106 BRITISH SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING. 



lamb she carries. That ewes fed exclusively on turnips do give 

 trouble at lambing, and often cast their lambs prematurely, there 

 can be no doubt, but it is less from the presence of injurious matter 

 contained in the roots than from the want of nutritive matter. 

 The ewe for a few weeks before lambing has to build up the lamb 

 within her, and this is a great strain on her. If she is in low con- 

 dition and is supplied with insufficient nutritive food, Nature 

 revolts, and either the ewe or the lamb suffers. The lamb most 

 often suffers, and is expelled before time, Nature taking this course 

 to save the ewe. The same result is obtained if ewes are kept 

 too long on poor grass. We had experience of this some years 

 ago, when, owing to a shortness of keep, we sent our ewes to graze 

 at a distance. They stayed too long, and our losses at lambing 

 were the heaviest we ever experienced. Our district being a strictly 

 arable one, ewes rarely went on grass, yet by giving a plentiful 

 supply of dry nutritive food with the roots, they were as prolific 

 as in any other district. The fact is, turnips contain little more 

 than sugar and water, and a ewe cannot support herself and 

 build up a lamb on such a thin syrup ; it is not natural. She 

 requires a more complex food, containing that which will supply 

 the means of building up bone, muscle, and other parts of the 

 lamb, without unduly exhausting herself. This must be borne 

 in mind, and as the greatest strain comes when parturition 

 approaches, care must be taken to give the ewe good food. At 

 the same time the ewe should not be fat. She should be vigorous 

 and muscularly strong. Dry food, such as hay, pea-haulm, or 

 straw-chaff, with malt culms or other nitrogenous food, is well 

 suited for this. A small quantity of peas, decorticated cotton 

 cake or similar concentrated food may be given with much ad- 

 vantage, if coarser food cannot be conveniently spared. Corn of a 

 starchy nature, such as maize, is not so valuable. It is a mistake 

 to delay giving the ewes dry, bulky food until close upon lambing 

 time. Hay or other dry food should be given in early autumn, 

 when many cases of premature lambing would be prevented. 



Care must be taken that as lambing time approaches ewes are 

 not chased by dogs, or in other ways made to hurry themselves 

 unduly. Ewes which are close -folded should be taken out for 

 gentle exercise for a mile or two daily, special care being taken 

 that they are not hurried through gateways, as the concussion is 

 injurious to their young. Ewes in fact, all sheep should be 

 approached gently, so as not to frighten them. Strange dogs 

 should be kept well to heel. When ewes are well gone in lamb, 

 they must not, if foot-rot is present, be turned to dress their feet ; 

 but the feet must be lifted carefully and dressed or pared if they 

 get badly grown. On those farms where permanent lambing 

 folds are not found, it is necessary to provide proper shelter for the 



