208 MANAGEMENT OP EAM8 IN COUPLING. 



covering, his separate inclosure should of course be dry, clean 

 and comfortable properly ventilated and lighted : and it is 

 better that it entirely seclude him from seeing or hearing the 

 ewes, except when he is admitted to them. It should also be 

 strong enough to defy his utmost efforts to escape.* He 

 should have fresh water in a clean bucket (no sheep freely 

 drinks dirty water, or out of a dirty bucket,) at least three 

 times a day the choicest of hay and be fed on grain 

 morning and evening. That mixture of oats and peas which 

 is produced by sowing three bushels of the former to one of 

 the latter with one-quarter part of wheat added, constitutes 

 an admirable grain feed, when the ram's powers are severely 

 taxed. A quart of this mixture daily, and sometimes even 

 more, is often fed to a good-sized, mature animal, which has 

 been used to hard service and high feed. It would, however, 

 cloy the appetite, if the feeding was not commenced two or 

 three weeks in advance of the coupling season and gradually 

 raised to that point. This should be done not only to prevent 

 that result, but to give the ram a degree of preparation for 

 his work. He ought, by no means, however, to be shut up in 

 his stall without exercise during this preparatory period. 



It is not to be understood that the precise mixture of feed 

 above recommended, is indispensable. But all the articles 

 named contain a very large proportion of those nitrogenized 

 matters which produce muscle, or lean meat, and consequently 

 strength, energy and activity, while Indian corn, oil meal, 

 etc., contain an excess of carbon which tends to the production 

 of fat. The ram demands the former, and is only encum- 

 bered by any excess of the latter. 



One rule is to be kept steadily in view in feeding a ram 

 during the coupling season. He should not be fed more at a 

 meal than he will consume briskly and cleanly. If he leaves 

 any part of his allowance, it should be removed from his 

 manger ; and if this is found to be habitual, the allowance 

 should be reduced. 



I regard it as highly inexpedient to keep two rams in the 

 same inclosure or room at this period, however well one may 

 seem to be subjected to the other. Jealousy often provokes 

 even the weaker one to make battle : and an animal of great 

 value may be sacrificed by a chance blow. 



The modes of putting ewes and managing rams I have 



* Powerful Merino rams which have acquired the habit of breaking inclosures, 

 will often dash through the side of a barn, or knock a stable door from its hinges, at 

 the second or third blow. They are " battering-rams," indeed I 



