SHEEP PRODUCTION 



195 



nipple thoroughly cleaned and the milk always heated at 92 degrees F. and never 

 scalded, are precautions that insure success in hand raising the lamb. 



The Lamb Creep. As soon as lambs show indications of eating hay and 

 grain, they should be encouraged to do so by having a separate pen. in one cor- 

 ner of the barn or a convenient place in the field which they can enter by means 

 of the lamb creep. This is made by constructing and setting up a panel consist- 

 ing of two boards six inches wide to which slats three feet long, one inch thick 

 and four inches wide are nailed far enough apart to permit the lambs to crawl 

 through and not the ewes. 



Hampshire Rams. 

 By Courtesy of Sherwood Bros. 



Suitable troughs and racks for grain and hay enable lambs to eat and make 

 much more rapid gains than they otherwise would. Do not make the troughs too 

 deep and it is quite necessary to have a board fitted above the trough in a 

 manner to keep the lambs from getting into it with their feet. This is easily 

 done without interfering with the lambs eating at any time they may choose and 

 saves the grain which they will not eat if soiled in any manner. 



A Suitable Grain Mixture for Lambs. Wheat bran four parts; whole 

 oats two parts; finely ground corn meal two parts ( and oil meal one part, is a 

 good mixture. In warm weather reduce the corn meal and increase the propor- 

 tion of oats. A fine grade of second cutting of clover or alfalfa provides the best 

 roughage. Finely chopped roots when lambs are old enough to eat them and 

 until lambs are put on pasture will be helpful. It pays well to feed lambs grain 

 on pasture and one should bear in mind that the better the lambs are grown the 

 stronger and better the flock will be for breeding as well as for mutton purposes. 



