HANDLING SHEEP ON THE RANGE 147 



the country over, however, an average lambing of ? 

 per cent is about the correct figure. 



There is a tendency among the better breeds of sto< A 

 to drop down on this average. The highest percentage 

 are found among the herds containing some common 

 blood. These animals seem to bear twins and even 

 triplets and raise them with great regularity, but as soon 

 as improved rams are introduced into the herd the num- 

 ber of twins rapidly decreases. Not only is the number 

 less but it is well known that the better bred ewe is not 

 so safe a mother as the common one, being apt to desert 

 one, if not both, of her offspring. 



Time of Shearing. Just before the lambs are born 

 the sheep are sheared. Some owners shear twice each 

 year, in the spring and again in the fall. There is a great 

 variety of opinion as to the wisdom of this and much 

 depends on the range and the weather conditions. On 

 brushy rough ranges where the wool is likely to be torn 

 from the sheep's backs as they graze, it is wise to shear 

 twice. On open ranges where this does not occur the 

 sheep can carry the year's fleece with little loss, and as 

 a general thing shearing but once a year, and that in 

 the spring, is the prevailing system. In California they 

 are forced to shear twice owing to the awns from the 

 needle, porcupine and foxtail grasses which get into the 

 wool. Heavy winter rains also make it advisable, the 

 sheep suffering from the wet wool. 



Serious losses often follow shearing in either spring or 

 fall from sudden changes in the weather. Of late years 

 the more progressive sheepmen keep on hand in the 

 camps small blankets of light canvas and if the weather 

 turns stormy, after shearing each animal has a blanket 

 tied to its back which takes the place in part of the wool 



