General Care of Sheep and Lambs. 477 



771. Winter quarters. Above every other animal on the farm 

 the sheep should be kept dry as to coat and feet. Inattention to 

 either of these essentials will result disastrously. With dry winter 

 quarters sheep will stand a great degree of cold without incon- 

 venience. Indeed, their quarters in winter should not be warm, com- 

 pared with those of other farm animals. One thickness of matched 

 boards will make the barn or shed where sheep are confined suffi- 

 ciently warm in the northern states except for winter lambs. Ample 

 ventilation is of great importance, and drafts should be avoided. 

 Sunshine, good drainage, and conveniences for feeding are the other 

 requisites of a good sheep barn. The amount of shed space per sheep 

 will vary with the size of the animal. A ewe weighing 100 Ibs. will 

 require about 10 sq. ft. of ground space, while one weighing 150 

 Ibs. should have 15 sq. ft. A space 40x40 ft. sq., for example, will 

 accommodate about 160 sheep weighing 100 Ibs. each, or 100 weigh- 

 ing 160 Ibs., not allowing for feed racks. A provision of 15 inches 

 running length of feed rack should be made for each sheep weighing 

 100 Ibs., and 2 ft. for those weighing 200 Ibs. Breeding sheep housed 

 in winter should have access to a dry yard having a sunny exposure 

 and well protected from winds and storms, in which to obtain the 

 exercise so essential to thrift and health. (733-4) 



772. Winter care. The flock should be so divided into groups that 

 all the members of each group are of the same age, sex, strength, and 

 general characteristics. To give the highest returns a division of 

 mutton sheep should not contain over 50 members. Aged breeding 

 ewes should constitute one band, shearling ewes another, the ewe 

 lambs a third, and the wether lambs a fourth. These bands should 

 be again divided if there is a marked difference between their strong- 

 est and weakest members. The wise flockmaster will group his flock 

 so that each member may have an equal chance with its fellows at the 

 feed trough and in enjoying comforts and attentions from his hand. 

 Ewe lambs intended for the breeding flock should receive liberal 

 rations during the winter months in order that they may grow stead- 

 ily during the first year of their lives. Craig 1 writes : ' ' The growth 

 and development of the lamb the first year of its life determines very 

 largely the size and weight of the fleece and the vigor and power it will 

 attain." Ram lambs should receive liberal rations of muscle-build- 

 ing foods, but never much fat-forming food. 



773. Feed for breeding ewes. In wintering breeding ewes there 

 should be ample provision of good bulky feed, such as clover, alfalfa, 



1 Wis Expt. Sta., Ept. 1897. 



