u6 SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



ing to the allowance of hay. When kept entirely upon " what 

 they can pull," together with a few turnips, the first figure will 

 represent the cost, and i Ib. of hay may be reckoned to cost 

 2d. per week at 533. 4d. per ton feeding value. 



Ewes should be maintained in good healthy store condition 

 up to lambing-time, and it is only after parturition is over, and 

 the ewe and lamb are ready to go out of the pen, that the quality 

 of the food need be improved. It is then that we should advise 

 an increasing allowance of cake, oats, and malt culms for the 

 ewes, and peas and malt for the lambs ; for nothing pays better 

 for pushing quickly forward with plenty of good food than a 

 nicely-bred lot of lambs. 



The rules already given for the management of ewes in lamb 

 are extremely simple, and yet are constantly being broken. 

 They are as follows : (i) a firm and dry lair ; (2) plenty of dry 

 fodder ; (3) care, gentleness, and regularity. 



With such simple rules to guide him it might well be asked 

 why any person should transgress them ? To this question we 

 reply that the peculiarities of the season, and the requirements 

 of the farm are constantly bringing pressure upon the farmer. 

 He is from these causes subjected to a sort of temptation. 



For example, a heavy root crop is in itself an inducement to 

 both farmer and shepherd to feed the ewes liberally. In a 

 sense they must be consumed, must be got rid of, and hence 

 the known principle of giving roots in sparing quantities is 

 neglected. Again, hay may be scarce, and the farmer, in his 

 endeavours to make it last, delays cutting into his ricks. He 

 knows by experience that, when once cut into, a rick soon goes, 

 and he therefore delays making a commencement. In the 

 meanwhile, the ewe flock suffers. Farmers know the heavy 

 expense of chaff-cutting and of purchasing food, and the vast 

 importance of keeping a check upon outgoings ; and hence 

 they may go beyond the limits of legitimate economy, and 

 suffer later by a stroke of ill-luck at or before lambing time. 

 Another example, showing how damage is done, in the face of 

 knowledge, may be stated as follows : The farmer is naturally 



