70 Dorset Horn Sheep. 



lambing as soon after November 1 as possible. The ages of 

 all sheep entered in the Flock Book and at the Shows date 

 from November 1. 



In August the breeding flock clears up the after shear, and 

 runs on any pasture available. Dorset Horns generally lamb 

 down on grass, a few roots being carted out to them. Lambing 

 pens are not generally used, a few thatched hurdles only being 

 required at times for shelter, as it is customary to lamb them 

 in the open, and being very hardy they are kept much healthier 

 by so doing. 



About a fortnight after the lambing the ewes are drafted 

 off on to roots, commencing with turnips and then on to 

 swedes ; creeps are provided so that the lambs can run forward 

 and get the most succulent mouthfuls of whatever crops they 

 are folded upon. As soon as the lambs can eat thej^ get linseed 

 cake and lamb food, the quantity being unlimited so long as 

 they clear the troughs. The ewes with singles get 1 lb. per 

 day of cotton cake and oats, whilst those with twins are 

 allowed from \\ to 2 lb. per day. The lambs are w^eaned in 

 March on swedes, if possible, or on rye with mangel and cake. 

 When water meadows are available they go into them about 

 the beginning of April. The offgoing ewes are drafted out in 

 May, whilst flock ewes run behind the lambs to clean up. 

 After weaning, the ewe lambs are put on to young seeds 

 vetches and rape until September, when the early turnips are 

 ready for folding. Those flock masters who fat their wether 

 lambs and sell them " off the teat," send them to the local 

 weekly markets, where they are purchased by dealers early in 

 the season to go to London, Birmingham and Cardiff. At 

 Dorchester Market in the spring can be seen weekly from 

 800 to 1,000 fat lambs oft' the teat, whilst large sales of store 

 lambs and offgoing ewes are held at Dorchester the third 

 Thursday in May, when from ] 0,000 to 15,000 store lambs and 

 ewes are generally penned. The offgoing ewes are purchased 

 for crossing with Southdown and other Down rams for the 

 production of early lamb. In this case the rams are put with 

 the ewes the first week in May, and drop their lambs in Sep- 

 tember and October. Large numbers of these ewes are taken 

 into Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Norfolk, and many Midland 

 Counties. 



The sales of rams and ram lambs are held in May at 

 Dorchester, at Newport, Isle of Wight, and Taunton, Somerset. 

 The great annual breeders' sale of rams and ram lambs is held 

 at Dorchester the third Thursday in May, when from 150 

 to 200 rams are submitted to auction. At this sale prizes are 

 given, and the 25 guinea challenge cup given by the Dorset 

 Horn Sheep Breeders' Association for the best pen of i-am 



