FEEDING SHEEP AND GOATS 323 



Feeding Ewes. Where individual attention can be given to 

 the breeding ewes, as in the case of mutton breeds, it is desirable to 

 secure as many twin lambs as possible, while under western range 

 conditions one lamb to each ewe has been found to give the best 

 results. If the ewes are in a vigorous, well-nourished condition 

 when mated, they are more sure to breed and will give birth to 

 more twins and triplets than when in a thin, run-down condition; 

 hence the practice of " flushing " ewes has become common among 

 breeders of mutton sheep; i.e., these are fed heavily for two or 

 three weeks prior to breeding time by supplying plenty of easily 

 digestible feed, like rape, cabbage, or grain, in addition to pasturage 

 or dry roughage. Breeding ewes in good condition do not need 

 much grain during the winter; one-half pound of a mixture of oats 

 and wheat bran (3 to 1 by weight) per head daily for ewes weighing 

 about 150 pounds is sufficient, with a couple of pounds of good dry 

 roughage, like legume hay, oat hay, nice fodder corn, etc., and two 

 to three pounds of succulent feeds, either silage or roots. Silage 

 from nearly-matured corn, containing not too many ears, may be 

 fed to advantage to pregnant ewes, but moldy, spoiled, or very acid 

 silage must not be fed, nor frozen roots or silage. More silage may 

 be fed after lambing, when feeds favoring the milk secretion arc 

 especially valuable. To avoid milk fever, but little grain is fed 

 for a few days after lambing. After this period, when the danger of 

 milk fever is passed, the ewes may be gradually brought over to 

 a full grain allowance. Dry roughage and succulent feeds may be 

 fed safely both before and after lambing. 



Ewes' milk contains, on the average, about 7 per cent of fat, but 

 great variations occur in the composition of milk, both in case of 

 ewes of different breeds and of ewes of the same breed. Konig gives 

 2.16 and 12.78 per cent as the extremes of the per cent of fat in ewes' 

 milk according to European analyses. At the Wisconsin station the 

 milk from 14 ewes of six different breeds contained 12.2 per cent 

 solids and 7.1 per cent fat on the average; the average daily milk 

 yield from these ewes was 2.8 pounds. 4 



Feeding the Ram. The ram must be kept in a vigorous, thrifty 

 condition in order to give good service. No grain is necessary while 

 on pasture, except a little for about a month prior to the breeding 

 season. Fattening feeds should be avoided ; a common grain mixture 

 consisting of oats and bran (2 to 1 by weight) can be fed in connec- 

 tion with a good quality of hay. Clean, pure water and salt must be 

 supplied as in the case of all sheep. 



4 Report 1904. 



