THE EWE FLOCK. log. 



CHAPTER XII. 



THE MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 

 THE EWE FLOCK. 



THE flock is always composed of ewes of various ages. 

 Much has been said of late years upon the advantage of 

 breeding from ewe lambs, but I cannot approve the suggestion. 

 Nature will not be hurried with impunity, and for an animal 

 to undergo the trials of maternity when it is not itself arrived 

 at half its proper size is repugnant to her laws. If ample 

 frames are to be perpetuated, the females should be fairly 

 mature before they are placed in the breeding flock, and this 

 is best accomplished by allowing them to bring their first lamb 

 at two years old. This opinion may be challenged, but upon 

 what ground but that of greed can the alternative be defended ? 

 Let anyone apply the rule to the case of other animals, and he 

 will see that to begin breeding from females at too early an 

 age is inconsistent with common sense. The case of sheep is 

 peculiar in this respect, that there is no choice between 

 lambing at one year and at two years old. 



With other animals a compromise may be effected in terms 

 of half-years, quarters, or months, and the different practices 

 of breeders are thus only slightly divergent ; but a whole 

 year, or at least nine or ten months, is a long period in the life 

 of a young ewe. I am, therefore, of opinion that as we must 

 choose between half a year and a year and a half before 

 mating our young ewes, we had better err on the side of 



