i8o MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



ly yearlings, require more attention and occasion more trouble, as 

 a rule, than do older ewes. The ewe with a record as a lamb 

 raiser takes care of herself and offspring, whereas she with her 

 first-born keeps the shepherd busy. Of course, in the case of the 

 experienced shepherd, young ewes are the best property, but where 

 experience is being bought it is better to start with ewes not less 

 than three years old. 



It might not be out of place to emphasize the fact that the 

 novice should not plunge headlong into the sheep business, for of 

 all our domestic animals the sheep is the hardest to manage suc- 

 cessfully, notwithstanding the prevalent idea that they are the 

 scavengers of the farm and that it requires no skill to manage 

 them. It is true that a small flock will take care of itself, but 

 it is nevertheless the better for being cared for. It is still further 

 true that many a novice has come to grief by commencing with 

 a big flock, whereas had he commenced with a small one Jie would 

 have gained an experience which would have landed him in the 

 ranks of successful flockmasters. From twenty to thirty head of 

 ewes makes a fine start for the young beginner. They will make 

 him a sure profit and furnish him no end of pleasure while do- 

 ing so, to say nothing of the practical experience he derives in the 

 meantime, which is to fortify him against trouble in future larger 

 undertakings. 



When selecting breeding ewes due attention should be given 

 to their udders or <f bags," for without a healthy udder a ewe is 

 comparatively useless.. Fleshy or "caked" udders should be avoid- 

 ed; so also should ewes with "broken" or only "half bags." The 

 heavy-necked masculine ewe rarely proves an ideal mother, al- 

 though there are exceptions to this rule. Ewes unusually thick and 

 fat are generally those which prove non-breeders or have, for 

 some reason, failed to raise a lamb. A deep milking ewe does not 

 carry a superabundance of fat while nursing a lamb, but her lamb 

 carries all that is necessary and desirable for its well-doing. A 

 show ewe is not usually a breeding ewe and the novice should 

 play shy of such. 



THE RAM. 



It has been said, and with a good deal of truth, that "the 

 ram is half the flock." Since the quality of the lamb is largely 

 dominated by the quality of its sire it is important that the best 

 ram possible head the flock, no matter whether it be a pure-bred 

 or a grade flock. Naturally there is such a thing as paying 

 too much for a ram, but more often too little is paid. Of 

 course it goes without saying that nothing but pure-bred rams 

 should be used even on grade flocks and they should be typical of 

 their breed and masculine to a degree. An effeminate ram should 

 have no place in the breeding fold. A poor ram at the head of a 



