FARM ANIMALS 269 



ewes and the weight of the lambs and the ewes 

 vary together. The breed and size of the ram 

 appear to have little to do with the weight of the 

 lamb. Ram lambs, however, are about fifteen per 

 cent, heavier than ewe lambs and make slightly 

 more rapid gains, at least, during early life. As 

 already hinted the weight of twin lambs averages 

 about one-half pound less than the average weight 

 of all lambs, and the amount of gain for the first 

 two months is greater in lambs having the heaviest 

 weight at birth. A comparison of the weight of 

 Merino, Shropshire ana Hampshire lambs in 

 Missouri showed the average to be at birth seven 

 and seven-tenths pounds for the Merinos, seven and 

 eight-tenths pounds for the Hampshires, and eight 

 and four-tenths pounds for the Shropshires, while 

 the average birth weight of lambs from ewes weigh- 

 ing ninety pounds was seven and two-tenths 

 pounds, from one hundred pound ewes seven and 

 four-tenths pounds, from one hundred and ten 

 pound ewes seven and five-tenths pounds, from 

 one hundred and twenty pound ewes seven and 

 nine-tenths pounds, and from one hundred and 

 thirty pound ewes eight and three-tenths pounds. 

 As just hinted, the weight of male lambs at birth 

 exceeds that of female, averaging eight and one- 

 tenth pounds for males and seven pounds for ewes 

 with an average for both sexes of seven and six- 

 tenths pounds. Likewise the average weekly gain 

 in ewe lambs is three and nine-tenths pounds and 

 in ram lambs four pounds. The average weight 

 of single lambs of all sexes is seven and eight-tenths 

 pounds and of twin lambs seven pounds. 



Winter or Hothouse Lambs. Nearly all sheep 

 are bred in the fall and thus bring the lambs in 

 late spring. The ordinary practice of allowing the 



