232 



Bulletin 309 



In discussing the care and management of such a flock, it has seemed 

 best to take up the matter according to the season and to carry the dis- 

 cussion through the full calendar year, beginning with the spring man- 

 agement after the winter's crop of lambs has been butchered. 



Spring management 



After the lambs have been taken away, the ewes are put on a ration of 

 hay alone for two or three weeks and their udders are watched carefully 

 to see that no trouble arises from caked udder. In some cases it may 

 be necessary to milk out the ewe once a day, and later once every third 



Fig. 39. — Part of hothouse-lamb flock at pasture 



day until she is dry. Then the ewes are fed a few roots to keep them in 

 good condition until they are turned to pasture for the summer. 



Summer management on pasture 



^The pasture season has ordinarily opened about May 15. When the 

 ewes are turned to pasture the rams have been turned with them. The 

 flock has been allowed to run together until the fall, when it is put into 

 winter quarters. During the winter the rams have been quartered sepa- 

 rately. The flock has been made up of representatives of several breeds, 

 both pure-bred and grade. Ordinarily three pure-bred rams, a Hamp- 

 shire, a Southdown, and a Horned Dorset, have been allowed to run with 

 the flock. 



