SHOULD LAMBS BE SHORN OR NOT. 33 



should be given, but it must not be of a heating or too stimulating 

 nature ; probably, nothing, for safety, surpasses extra good 

 linseed cake with crushed oats and bran. The lambs must be 

 divided according to sex ; and should, as soon as vetches, common 

 turnips, and mustard, can be got in succession, be put on the 

 arable land and pushed forward in a healthy natural way, 

 avoiding an undue proportion of artificial food. As the harvest is 

 cleared, the young seeds afford a good change for the lambs ; from 

 which they should be removed at night to the arable land. Close 

 folding, if possible, should be avoided, as it tends to fatten and not 

 to develop muscle and strength, which should be the object in a 

 breeding flock. By this is meant, that the hurdles should not 

 follow close upon the sheep, but that the sheep should be allowed 

 to roam at large over the field. 



The experience of breeders during the last decade seems to 

 point to keeping the lambs from the period of weaning, right 

 through the Autumn, on arable lands, eating a variety of green 

 foods turnips and young clovers, and not on old pastures, where, 

 without doubt, the larvae is oicked up. 



To carry this out, the breeder must exercise a little forethought, 

 and arrange for a succession of tares, cabbage, kale, rape, and 

 other suitable foods. This can be easily done by planting so 

 much Winter tares and rye in the Autumn ; following up with 

 Spring tares, early Enfield Market cabbage, planted in February 

 or March, according to the weather; the drilling of the early 

 Enfield cabbage, early sheep fold and ox cabbage at intervals 

 during the Spring and Summer months ; assisted with white 

 turnips, rape, kale, rabbi, in suitable quantities. A large flock 

 can be kept in this manner, and with care and systematic 

 drenching losses can be reduced to a minimum. 



SHOULD LAMBS BE SHORN OR NOT. 



Most breeders recommend shearing as giving greater immunity 

 from the fly in summer ; and also preventing the clinging of 

 the soil to the belly when on turnips, but it should not take place 



