ESTIMATE OF INCREASE IN SHEEP 81 



It is usual to allow one ram to every twenty-five 

 or thirty ewes, according to the age of the former ; 

 but it never pays to run rams that are too young, if 

 you have an eye to the steady increase of your flock. 



It must be borne in mind that in the following 

 attempt to gauge the probable increase of 100 ewes, 

 no allowance is made for those that give birth to 

 two lambs ; but this is not of such frequent occur- 

 rence as in this country — whether due to climate 

 or not, I am unable to say. 



With the care that ewes should receive at lambing- 

 time, and the whole flock throughout the year, the 

 percentage of births ought to be higher than that for 

 cows and mares. Wolves are really the only danger. 



First Year. 



One-year-old ewes 



Two-year-olds . . 



Second Year. 



Third Year. 



Three-year-olds 



Should 75 per cent, of them lamb, 75 ;"| 

 allowance of 10 per cent, loss of lambs [ 

 in spring, 8=67 . . . . > 



Total 



Fourth Year. 

 Four-year-olds 



Third year's lambs 



Should 75 per cent, of original stock lamb,] 

 75; allowance of 10 per cent, loss off 

 lambs in spring, 8=67 .. / 



Total 



I Male 

 (Female 



J Male 

 (Female 

 (Male 

 (Female 



100 



100 



100 



34 

 33 



167 



100 

 34 

 33 

 34 

 33 



234 



