586 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



Average percentage of fat in milk of ewes of various breeds 



Cota- Dor- Hamp- Lin- Men- Ox- Ram- Shrop- South- 

 wold set ahire coin no ford bouillet shire down 

 Per ct, Per ct. Per ct. Per ct. Per ct. Per ot. Per ct. Per ot. Per ct. 



Wis 7.2 6.0 7.7 ... 5.9 8.4 



N.H 6.0 4.7 6.0 6.8 7.6 



Idaho 7.7 ... 7.1 8.1 7.8 8.1 7.5 



There was a much greater range in the fat content of the milk of 

 ewes of the same breed than difference between the average composition 

 of milk for the various breeds. For example, the fat content of the 

 milk from the Dorset ewes in the New Hampshire studies ranged from 

 3.8 to 12.1 per ct. The daily yield of milk in these studies ranged from 

 less than 2 Ibs. to 7.5 Ibs. The available data are yet too meager to 

 draw any definite conclusions concerning the relative milk yield of the 

 various breeds. Bitzman found that the gains of the lambs depended not 

 on the fat content of the milk of their dams, but upon the amount of 

 milk yielded, a conclusion corroborated by other data. In building up 

 a profitable flock it is therefore important to select ewes on the basis 

 of milk production and nursing qualities, as well as on type and con- 

 formation. 



891. Feed for 100 Ibs. of ewe's milk. At the Wisconsin Station 

 Shepperd 15 recorded the milk yield of ewes receiving a mixture of 3 

 parts wheat bran and 1 of linseed meal, with fair-quality clover hay 

 and sliced potatoes for roughage. Averaging together the data for 5 

 ewes, for 100 Ibs. of milk, there were required 63 Ibs. concentrates, 60 

 Ibs. clover hay, and 34 Ibs. potatoes, containing in all 113 Ibs. of dry 

 matter. When we compare these figures with those showing the amount 

 of dry matter required by cows for 100 Ibs. of milk (544), and further 

 consider that the milk of the ewe is richer and that she is at the same time 

 growing a fleece, it is apparent that good ewes are economical pro- 

 ducers. Shepperd found that lambs consumed 640 Ibs. of their dams' 

 milk for each 100 Ibs. they gained. 



892. Orphan lambs. If possible, a foster mother should be found for 

 any orphan lamb. However, in case this can not be done, the orphan 

 can be successfully raised on cow's milk, 16 tho close attention is neces- 

 sary the first month. For the first week the lamb should have some ewe 's 

 milk, if possible, by letting it nurse ewes whose lambs are not yet old 

 enough to take all of the milk. The cow's milk should be from a cow 

 giving milk rich in fat, as ewe's milk is high in fat, or cream may be 

 added. For the first 3 or 4 weeks the lamb should be given milk from 

 the same cow. During the first few days and nights the lamb must be 

 fed only a small amount of milk (not over 2 to 3 tablespoonfuls) at a 

 time, but it must be fed often. For the first day it is necessary to feed 



u Agr. Science, VI, p. 3>97. 



"Coffey, Productive Sheep Husbandry, p. 262; Kleinheinz, Sheep Manage- 

 ment, Breeds, and Judging, p. 71. 



