584 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



mother cares only for the stronger one. In such cases the weakling 

 should be helped to its full share of food. 



A ewe that refuses her lamb will usually accept it if they are placed 

 together in a small pen out of sight of the other sheep and the lamb 

 helped to suckle a few times. The stubborn ewe may be confined in 

 stanchions so that she cannot prevent the lamb sucking. In case a ewe 

 loses her lamb, she may often be induced to adopt a twin by first sprink- 

 ling some of her own milk over it. Still more effective is tying the skin 

 from the dead lamb upon the back of the one to be adopted. 



887. Breeding studies; weight of lambs. The following table gives the 

 average birth weight and percentage of increase (the annual number of 

 lambs per 100 ewes) of lambs from ewes of different breeds, as recorded 

 during 24 years by Kleinheinz 11 with the flock at the "Wisconsin Station 



Tho there was a considerable range in the increase for the several 

 breeds, data from many flocks covering a much larger number of ani- 

 mals would be necessary to show definitely any real difference in this 

 regard. These data are of interest in showing the actual increase ob- 

 tained with good feed and excellent care. The single lambs averaged 

 somewhat heavier than the twins, and the twins larger than the trip- 

 lets, tho the difference is not great. 



The percentage of increase was highest with ewes 4 to 6 years old, 

 due somewhat to discarding the poorer breeders as 3-year-olds. After 

 the 6th year the fecundity of the ewes lessened. The larger the ewe of 

 a given breed the greater was the percentage of increase and the 

 larger the lambs. To a less degree the size of the ram had the same in- 

 fluence. 



The gestation period tended to be slightly longer with large lambs. 

 The average birth weight of the ram lambs was about 0.5 Ib. greater 

 than of ewe lambs. Of 1,804 lambs yeaned, 900 were ewes and 904 rams. 

 As the records grow, the more nearly do the sexes balance. 



888. After lambing. Soon after lambing, the ewe should be given 

 water with the chill removed, but should not be allowed to drink too 

 much at a time. For 2 or 3 days but little grain should be fed, to avoid 

 udder troubles, but she may have all the dry roughage she wishes. Close 



"Wis. Rpts. 1902, 1907, and information to the authors. 



