48 Flock Improvement. 



rearing is sufficient to prove that selection is a most 

 important factor in flock improvement and successful 

 sheep farming. There are always faults or room for 

 improvement in anything, and the ewe flock is no excep- 

 tion to the rule. In fact, culling is a prominent feature 

 in the improvement of the best stud flocks. 



More than one opportunity for culling to improve 

 the breeding flock is available during the year. An 

 examination of the ewes as they come to the shearing 

 board may be made for faults in the quality and quan- 

 tity of the wool, and all with weak wool or uneven fleeces 

 should be marked to the skin for disposal. Bare bellies, 

 bare legs, those too fine or too coarse in the wool should 

 be singled out. The breeder should cull to the attain- 

 ment of an ideal in view, and will seek to establish a 

 family likeness in the flock, which makes it of much 

 greater value than one of nondescript unevenness. The 

 ewe that does not carry a good fleece is not an acceptable 

 member of the breeding flock; neither itself nor its de- 

 scendants will cut the most satisfactory fleece. While 

 attention is given to all this it should not be forgotten to 

 see that the ram is of a proper stamp for mating with 

 the flock. 



When putting the ewes to the ram a thorough and 

 patient examination of each animal should be made, and 

 those with defective teeth and udders and bad legs 

 should be withdrawn from the flock. Where early 

 lambs are the aim, large frames, well sprung ribs and 

 fine bone give satisfaction, and where flocks are mode- 

 rate in size and under the eye of the farmer throughout 

 the year he may be able to single out and reject the 

 ewes that gave him poor lambs the previous year. Ewes 

 with dry, pale skins will give a poor fleece, and the 

 carcase growth will not be satisfactory. When the 

 teeth begin to go sheep should be culled. Young sheep 



