LAMBS FROM BIRTH UNTIL WEANED 113 



Food for lambs when weaned When lambs are 

 weaned, they should, if possible, be put upon pastures 

 fresh, succulent and nutritious. Frequently the ordinary 

 grasses at such a time are dry, but the second growth of 

 clover is then at its best, and it furnishes a very suitable 

 pasture for lambs. In anticipation of the weaning sea- 

 son, winter rye may be sown in the North and cowpeas 

 in the South, so that these may be ready for grazing when 

 the lambs are to be weaned. No plant, however, has 

 equal suitability to such grazing as the dwarf essex rape, 

 and none can be furnished in better season at such a 

 time. When well-grown rape is on hand in plentiful sup- 

 ply, ordinarily it is not necessary to feed any grain sup- 

 plement. But much care should be exercised when first 

 turning the lambs out into the rape, lest there should be 

 loss from bloating (see p. 193). 



Usually lambs for show purposes should be given a 

 liberal grain supplement in addition to the pasture or the 

 soiling food to which they may have access. When am- 

 ple rape pastures are not on hand, lambs of both sexes 

 which are to be sold for breeding should get a grain sup- 

 plement. To take the market properly they should be of 

 good size and also in good flesh. Lambs that are to be 

 sold for meat will usually profit by a grain ration when 

 they are to be sold early, but when retained for winter 

 fattening, this may not be necessary when the grazing 

 is good. Nor is it necessary under like conditions for ewe 

 lambs chosen to replenish the flock. 



The basic food in the grain supplement for lambs 

 that are to be set apart for breeding is oats, and for being 

 ready for the block it is corn. But barley, speltz, rye and 

 millet may all be used more or less in lieu of corn ; oats 

 alone will furnish a good grain supplement for the former, 

 but corn is too strong a food to feed alone to the latter. 

 Among grain supplements fed to lambs retained for 

 breeding the following will be found suitable : Oats alone, 

 oats and bran, the latter not to exceed 33 per cent by 



