14 N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



prepotent sire bring strong, healthy lambs. The best ewe lambs may 

 be retained each year, and in this way the breeding flock may be grad- 

 ually raised to a high standard. 



Period of Usefulness. 



The period of service of sheep should be governed by the returns from 

 the flock. As long as the ram is active and continues to get a good per- 

 centage of lambs, there is no valid reason for discarding him. The 

 same may be said of the ewes. Tried and proved matrons are always 

 worth more than untried ones. 





FIG. 5 A Western North Carolina Hampshire ram in field condition. 



The loss of teeth and improperly nourished lambs resulting therefrom 

 is one of the first things which will be noticed. When such a condition 

 arises the ewes should be fattened for market. In a small flock the 

 period of service of the ram will be limited to two or three years, be- 

 cause of inbreeding if he is retained longer. In larger flocks this con- 

 dition can be remedied by changing him to a new flock of ewes. The 

 ewes themselves should be retained as long as they are sure and profitable 

 breeders. It is not an uncommon thing to get five or six crops of lambs 

 from a single female. Some breeders follow the practice of breeding 

 the females for about four years, after which they are turned with the 

 ram and sold at the close of the breeding season. While these older ewes 

 may take more care if one crop of lambs can be gotten from them, it will 

 enable the purchaser to get an economical start in pure bred sheep. 



