MILK LAMBS: HOW TO GET, GROW AND MARKET 247 



It is entirely practicable to keep the dams, and also 

 the lambs, in a well-ventilated basement during the entire 

 period covered in the life of the lambs. This may be done 

 with entire safety to the lambs and also to the dams, as 

 the period covered by such feeding does not in many in- 

 stances exceed three months. The even and reasonably 

 warm temperature of such shelter is favorable to econom- 

 ical development in the lambs. They may be reared, 

 however, without hazard in ordinary sheep sheds if the 

 lambing pens are warm. But when reared in such sheds 

 access to a sunny yard in mild weather will doubtless 

 prove beneficial. 



In latitudes milder than those of the northern states, 

 it is not necessary to have sheds so warm, and the neces- 

 sity grows less as the average temperature rises. In the 

 far South shelter that would protect from cold wind and 

 rain would probably prove ample. 



Food and care for the dams Before the lambs come, 

 grading the dams is seldom a necessity. It may be neces- 

 sary in some instances, however, to separate aged ewes 

 and any that may be lean for more liberal feeding. Sub- 

 sequently to the lambing, however, grading may be ad- 

 vantageous. The needs of both ewes and lambs may 

 call for this, as the ewes are not equally capable of taking 

 forcing food at the stages of the suckling period, and the 

 same is true in even greater degree of the lambs. The 

 ewes that produce lambs for replenishing the flock should 

 also be separated from the others at the time of lambing, 

 and should be fed apart from them, as forced feeding such as 

 is given to the others is not good for them or for their lambs. 



After the ewes have lambs, the fodders best adapted 

 to such feeding are those that are largely nitrogenous in 

 their composition, fine in the character of the growth and 

 cured so the fodders are appetizing. Alfalfa cut as soon 

 as the first blooms show, clovers cut in early bloom and 

 Canada field peas and oats enough to sustain the crop 

 while growing are excellent. Finely grown corn and 



