546 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



in Delta, Dickinson, Iron and Marquette counties, during the past few 

 years. 



Where convenient, a pasture near the sheds should be left for late 

 fall and early spring grazing, as it will shorten the winter feeding con- 

 siderably, and gives the ewes the exercise they need. 



A vigorous, matured ram will breed 40 to 60 ewes. When used to 

 that extent, he must be in good condition and be removed from the 

 flock at night, fed grain, preferably oatsyand bran, and hay. Feed again 

 in the morning before turning him in with the ewes. 



Great care should be taken at breeding time to see that every ewe 

 is bred. The ewes should be tagged before turning the rams in with 

 the flock. The period of gestation in sheep is 145 days. It is not advis- 

 able to breed ewe lambs. 



WINTER MANAGEMENT. 



Early lambing requires better housing conditions, more and better 

 feed and considerably more labor than when lambs come after warmer 

 weather and grass starts. A greater loss of lambs and a lighter fleece 

 must be expected with early lambing. When the additional price re- 

 ceived for the lambs is sufficient to off-set the added cost of production, 

 then early lambing is advisable. The majority of farmers favor winter- 

 ing their ewes as economically as possible, lambing about the time 

 grass starts. 



Clover hay, alfalfa and silage are the best feeds for sheep. When 

 clover and alfalfa hay are high priced, other roughages such as oat and 

 wheat straw, corn fodder, pea and oat hay, and pea straw can be used 

 to good advantage. Barley and rj^e straw are objectionable because of 

 the beards. Rye straw often contains ergot, which causes abortion in 

 the ewes. Matured sheep require from three to three and one-half 

 pounds of hay per day, when no other feeds are provided. When a 



Fie. 32. There is a place for a few sheep on most every farm. 



