SHEEP RAISING. 19 



go through the winter preparatory to lambing and caring for their 

 offspring. Flushing on grain gives them new life and vigor which is 

 important in nourishing a strong, healthy lamb. 



Care of Pregnant Ewes. 



One of the common faults in caring for pregnant ewes is to feed them 

 either too sparingly or too heavily without sufficient exercise to foster 

 the best bodily functions for the reproduction of strong, vigorous lambs. 

 As far as possible natural conditions should be provided. The ewe 

 barn should be light and airy and be sufficiently large to accommodate 

 the flock without crowding. They should be sheltered especially from 

 cold, penetrating winds, rain or snow. 



Care should be taken to avoid misjudgment as to the condition of a 

 ewe. With the long coat of wool it is not so easy to determine a run- 

 down condition as in other farm animals. Ewes should come to the 

 lambing period in the pink of condition, yet not burdened with fat. 

 They should carry just enough flesh to insure the stimulation of a good 

 milk flow on which depends the success of the lamb crop. Thin ewes 

 make very poor mothers, often disowning their lambs. A condition of 

 this kind is sure to result in failure and condemnation of sheep raising. 



Range ewes having ample exercise seldom if ever give birth to weak 

 lambs if they have been fed properly. Small, cramped barns and lots, 

 lack of exercise and heavy feeding without regular exercise are the bane 

 of the sheep industry. 



Care of Ewes After Lambing. 



At the approach of the lambing season it is a good plan to examine 

 the condition of the ewes to see that they are thrifty and to determine if 

 their udders are in good condition. The small locks of wool should be 

 trimmed away from the teats to avoid hair balls which sometimes form 

 from these locks in the stomach of the lambs. After the lambs show their 

 ability to find the teats without aid the success of raising them is well 

 in progress. For a time after birth they should be confined with the 

 mother in a small pen to prevent them from getting lost in the flock. 

 After a few days, however, they can be turned in the lots or pasture 

 with the flock. 



For a day or so after lambing the ewe will need little to eat except 

 some pure water and bright clean hay. As the lamb develops and grows 

 stronger the mother may be fed a light concentrated ration. Wheat 

 bran is excellent for this purpose and somewhat later some crushed corn, 

 oil meal, linseed meal or cottonseed meal may be added. For the ordi- 

 nary sized ewe a pound per day and for very large ewes from a pound 

 and one-half to two pounds of grain per day is ample for a large milk 

 flow. If this is supplemented liberally with pasturage or silage the 

 quantity may be reduced. The lambs should be kept growing as rapidly 

 as possible without causing digestive troubles. Early lambs, if thrifty 

 and fed properly, may be pushed and placed on the market before warm 

 weather and thus the ravages of parasites will be avoided. If they are 

 to be retained on the farm they should be weaned at three to four 

 months of age, which will make it possible to put them on clean pasture 

 away from the ewes before they have become infected. This will be of 

 great practical aid in carrying the lambs through the summer without 



