116 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



It is wise to use a different color in marking each 

 week, thus all the ewes that are bred the first week 

 will be marked red, all the next week blue, the third 

 week yellow, the fourth week black, the fifth week 

 green, and so on. This marking is done with a 

 brush and a daub of paint; on the back of the head 

 or on the shoulder is a good place. 



After the first ewe has been taken out, the ram 

 will proceed quietly to search for another. Unless 

 he is a very vigorous ram, it is unwise to allow him 

 to serve more than four during a morning, and if a 

 large number seem to be in heat, it will be well to 

 get them up again after sunset in the evening. The 

 ram has an exceedingly vigorous reproductive sys- 

 tem, and has power to impregnate more females 

 than most animals, even although his work is con- 

 fined to a short period each year. 



The ewes that are served and put out should be 

 put by themselves and not returned to the flock for 

 three days, else they may be still in heat and re- 

 ceive unnecessary attention from the male. One 

 service will as surely impregnate as more and will 

 beget stronger lambs. 



Managed in this way a ram will easily care for 

 40 or 50 ewes and may serve 100 if he is unusually 

 strong and vigorous and well cared for. He should 

 be kept quiet all day, in a cool place, and well fed 

 on stimulating food such as oats and bran with 

 clover hay. 



One advantage of this way of managing ewes is 

 that one will know those that do not take the ram 



