SHEEP 8i 



must be adhered to. First and foremost the 

 flock must possess the inherent quality of early- 

 maturity ; secondly, the rams used must come 

 from a breed noted for maturing quickly ; 

 thirdly, mating at as young an age as is safe 

 must be adopted ; and finally, that great essen- 

 tial to all successful breeding must be attended 

 to, namely, the food. This, in brief, is the 

 science of early maturity. 



The characteristic of coming to maturity 

 early is natural to all the Down breeds, to 

 many well-known crosses, and also to some of 

 the more northern breeds, such as the Shrop- 

 shires. Any flock can, however, be caused to 

 give quicker maturing lambs by working on the 

 following lines. Use rams of a breed known 

 to be early maturers and use them at as young 

 an age as possible, keep the flock of ewes a 

 young one by drafting out ewes on the score 

 of age earlier than usual. Intensive feeding 

 should be adopted by giving plenty of rich and 

 easily digested food from birth, but taking care 

 that the animals' health is not affected, as is 

 liable to occur with injudicious forcing. This 

 intensive feeding must be adopted gradually, 

 going in for it more strongly each year 



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