FEEDING AND CARE OF RAMS 151 



When the ram lambs are graded, those drawn for sale 

 to breeders of pure breds should be kept apart fro.n 

 those to be sold to the breeders of grades, and also from 

 the culls that are to go to the block. The chief argument 

 for such isolation is found in the adverse influence which 

 lambs of the second and third classes named would have 

 on the sale of those of the first class, and likewise the 

 adverse influence which those of the third class would 

 have on the sale of those of the second class. It would 

 aid in making sales of the .small lambs sold for breeding 

 if they could be separated from those that are larger but 

 off in markings ; but in practice it is difficult to make so 

 many divisions. If lambs of the first class are not all dis- 

 posed of in the lamb form, it may be profitable to carry 

 them over for sale as shearlings, but none of the other 

 classes should be thus held over as a rule. They should 

 all go to the block rather than be carried over, as the de- 

 mand for them as .shearlings would probably not be good. 



Food for rams from weaning until winter From the 

 time that the lambs are weaned until winter closes 

 in, or until they are sold, no kind of pasture 

 that can be furnished is superior to dwarf Essex rape, 

 with access at the same time to an old grass pasture. In 

 the absence of rape, second growth clover is good, or blue 

 grass that is succulent and plentiful, or early sown win- 

 ter rye, or indeed any kind of succulent food such as may 

 be plentifully gathered amid the grain stubbles. Fall 

 turnips amid these are specially helpful. Much caution 

 should be used in grazing high-class lambs on the rape, 

 lest there should be loss from bloating (see page 193). 



From the time of weaning until the lambs are housed 

 for winter or sold, the necessity for concentrates and the 

 quantity of the same to be fed will depend in a consider- 

 able degree upon the pasture. When the supply of such 

 grazing as well-grown rape, kohlrabi or fall turnips is 

 plentiful, the necessity is not present for feeding large 

 quantities of grain, because of the nutritious character of 



