DITISIOX OF AX1ZIAL HU&BA5DHY 601 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



EXPERIMENTAL FARM, AGASSIZ, B. C. 



REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT— P. K. MOORE, B.S.A. 



In the line of sheep we are keeping the Horned Dorset breed exclusively, and 

 we have at present fifteen ewes (ages ranging from one to four years), one two-year- 

 old ram and ten ewe lambs. We have had to do very severe culling in the flock in 

 order to get rid of some of the old ewes which had proven non-breeders and also two 

 young ewes which became excessively fat. We have only one ewe which has produced 

 a double crop of lambs in the season. Number 41 gave birth to a ram lamb on 

 February 18, 1912 (this lamb was sold to the butcher) ; on September 6, 1912, she 

 gave birth to twin lambs (one ram and one ewe), and again on March 31, 1913, she 

 gave birth to one ewe lamb. Many of the sheep have had twin lambs, and some of 

 the best have been saved to sell as breeders, while the rest of them have been disposed 

 of to the butcher. We have had just one fatality, and this was caused by maggot in 

 the head (Oestris oris). We have had one case of pneumonia, which did not prove 

 fatal, and are also pleased to be able to report that there have been no losses from 

 wild animals; this, we think, is accounted for by the sheep having access to the lanes 

 leading to the buildings and not being confined to the bush pastures close to the 

 mountain. The sheep have been allowed to run in the same pastures with the 

 cattle and have always kept in excellent condition without any extra assistance. 

 with the exception of a short period while the snow was on the ground, at which time 

 they received clover hay and turnips. At lambing time they received a mixture of 

 oats and bran for a short period; this, at the local market price, would cost about 

 $1 per sheep. The total outlay for food for the whole flock during the winter 

 amounted to $2.90 per sheep. The rest of the year they got their living from the 

 pastures, and have always kept in excellent condition. 



