Sheep Breeders' Association. 121 



Corn is all right for fattening lambs, but for breeding ewes we 

 should use but very little corn. Pregnant ewes require feed for 

 muscle and bone building, such as oats, bran, clover hay, etc. By 

 feeding corn and timothy hay the fleece seems to get harsh and dry 

 and the sheep will lose flesh. Experience teaches us that a change 

 of feed occasionally is beneficial. They also enjoy a change of 

 pasture and we find that it certainly does them good. 



The question of barn room for pregnant ewes is of great im- 

 portance. No class of live stock needs room more than the preg- 

 nant ewes. They not only need plenty of room, but they need and 

 must have plenty of fresh air. Don't confine them to small quar- 

 ters that are poorly ventilated. If they are shut in close quarters, 

 they will, upon coming out in the cold atmosphere, contract colds, 

 and we find colds and catarrh a source of trouble. 



For fear of abortion never let ewes crowd through narrow door 

 ways. Another cause for abortion is ewes eating too much salt. 

 This only happens when the ewes have not been regulary and prop- 

 erly salted. The proper way to salt a flock is to keep a box of salt 

 in some part of the barn where they can go to it any time. 



We find by experience that a ewe and lamb should have twelve 

 or fifteen square feet of barn space. Will also say while on the 

 subject of close confinement, we should never let our sheep stay 

 in muddy, filthy lots, lest we have trouble with foot-rot. Keep 

 plenty of bedding in the barn and let the sheep have the run of 

 |he pasture as much as the weather will permit. 



During the winter time nice bright corn fodder is an excel- 

 lent feed to scatter out in the pasture in the day time. This is a 

 good way to make them take exercise. By having good warm 

 quarters it is best to have lambs come early. February and March 

 is a very good time to have them come. By coming early and 

 teaching them to eat they get a good start by time grass comes, and 

 are less liable to sickness and disease. If the lambs are intended 

 for market, feed them plenty of corn and get them to market early. 

 If they are intended for breeding purposes, feed them bone and 

 muscle making feed. Make them as large as possible without too 

 much fat. By doing this we have a good size as yearlings. Then 

 the yearling ram is ready to do good service. The yearling ewes 

 are ready to breed when breeding time comes. It is advisable not 

 to use the ram under one year of age, and the ewe should never be 

 bred under one year. 



