

CHAPTER XXVIII 



MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP ON ARABLE LAND AND LOW- 

 COUNTRY PASTURE THE EWE AND LAMB 



Tupping Time Effect of " Flushing "Winter Pasture Prolific Ten- 

 dency Ewes not in Lamb The Lambing-pen Poisonous Plants 

 Parturition and Associated Dangers Early Treatment of the Lamb- 

 Food of the Ewe Lambs' Food Castration Tetanus Marshall's 

 Work on the Filiform Appendage Washing Shearing by Hand 

 and by Machinery Weaning. 



" or "Ride" time commences usually, 

 where the climate is moderate, about the first 

 week of September, or at any later period, varying with 

 the district, till about 22nd November (Martinmas), when 

 hill rams go out to the ewes. The date is often governed by 

 the time the ewes begin to come in season : for instance, 

 Hampshires will tup in the beginning of August, whereas 

 mountain ewes frequently do not begin to stand to the ram 

 before the end of October. Cast ewes (four-year-old) and 

 " culls," or those unfit for breeding, are " drawn " out when 

 the lambs are weaned, or at any more suitable time before 

 the ram is put amongst them 



By putting ewes on good food, such as rape or mustard, 

 for ten days before tupping time, they get into an improving 

 condition, and in consequence produce more doubles. The 

 object may also be accomplished, if the green food cannot 

 be had, by giving each one J Ib. of oats daily. The effect 

 produced by thus "flushing" or artificially stimulating ewes 

 shortly before and during tupping time, has been dealt with by 

 Dr Francis H. A. Marshall in a preliminary paper communi- 

 cated to the Royal Society (London), and published in the 

 Proceedings (1905). The conclusions reached in this paper 

 are based upon statistics collected by the Highland and 

 Agricultural Society for Scotch Blackface, Cheviot, Border 

 Leicester, and half-bred ewes in the year 1904-5. It is 



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