118 BRITISH SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING. 



provide a good flow of milk. Among the foods which particularly 

 conduce to the flow of milk are oats, peas, decorticated cotton cake, 

 linseed cake, dried grains, with ensilage, grass and roots. Wheat 

 and barley are also valuable, although some hold that the latter 

 is not. It is best to give them in mixture, rather than singly, as 

 the admixture acts beneficially. The lambs cannot digest food 

 other than milk for a few weeks, during which, of course, they are 

 dependent on their mothers. Maize, barley and turnips do not 

 make a good mixture, as the nitrogenous constituents are lacking. 

 Oats are especially valuable, but for some little time before weaning 

 the quantity should be restricted, as from the extent to which 

 they excite the flow it is difficult to dry the ewes as rapidly as is 

 safe. All corn should be sweet and free from mustiness, as sour 

 corn or cake makes the milk unwholesome. From J Ib. to 1 Ib. 

 of a mixture of corn and cake should be given daily to the ewe, 

 according to the supply of green food and the purpose to which 

 it is desired to put the Iambs, though, especially with big ewes like 

 the Hampshire, where it is wished to do the lambs at high pressure, 

 as much as 2 Ib. of cake and corn are given. If they are to be 

 fattened off quickly as fat lambs, the full quantity should be given 

 whilst they " take their corn through their mothers " ; afterwards 

 it can be gradually withdrawn from the ewes and given direct to 

 the lambs. If the lambs are to be kept on to be fattened off as tegs, 

 the smaller quantity of corn will suffice. The lambs, however, 

 always show a profitable return when the " lamb's flesh " is kept 

 on them as long as possible. 



The lambs should be induced to feed as early as possible ; if a 

 small quantity of finely ground linseed cake or pea husk is placed 

 in a small trough outside the ewes' pen, and if a properly con- 

 structed lamb hurdle, such as will allow the lambs to pass through, 

 but keep back the ewes, is placed near, they will soon find their 

 way to it, and learn to feed. The lambs should always have an 

 opportunity of feeding in front of the ewes, whether they are 

 on grass or roots. Nothing is more suitable for lambs than the 

 young tops of turnips, kohl-rabi, or kale and rape. The former 

 are valuable early in the season, but get too old when they run 

 to flower ; rape follows, and kale is extremely useful throughout 

 the spring, but more especially from March onwards, when the 

 plants have thrown their spring sprouts. Failing young sprouts or 

 fresh grass, mangels cut into fine slices are a good substitute. It 

 is important that the lamb feed shall be fresh, and even in the 

 case of corn or roots fed in troughs only small quantities should 

 be given, so that the lambs may clear them out quickly. They 

 will not return to stale food, and if any is left over it should be 

 cleared out of the trough and given to the ewes, which are not 

 so particular. We have found nothing which keeps lambs in such 



