FEEDING OF SHEEP 243 



Breeding Ewes. 



It is a very good thing to " flush " the ewes for a few 

 weeks before they are put with the ram. This simply 

 means allowing the ewes to have a little better feeding 

 so as to improve their condition, but not sufficient to 

 make them fat. This has the dual effect of getting the 

 ewes mated a little earlier and of increasing the number 

 of twins or doubles. 



During pregnancy the ewes should be fairly liberally 

 fed by hand if grass is not sufficiently plentiful, so as to 

 keep them in a thriving condition. A moderate allow- 

 ance of roots may be given (i I Ibs. per head per day, or, 

 say, a cart-load to 100) ; but frozen roots should always 

 be fed with caution. A little cake (J Ib. per head per 

 day) may also be found necessary. The ewe will then 

 be in fairly good condition at lambing time, produce 

 stronger lambs, and nurse them better. 



At lambing time a sufficient supply of hay, straw, 

 and roots near the lambing pen is very necessary. 

 The ewes will be taken into it for a day or two before 

 lambing, more especially at night. After lambing, hay 

 and i to 2 Ibs. of concentrated food, made up of the 

 same ingredients and in the same proportions as those 

 for dairy cows (see p. 193), should be given, along with 

 some nice, succulent roots (14 to 21 Ibs. per head per 

 day) or grass. 



Fattening Early Lambs. 



The fattening of lambs for the early market is becom- 

 ing more and more popular, for several reasons : (a) the 

 lambs yield quick returns ; (b) the price, generally 

 speaking, is comparatively high ; (c) they are fattened off 



