CHAP. II. YEANING TIME. 503 



the ewes and their progeny in the spring, ascertain the most advantageous 

 period for lambing. 



The usual time of yeaning is regulated to a great extent by the period 

 at which suitable food can be obtained for the ewes and lambs. Where 

 the sheep are to be kept entirely on grass it is useless to get lambs at 

 Christmas as they would be starved, therefore March and April are the 

 usual months for lambing on good pastures in low-lying districts, and 

 it continues through May in cold upland districts. About April 20th 

 is the normal date at which the lambing begins amongst the hill sheep 

 of Scotland. On arable land crops are grown to provide food at any 

 time the farmer may think well to breed, and this is generally from 

 Christmas to February with the Down breeds which are often required 

 to supply Easter fat lambs, or are expected to turn out as fat tegs 

 some time between the following November and March. The Dorset 

 ewes which come into season exceptionally early can be made to throw 

 their lambs in October in readiness to meet the Christmas fat lamb 

 market, and those which come shortly after these supply the lamb 

 market until the Down lambs are fit to kill. A great many of the 

 Dorset fat lambs are got by Hampshire rams, the cross with the 

 Down breed tending to improve the quality. 



The strength and beauty of sheep-stock depend to some extent on the 

 number of females that the ram is allowed to serve. While he is young, 

 fifty or sixty should be the utmost extent ; as he advances in years, the 

 number may be gradually increased, but should seldom exceed eighty 

 and never a hundred. Without these precautions, the lambs might 

 not only be deficient in number, but also in strength. When the 

 ram is allowed to run with the ewes, fifty of the latter is the usual 

 number he is allowed to serve. 



The following is a brief account of the management of ewes through- 

 out the year. 1 



The management of the ewe flock varies somewhat with the breed, 

 and also according as the flocks are kept for breeding pedigree stock, 

 or only store animals. Where ewes are kept for breeding first class 

 rams, which are expected to realise high prices, they are allowed rather 

 better food than in the ordinary cases. An ordinary lamb ought to 

 have cost not more than about 10s. when it is born, whereas highly- 

 bred lambs have often cost 20s. at birth. Some of the difference is of 

 course caused by the greater cost of the parents ; but during the twelve 

 months from lamb to lamb they are differently treated. On most farms 

 the ewes are looked upon as scavengers, cleaning up rough food, much of 

 which would otherwise be wasted. They rarely get the first run over a 

 crop, but follow other sections of the flock. Highly-bred flocks receive 

 more liberal treatment not always to their advantage and frequently 

 have the first run on keep unless food is very short. 



After lambing the ewes are as a rule kept well for the sake of the 

 lambs, but at weaning time they are shorn and placed on short commons 



1 Sheepbreeders should read two papers in the Journal of the Eoyal Agricultural Society, 

 "The Lambing Pen," by Harold Leeney (3rd series, vol. vii., 1896, p. 662), since published as 

 a 6d. pamphlet, and "Abortion, Barrenness, and Fertility in Sheep," by Walter Heape, M.A. 

 (3rd series, vol. x., 1899, p. 217). 



