16 Sheep Management. 



hand coupling was followed, the last lambs born 

 were not nearly as strong as those born first. This 

 emphasizes strongly how, unwise it is to allow the 

 ram to serve too many ewes. On the western 

 ranges where the rams run at large with the flock, 

 and where no grain is fed them, only from thirty- 

 five to forty ewes are allotted to each ram. 



FEED FOR THE RAM. 



To obtain the best results from a ram, he must 

 be kept in a strong, vigorous condition. He needs 

 no grain during the summer months when he has 

 good pasture, but at least one month before breed- 

 ing begins he should be given some grain. Noth- 

 ing can be more highly recommended than a mix- 

 ture of two parts of oats and one part of bran. 

 This ration, which is strong in protein, does not 

 tend to produce much fat. The amount of this 

 mixture to be fed lies entirely in the feeder's judg- 

 ment, for he must distinguish between "thrifty" 

 and "too fat" condition. No satisfactory results 

 can be expected from a ram that is too thin, nor 

 from one that is too fat. 



THE RAM IN WINTER. 



The ram should be kept away from the breeding 

 flock in the winter, as in summer, so that he can- 

 not annoy and bunt the pregnant ewes around, as 



