422 EXPEniMEXTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



SHEEP. 



, CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FAR:M, OTTAWA, ONT. 



EEPORT OF THE DOMINION ANIMAL HU3SANDMAN, 

 E. S. ARCHIBALD, B.A., B.S.A. 



BREEDING SHEEP. 



There are now eighty-one pnre-bred sheep in the pens. Two breeds only are 

 kept, namely, Shropshires and Leieesters. 



The Shropshires include 4S head, made up of 1 ram, 21 a.yed ewes, 7 shearling 

 ewes," S spring ewe lambs, and 11 spring ram lambs. 



The Leieesters include 33 head, made up of 1 ram, 11 aged ewes, S sliearliug ewes, 

 6 spring ewe lambs, and 7 spring ram lambs. 



Only a fairly successful year can again be reported in the breeding operations 

 with sheep. The lamb crop in the spring of 1913 was exceptionally good, namely, 151 

 per cent; and to date, March 31, 1914, has also been very good although many ewes 

 have yet to lamb. During the past fiscal year both ewes and lambs did particularly 

 well until niidsummer. Limited as they were to the 2 acres of pasture contained in 

 the O-acre sheep rotation, the pasture became very poor after the first month. In 

 past years it hat been the practice to allow the sheep to remain on this closely-cropped 

 pasture and supplement the shortage with green crops. This, however, has proved 

 dangerous in that it induced tho rapid spreading and multiplying of intestinal parasites. 

 In consequence of our experience in this matter it v\-as deemed advisable to keep the 

 riheep awiiy from this pasture after the grass became closely cropped. An experiment 

 was tried in the keeping of sheep on the. Farm roadsides, to ascertain their influence 

 on the keeping clean of roadside as well a? the cost of attention for this method of 

 pasturing. Although it proved somewhat more expensive than the other method of 

 pasturing, yet the added weight of the lambs and increased condition of the ewes 

 appetu'ed to warrant the same for these conditions, as long as the Central Experi- 

 mental Farm is so limited in its land area. 



The ewes and lambs, as in former years, were attacked with both tape worms and 

 stomach worms, although only to a small degree. Had they been removed from the 

 2-acre pasture a few weeks sooner, the probabilities are that the flock would not have 

 become reinfested with these parasites. Treatment was made for these parasites as 

 reported in annual report for 1912, and although it was discovered that but a few 

 iuuividuai-, were infested, yet these treatments again were quite successful, aud are 

 worthy of repetition. 



The treatment given for tapeworms, with such good results, was as follows : — 



Fast the animals for at least twenty-four hours. Drench mature sheep and shear- 

 iiiiSs with a mixture of 4 ounces of castor oil and 1 dram (J or.ncc) of ethereal extract 

 of iriale fern. Lambs may have one-quarter to three-quarters of the above dose, depend- 

 ing on size and age. Confine sheep for twenty-four hours after drenching. Destroy 

 worms given off in manure. 



Follow the above drench with a laxative tonic, such as: C'ojumoii salt, 2 pounds; 

 potassium nitrate, 4 ounces; Epsom Salts, 1 pound: iron sn]))hate. 8 ounces; powdered 

 gentian, 8 ounces. This mixture is suflicient for lUO mature siieep or ir>0 to 200 lambs, 

 and also is test given in water solution as a drench. 



