228 ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON STOCK FEEDS AND FEEDING 



vided as part of the grain ration. If alfalfa, clover, or some 

 other nitrogenous hay be the roughage, shelled corn alone may 

 supply the grain. It is not necessary to grind grain for sheep, 

 because they are so constructed that they can easily masticate 

 hard grains. When their teeth become poor it is best to fatten 

 them on ground grains and market them. 



Dorset the Best Breed for Hot-House Lambs. In the East many 

 fattened lambs are sold at fancy prices at the age of about 3 



Fig. 19. Dorset ewes-after Wing. 



months for February trade. These lambs are called hot-house 

 lambs or winter lambs and usually weigh about 45 Ibs. The 

 Dorset is considered the best breed for supplying early lambs, 

 because of the hereditary tendency towards liberal milk pro- 

 duction which fattens lambs early. The Dorset-Merino cross- 

 breed and Hampshire are also used for producing hot-house 

 lambs, the former being more desirable because of heavier milk 

 production. 



It is usually more profitable to fatten lambs for the spring and 



