142 FITTING SHEEP 



Merino and Tunis breeders claim, and perhaps justly so, that 

 their respective breeds are well adapted to the production of 

 early, or hot-house lambs. The writer's experience has been 

 that no breed or cross fulfills the mission of early lamb rais- 

 ing as does the, Somerset and Dorset Horns. The latter is 

 well represented in this country, but, as far as I am aware, the 

 Somersets are not as yet represented. However, the Somer- 

 set Horn is almost the exact counterpart of the Dorset Horn. 



Ewes to be Stimulated by Extra Feed. 



Ewes that are intended to be bred for the purpose of rais- 

 ing early lambs should receive a small allowance of grain 

 previous to the ram being put with them. This will stimulate 

 the genital organs and ensure a more regular and even lamb- 

 ing period. Lambing should be over, at the very latest, by 

 Christmas. Roots should be abundantly provided for the 

 use of both ewes and lambs. Too many flockmasters under- 

 estimate the value of roots in the feeding of their flocks, 

 contending that they contain too little nutriment and too 

 much water. Now my contention is that, supposing turnips 

 contained not one particle of nutriment in their composi- 

 tion, their value as an aid to digestion cannot be over-esti- 

 mated. It is unwise to consider the raising of really good 

 sheep of any kind without the aid of succulent rations of 

 some kind. Roots are cheaply grown and fill the bill to a 

 nicety. 



Castrating or Docking Spring Lambs Unnecessary. 



As regard lambs that are intended to be sold as spring 

 lambs, it is not required that they be either docked or 

 emasculated. 



