SHEEP RAISINCJ. 21 



After the lambs once get well started and take the milk regularly, the 

 feed of the ewe can be increased gradually until at the end of three or 

 four weeks she should receive her full ration. The lambs should be 

 induced to eat as early as possible to avoid a severe shock at weaning 

 time. Ordinarily it will only be a very few days after birth until they 

 will begin to eat grain and nibble at bright clean hay. It is advisable to 

 build a creep in which the lambs can go, but to which the ewes will not 

 have access. This is the English method, and there is no doubt regard- 

 ing the art which they possess in sheep husbandry. 



>Veaning Lambs. 



The lambs should be weaned when three to four months old. If they 

 are properly fed in a creep where they alone can have access to grain 

 and forage, there will be 110 further trouble at weaning time. For a 

 time after the lambs are weaned the mothers should be given non-milk 

 producing feeds. The legumes and green grazing crops, especially 

 should be withheld. By withholding these feeds and allowing the lambs 

 to suckle several times there should be no trouble with the udders unless 

 it is with a very heavy milking ewe. If a lamb is allowed to return to 

 a heavy milker she should first be milked out before the lamb is allowed 

 to gorge itself and bring on digestive troubles. 



Lambs which are to be sent to the market early in the season need not 

 be weaned, but allowed to get every benefit of the mother's milk which 

 will, when it is properly supplemented with grain and forage, give the 

 lambs a full, plump appearance. 



Winter and Early Spring Lambs. 



There is no doubt but what a large number of farmers in this State 

 could profit by buying a flock of grade ewes, cross them on a good pure- 

 bred mutton ram and market the lambs during the early spring months. 

 A good grade of ewes may be obtained from the mountains or from Chat- 

 ham or surrounding counties at very reasonable prices. While the supply 

 is limited, especially from the latter source, if more attention were given 

 to sheep raising it would not be long until the supply of breeding females 

 would be materially increased in numbers and in quality. The local 

 markets throughout the State will handle a goodly number of lambs for 

 spring trade. By having the ewes lamb the latter part of February or 

 early in March the lambs can be placed on the market in May, June, 

 and July usually at remunerative prices. The best ewe lambs may be 

 retained and given special attention for the purpose of grading up the 

 ewe flock. 



The grade ewes necessary for producing spring lambs can usually be 

 purchased for three to five dollars each, depending on their size, breeding 

 and condition. Quite often the lambs will the first year more than pay 

 for the original cost of the ewes and their keep, saying nothing of the 

 value of the wool clip. If the ewes are extra good, they can be used for 

 two or three seasons, after which the higher grade ewe lambs from the 

 pure-bred ram will be coming into active service. 



The winter lamb is a specialized product and the lambs coming in the 

 middle of winter require much extra care and expense which is not 

 necessary in raising the early spring lamb. Liberal prices must be re- 



