18 N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



If good roughages can be obtained, such as cowpea, clover or oat hay, 

 tlie concentrates may be fed rather sparingly, however, if the roughage 

 is of poor quality more and better concentrates should be given. The 

 English method is to supply roots during the winter season and these, 

 with the dry roughages given, constitute largely the daily ration. How- 

 ever, in this country roots are not extensively grown on account of the 

 extra labor and cost, but corn silage may be very successfully substituted. 



In the early spring preparation must be made for the lambing sea- 

 son. Feeds of a nitrogenous character and cooling in effect should be 

 given at this time. Dry fattening feeds should be avoided, and those of 

 a succulent character should be given instead largely. The ewes should 

 not be closely coralled, but should be given plenty of range, which will 

 tend to keep the system in a strong healthy condition. 



The ewe barn should be large and well ventilated. If these things are 

 provided and the health of the flock is looked after properly, there need 

 be little cause for not making the sheep business a success. 



Period of Gestation and Heat. 



The period of gestation is about one hundred and fifty days or five 

 months approximately. The time may vary considerably, but on the 

 average the above is correct. 



Normally ewes breed during the fall months and lamb in the spring. 

 Some breeds, however, will conceive much earlier so that the lambs 

 come during the winter season. During the breeding season the ewe 

 comes in heat every three weeks and remains in this condition for three 

 to four days. 



Breeding. 



The breeding season usually begins in July and continues until late in 

 the fall. The Dorsets, Merinos, Tunis and Hampshires breed earlier in 

 the season than most other breeds. The Shropshire and Southdown, for 

 example, conceive somewhat later and the long wool breeds still later, 

 the latter lambing usually in March or April. Ordinarily under the 

 conditions in this State, the lambs can be made to come quite early in 

 the spring. This is most advisable for warding off the ravages of the 

 stomach worm. 



Two practices may be followed in breeding the ewes. The ram may 

 be put with the flock and allowed to run with them as practiced on the 

 ranges. The best plan, however, is to keep him coralled during the day 

 and turn him with the ewes during the evening or early morning. He 

 will remain more active by handling in this way, and will care for a 

 larger flock of ewes. The time of mating and the cross made will 

 depend on the use or disposition that is to be made of the offspring. 



Flushing Ewes. 



It is a practice among some sheepmen to have the ewes in a rapidly 

 gaining condition during the breeding season. Practice has demon- 

 strated that ewes in this condition conceive more readily and drop a 

 greater number of twins than when in a normal or run down condition. 

 After the breeding season they should be kept in good flesh, but should 

 not be made excessively fat. By so doing they will be better fitted to 



