InvestigaMons with Sheep. 



481 



the average given in tlie preceding table have often been found 

 by investigators. ' 



The yield of milk by sheep wUl vary greatly according to the 

 condition of feed and the breed. Marti ny states ^ that the yield 

 of Friesian milk sheep in Westphalia, Germany, is about four 

 quarts of milk daily for four months. These sheep lamb once a 

 year, dropping two or three lambs. Three sheep are estimated 

 to consume as much feed as one cow. Ordinary sheep yield from 

 100 to 150 pounds of milk per year, while the milk breeds pro- 

 duce 300 pounds or more. " 



The period of lactation for sheep is from four to six months. 



735. Weight of lambs at birth.— The weight of lambs at birth 

 will vary with the breed, ranging from 5.5 to 12 and even 15 

 pounds, the latter weight being unusual. 



At the Ontario Agricultural College, "* Brown reports the fol- 

 lowing weights of pure-bred and grade lambs from Canadian ewes: 



736. Feeding milk to lambs. — At the Wisconsin Station ^ the 

 writer endeavored to ascertain whether lambs make as good us« 

 of food given them as other farm animals, by rearing them on 



1 See Staz. Sper. Ag. Ital. 23, p. 572; Analyst, 1893, p. 248; Fleischmann, 

 Milchwirtschaft, 1893, p. 54. 

 * Die Milch, 1871, p. 183. 

 3 Concerning yield of milk from sheep, see Weiske, Joum. f. Landw., 



1S81, p. 451; Rodiczky, Oestr. Ldw. Wochenbl^ 1886, No. 47; — ^..^^, 

 Analyst, 1893, p. 248; Goltz, Landw., Ill, p. 460; Shepperd, Agrl. Science, 

 VI, p. 397. 

 « Rept. 1885. • Kept. 1890. 



31 



