The Rural Voice, 1979-02, Page 27pump. Pump houses should be insulated
and the heat bulb should be operated by a
thermostat.
"A shining heat lamp is also good for
thawing short distances of metal pipe,"
says Mr. Irwin. "but it is ineffective for
plastic pipe because plastic pipe doesn't
conduct heat. Some farmers have found
that heating cables will thaw plastic pipes,
brit don't let the temperature of the heating
caole become too hot or it will affect the
pipe "
Plastic pipe with electric heating cables
installed in the center of the pipe is now
available commercially. A similar home-
made system can be constructed using fine
copper wire and a fused six -volt trans-
former.
More Iambs per ewe
with trefoil
Sheep producers may be able to get
more lambs per ewe by feeding birds' -foot
trefoil a few weeks before breeding.
A two-year study, conducted at the New
Liskeard College of Agricultural Tech-
nology, increased the lamb crop by 10 per
ce nt by feeding trefoil.
"We have known for some time that
certain legumes affect sheep reprod-
uction." says John Field, of the college
livestock section. "The study set out to find
which legume could maximize the lamb
crop."
Feeding legumes two to three weeks
before breeding is a common practice.
During this 'flushing' process, producers
increase the energy intake of ewes to
improve ovulation rates and the chance of
multiple births.
The New Kiskeard study compared
trefoil and alfalfa as flushing feeds. The
results showed trefoil had a number of
advantages.
Ewes flushed with trefoil produced a
higher percentage of twins and triplets
says Mr. Field. The trefoil group produced
8 per cent single lambs, 74 per cent twins.
and 18 percent triplets. "Ihe alfalfa
produced 27 per cent single lambs, 69 per
cent twins, and 3 per cent triplets.
The average daily gain on pasture during
September and October, was approx-
imately the same for both groups.
"But the ewes fed trefoil lambed
through a shorter period of time, showing a
better rate of conception," says Mr. Field.
"Producers can realize the advantages of a
shorter lambing period for good lamb
management."
Well-fed ewes in food condition may not
require flushing. An excess build-up of fat
may impair reproduction.
Dentures for cows:
Agriculture Canada
gets strange requests
When the lights went out in the
information services branch of Agriculture
Canada in Ottawa on the last working day
of 1978, more than 260,000 letters had
been answered.
That's an average of about 1,000 items
for each working day.
The daily selection of letters received
covers a large variety of topics. It may
include requests for information on killer
bees, fruit varieties, farm labor, smoking
meat. land use, animal care, crop varieties,
grants. insect control and aquaculture.
The branch receives mail from almost
every country in the world but the bulk of it
comes from Canada and the United States.
Out of this large volume of mail the
occasional letter raises eyebrows and may
even produce a laugh or two.
Among the unusual letters and requests
received this year were the following:
A professor in Argentina wrote for
information on dentures for cows --a prob-
lem rarely encountered in Canada.
One foreign student wanted "lovely
books and photos", but he neglected to
Village Stoves,
Elmwood
and
Whiting's Stove Shop H°°7,=,
Atwood
have combined their STOVE purchasing power in order to bring lower prices to the
consumer ON ALL HIGH EFFICIENCY STOVES AND FIREPLACES!
The lowest prices 50 miles around HANOVER and LISTOWEL. We will not be beat in price or service!
LAKEWOOD STEPSTOVE
(Factory Special) $
Reg. '389. NOW 29450
Elmwood 363-2153
GRANDMA FISHER
Reg. '515
NOW
$44598
WHY PAY MORE!
• Thirty models in stock
• Asbestos Chimneys
• Glass Doors for
fireplaces
• Firesets
• Decorative firebrick
and stone
Combined authorized
dealers for Fisher. Lake-
wood. Carmor. Church.
Tempwood. Wood -
master. Woodchief Colt
Ashlcx and EI -Mar -i
Cook Stoves.
CARMOR EFFICIENCY
FIREPLACE $39800
Reg. '449. NOW
Introducing the new FireSide" CARMOR
Atwood
356-9002
THE RURAL VOICE/FEBRUARY 1979 PG. 27