FEEDING AND CARE OF BREEDING EWES 143 



so far that the bleating of the lambs will not be heard by 

 the ewes. Such bleating when heard keeps in active play 

 the maternal instinct, which tends to the continuance of 

 milk secretion. 



The udders of the dams should be promptly cared 

 for at such a time. The milk should be partially but not 

 wholly withdrawn from the udders as often as may be 

 necessary for the comfort of the ewes and the safety of 

 their udders. The frequency with which they should be 

 milked and the number of the milkings called for will 

 vary with the conditions. As a rule the udders should be 

 examined on the second day after the lambs have been 

 removed, or on the third day at the latest. The examina- 

 tion will show that some of the ewes are so far dry that 

 it is not necessary to draw any milk from them. It is not 

 necessary, of course, to examine the udders of these again. 

 Some may call for. the removal of a little milk, but so 

 little that it is evident these will not require a second 

 milking, and they, along with the former, should be sep- 

 arated from the other portion of the flock if practicable. 

 The udders of some may show much distention, and from 

 these a large portion of the milk should be withdrawn. 

 The second examination need not be made for three or 

 four days as a rule, when it may be necessary to remove 

 more milk. In but rare instances is a third examination 

 necessary. 



No sooner have the lambs been removed than the 

 ewes should be put upon a spare diet until they are 

 dried. The poorest grazing on the farm will be the best 

 suited for the purpose. Where such grazing is not to be 

 had, the ewes may be yarded and given dry roughage 

 only. The flockmaster should exercise much care when 

 drying off the ewes, as neglect at such a time may 

 ruin the udders, which means that ewes thus affected can- 

 not be used for future breeding. The best milkers in the 

 flock, and, therefore, the best lamb raisers, are most in 

 danger of such mishap. 



