6« The Shepherds^ Guide. 



months old. In Piedmont, some are said to we^n 

 so early as 40 days : on the contrarj^, at Rambouil- 

 let, they let them suck five or six months. But 

 very large lambs injure and weaken the ewes, 

 and it is frequently seen that such lambs thrive 

 faster after they have been weaned than before ; 

 whilst the growth of such as are weaned so ear- 

 ly as, or earlier than three months, v/ill be there- 

 bv checked and impeded. We, therefore, prefer 

 the fourth, or at latest the fifth month. Such 

 lambs as have been accustomed to feed, may be 

 weaned the earlier ; and by so doing, the ewe has 

 more time to recover her strength and flesh be- 

 fore she goes again to ram. Whilst by the negli- 

 gent practice of letting the lambs run with the 

 ewes until they wean themselves, both the ewes 

 and the lambs are injured. The lambs, by too 

 long sucking, weary and exhaust the ewes ; and 

 the ewes continually drive the lambs from the 

 tenderest and sweetest pasture. 



Weaning should be gradual, lest the udder of 

 the ewe should be injured, and lest the lamb 

 should be hurt by too sudden a change of diet. 

 This is easily eifeeted,by admitting the lamb to the 

 ewe but once a day, for a very few days; and after 

 they are five, or at most six months old, the ram 

 lambs should be separated from the ewe lambs, 

 lest the rams become enervated by endeavouring 

 to serve the ewes ; and lest some of the most for- 

 ward ewes should be impregnated. 



