24 WISCONSIN BULLETIN 232 



and lambs have become accustomed to pasture and they are al- 

 lowed to remain on it continuously, the lamb-creep is removed 

 from the barn to the pasture field and set up in a convenient 

 place for the lambs to feed. At this time only a small amount of 

 grain is fed to the lambs and when the weather becomes quite 

 warm the corn is left out of the grain mixture. 



Weaning Lambs. When the lambs are four to four and one- 

 half months old they are weaned and put on a separate pasture. 

 The feeding of grain is continued, and in addition to grass pasture 

 and grain, the lambs are regularly turned into a patch of Dwarf 

 Essex rape for a part of each day or during the night. 



Lambs that are to be shown late in the fall are generally put 

 into the barn early in September. If the pasture and the weather 

 remain good, the lambs are left in the field for a longer time, 

 which is much better than closely confining them in the barn. 

 Out-door life under favorable conditions is ideal for the fitting 

 of lambs, and when it becomes necessary to take them to the barn, 

 they are turned out as much as the weather will permit. When 

 they are taken to the barn in the fall the grain ration is changed 

 to a mixture of equal parts of bran and oats and a small amount 

 of cracked peas, cracked barley, and oil meal. At this time and un- 

 til the weather becomes quite cool they are fed lightly on grain, 

 but are given all the green feed they will eat, such as cabbage, 

 roots, and green clover. This will overcome the danger of found- 

 ering them. When the weather becomes cool more grain may 

 safely be fed and a small amount of cracked corn is added to the 

 ration. At the same time the allowance of green feed is cut down, 

 for the reason that feeding an excessive amount of green feed 

 is apt to make the lambs soft in handling quality. 



Trimming Show Lambs. Lambs do not need to have their 

 fleeces trimmed for show purposes until they are brought to the 

 barn. A cool day is selected for trimming. One or two trim- 

 mings give a smooth fleece and bring the lambs into very nice 

 form. Attention is given to their feet and one trimming usually 

 puts their hoofs in proper shape. 



TRANSPORTATION OF SHOW SHEEP 



For a few days prior to loading onto the train for the trip to 

 the show the allowance of green feed should be cut down some- 

 what, and at the last meal before loading on the car the wethers 

 should receive only half as much feed as usual. Early arrange- 



