MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 287 



The main consideration in the early lamb business is, of 

 course, selection of the right class of ewes. To start with any 

 other would mean failure from the very beginning. Although 

 several breeds have the early lambing trait, it may be safe to say 

 that none have it to a more intense degree than the Dorset-Horn, 

 and those having this breed, with the proper early lamb raising 

 equipment, and who are prepared to give the flock proper atten- 

 tion, cannot fail to make money out of their venture. Another 

 breed which has proven itself a first-class producer of early lambs 

 is the Devon Longwool, a breed to which reference is made under 

 a proper heading elsewhere in this volume. The Eambouillet, 

 Tunis, Hampshire, Delaine, and some other breeds in this coun- 

 try, have proven themselves worthy of the consideration of the 

 early lamb raiser. No matter what breed of sheep is selected, for 

 early lamb raising purposes, only choice, deep milking ewes of 

 that breed should be considered as suitable for the business, and, 

 as a rule, it is better to select middle-aged ewes than yearling or 

 older ewes for the undertaking. 



\\ r hen the ewes should be bred is a matter to be governed by 

 the time the lambs are required for market. At all events they 

 should be bred as early as possible in the season, from, saj, the 

 middle of May on. Naturally nothing but very deep fleshed sires 

 should be used in the production of early lambs To secure the 

 best results in early breeding the ewes should be "flushed," that is, 

 just prior to the time of mating, they should be taken off compara- 

 tively poor pasture and put on to some good succulent ration, such 

 as clover, rape, etc. That will insure a more regular or, uniform 

 lambing. Should a ewe not prove to be a good breeder or good 

 milker she should be culled at the proper season. 



It is best to shear the ewes early, or, rather, just before lamb- 

 ing, for the reason that they find more comfort in the barn and 

 .are less liable to troubles from external parasites, and, further, 'the 

 lambs are better able to find the fountain of sustenance and there 

 is no danger of their getting wool-balls in their stomachs, which 

 are the cause of so much trouble at times. There is not nearly so 

 much danger in shearing a ewe heavy with lamb as there is when 

 she just begins to show signs of pregnancy, as when she gets heavy 

 she seems to take better care of herself. 



He who goes into the early lamb raising business must be a 

 thinker, of a patient turn of mind, and of prompt business habits. 

 His buildings must be adapted for the work and its appliances 

 up-to-date. The buildings must be w r arm, even if artificial heat 

 be employed, which is generally unnecessary. The water troughs 

 should be on the automatic system and everything should be kept 

 spick and span. To obviate grain and other products of food 

 falling from the sheeps' mouths to the bottom of the water trough, 

 which of course fouls it, a board should be nailed on one side of 



