SHEEP TO THE ACRE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2489, 12 March 1881, Page 2

SHEEP TO THE ACRE.

In an address to the Indiana Sheep Growers’ Association, Mr 13. F. Magee told the following : —“ There is one thing about pasturing sheep that has been overlooked, viz., the damage done to the grass by being run over by the flock. While, I believe, one acre of good grass would keep five, or may be eight sheep well, I do not believe 100 acres would keep 500 sheep. Five sheep would probably do but little damage to one acre. Even though they were confined to it, they would make but few tracks over it in a day, and would easily find fresh grass every day. But suppose wc put 500 sheep in a 100 acre lot, if each 5 sheep would confine themselves to their own particular acre, they probably would do well in summer. But they will not do this, and here is where theory and practice part company. Our five sheep start out to graze, and the 495 go along with them. Now, a sheep is a dainty creature, and likes clean food. So the hindermost part of the flock keep pushing ahead, paying little or no attention to what has already been run over; and being in each other’s way, each would go over ten times as much ground before it filled as it ought. Going over the trail too frequently, and picking about dung and urine for grass, is doubtless, what makes large flocks so liable to disease.”