CARE OF THE FLOCK

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21176, 27 July 1940, Page 19 (Supplement)

CARE OF THE FLOCK

WINTER MAINTENANCE SUPPLEMENTARY CROPS During the winter the aim of the sheep farmer should be to maintain the condition of his flock right up to and past lambing time. This requires the greatest use of supplementary crops and other feed during the severest winter months. On purely grassland farms this is possible only by the saving of surplus grass in the summer as hay or silage; by the shutting up of paddocks in the autumn for winter feed; and by the use of artificial fertilisers applied at such a time as to provide extra grass growth during the winter. A system of controlled grazing is also valuable in allowing the greatest use of available grass growth. The constant defoliation of the pasture that accompanies set stocking does not allow normal pasture growth and causes the subsequent spring flush to occur later. Bearing Trouble Epidemics of bearing trouble and of sleepy sickness, two of the mail, causes of loss amongst breeding owes may largely be prevented by the provision of suitable feed and methods of management and the avoidance of extremes of condition in the ewes. Bad outbreaks of bearing trouble usually occur after a growthy autumn and a mild winter when the ewe flock, as a whole, has been in too high condition. Sleepy sickness or ante-partum paralysis appears to be associated with a feed shortage occurring during the latter part of pregnancy. Prevention of these troubles lies

along common sense lines —namely, 1 the avoidance of too high a condij tion at tupping time and a subsej quent falling off close to lambing; , the provision of crops or reserves of 1 feed such as good hay, silage, or j chaff, so that the ideal of a gradual | rise in the condition of the ewes | from tupping to lambing may be ap- ■ proximated, and the use of daily gentle exercise. The treatment of a flock effected with sleepy sickness , lies largely in supplementing the feed ' with good quality legume hay and succulent green feed, as well as daily exercise. Sheep On Root Crops Sheep on root crops should be moved off at night to bare grass paddocks and not put back on to the crop till the frost is off the ground. Care should be taken in feeding off crops on heavy ground after rain as the nature of the soil may be ruined by stocking under wet conditions. The feeding out of good hay or oatsheaf chaff with most crops is desirable. The provision of a stock lick containing equal parts of boneflour and salt for sheep on crops or on untopdressed country should be made particularly during the winter months.

The hoggets must not be neglected at this period. If on root crops they require the same attention as ewes, if on grass they may require frequent shifting if paddocks are available. Dosing should be carried out as circumstances warrant. During the coming lambing season farmers should make use of any extra available skilled labour, as the ewes and lambs saved by proper attention will amply repay the extra cost.