Another reason why soft turnips are better for this purpose is that lambs should be got away as early in „ the season as possible, and soft turnips mature earlier than hard varieties. Again, lambs do not thrive so well in cold weather. It is, therefore, essential that they should bo pushed along while the days are yet of a fair length. the days get short and tho nights cold they do.no good, because much of the feeding value of the roots is lost in maintaining the heat of the body, and unless there is a liberal allowance of hay or straw supplied, instead of laying on flesh they will in most instances go back. End of Fattening Season. Most of the rape is now about finished, so that those who have lambs still on hand have to resort to the turnips for topping the last of the mob off. Many farmers consider that soft , turnips, well grown and at the proper stage, are preferable for fattening late lambs. If experience teaches this, no time should bo lost in starting the lambs on turnips, if not already done. If there should he some second-growth rape left this will not go to waste, as'other sheep can be put on to clear it up. Some prominent farmers make it a practice to grow a few acres of rape for flushing ewes. Otherwise, part of the second-growth rape is reserved, which answers the samo purpose. The principal object ia view is to shorten the tupping season, which results in a short lambing, so desirable in any flock. Cows are often put on to rape, or kale, for a few hours each day for the same reason, and in nearly every instance it has tho desired effect. It is just the same with breeding ewes. )se/fore putting lambs on to turnips so late in the season as this a careful examination should be made r>f their teeth, as many of the lamb teo'h may have become loose. In this case they are not fit to be put on to turnips, so had better be culled, and either put on- to soft feed or put on to pasture to be kept over until spring, or otherwise disposed of. It takes hut a short time to go through a mob and examine their teeth, and, although to many this may seem a deal of unnecessary trouble, it pays well for doing, as it is absolutely useless keeping lambs on leed they cannot eat with ease.