Sheej) Breeders' Association. 395 



BREEDING STOCK. 



The ewes that can be profitably utilized in the production of 

 winter lambs are those ewes that will drop their lambs in Novem- 

 ber or December; those that will produce a large percentage of 

 twins, and those that will give an ample quantity of milk to nour- 

 ish their young. In order to drop lambs at thei above-mentioned 

 date, it is necessary that ewes be mated with the ram during May, 

 June or July. At the Wisconsin Experiment Station some diffi- 

 culty was experienced in getting ewes to mate at this time. This 

 has been found to be the case in many instances, but the Dorset or 

 Grade Dorset ewe is particularly adaptable to this scheme of lamb 

 production. Ewes of this breed are also excellent milkers, and 

 bear a large percentage of twins. It may, then, be said that Dor- 

 set or Grade Dorset ewes stand out preeminently as early lamb 

 producers. Merino ewes are reported as fairly adaptable to such 

 early matings. 



Some producers of winter lambs mate the Dorset or Grade 

 Dorset ewes with a ram of the same breed, but the majority of 

 successful men in the business prefer a ram of some of the Down 

 breeds — Shropshire, Hampshire, Southdown or Oxford. In se- 

 lecting a ram much stress is laid upon early maturity, thickness of 

 flesh, constitution, vigor and quality. In other words, a good 

 type of modern mutton producing ram is used for the production of 

 winter lambs. 



MATING AND CARE OF THE FLOCK. 



Even with Dorsett ewes difficulty is experienced in attempt- 

 ing to mate them in the warmest months of the year. It is natural 

 for sheep to mate during the fall when the weather is cool, thus to 

 successfully mate ewes at any other season, conditions as near like 

 those of October and November must be supplied. 



In a small volume entitled ''The Winter Lamb," published by 

 that veteran sheepman, Joseph E. Wing, the following rules for 

 mating ewes for fall lambs are laid down: 



''First — Have ram with ewes not earlier than middle of March, 

 not later than the middle of May. 



Second — Put the ram with ewes nights, not days. 



Third — Use young ram and feed him well while in service. 



Fourth — Do not have ram too fat. 



Fifth — Do not have ewes too thin. 



Sixth — If ewes are not shorn in fall, shear as early as you 

 dare. 



