Sheep in New York Staite 1813 



is always a light shearer. Success with lambs aside from vigorous 

 mature parent stock, depends more on a sufficient food supply of 

 the right character than any other one thing. A lamh is made up 

 of bone, blood and muscle. This calls for mineral matter and 

 protein in the food of the mother, in order that she may supply 

 building material in addition to the requirements of her own body 

 and have an abundance of milk for the lamb at birth. Corn will 

 not furnish this, and an excess of it often produces goiter in the 

 lambs. When lambs are born in the winter, grain should be given 

 at least a month before they are expected. If the sheep are thin, 

 two months is better ; beginning with a half pint daily and gradu- 

 ally increasing to a whole one. This grain may be bran, oats, 

 brewers' grains — wet or dry — or any protein by-products such 

 as one would feed to dry cows or heifers. After the lamb is born, 

 corn may make up from one-quarter to one-half of the ration. 



Sheep should have access to fresh, pure water at all times. They 

 need an abundance of litter under them with dry, well-ventilated 

 — not necessarily warm — quarters. They should not be allowed 

 to crowd through small entrances or against sharp projecting cor- 

 ners. The feeding racks and mangers should be cleaned of any 

 left over feed or litter. (Sheep will lose in flesh with an abund- 

 ance of feed before them if fresh food is placed on that thej^ have 

 breathed over. 



It is most desirable that the ram should have attention at time 

 of service. It will always pay to stable him during the day with 

 a supply of fresh water, early cut hay, with plenty of oats and a 

 little oil meal added. This will keep up his vitality, and if he is 

 only placed with the flock at night he will not exhaust himself, the 

 lambs will be stronger and come more evenly with less barren or 

 late breeding ewes. These details attended to will insure lambs 

 strong and vigorous, able to stand and nurse in coldest weather with 

 an abundant milk supply by the mother. Weaklings, or ewes not 

 owning lambs, will be entirely done away with. Sheep should 

 not be allowed to run where the hayseed or dust will get into the 

 wool. It is impossible wholly to separate it, and will depreciate 

 the value of the fleece several cents per pound. Nothing except 

 soft wool twine should ever be used to tie the fleece. Binder twine 



