6 BULLETIN 144 



Description of Sheep 5 



This experiment was begun with twenty purebred Shropshire 

 and twenty purebred Delaine-Merino ewes of breeding age, all 

 having been kept under the same conditions for two and one-half 

 months previously. Purebred Shropshire and Delaine-Merino rams 

 had been placed with the ewes of their respective breeds on Sep- 

 tember 12. The Delaine-Merino ewes were all in good physical 

 condition, and were two years old. Two Shropshires lacked thrift. 

 It was later determined that they had nodular disease. The re- 

 maining Shropshires were healthy and in most cases two years old. 

 The Delaine-Merino ewes largely possessed C-type, a few possess- 

 ing B-type. 



The new ewes introduced in Part II were raised from those 

 on Part I of this experiment. The number of ewes in each lot 

 varied in Part II. In the winter of 1913-14 Lots I and II were 

 composed of eight Shropshires each ; Lots III and IV of six Delaine- 

 Merinos each. In the winter of 1914-15 Lots I and II contained 

 ten each, and Lots III and IV six each. In 1915-16 the number 

 was ten Shropshires each in Lots I and II, and eight Delaine- 

 Merinos each in Lots III and IV. Purebred rams of the respective 

 breeds were used. In 1914, in the Shropshire lots, several crossbred 

 lambs were obtained due to accidental mating of rams of other 

 breeds with the ewes. 



Quarters 



The first two winters the shelter was a shed 30 feet long and 22 

 feet deep, open to the south. The shed had four divisions, each 7^2 

 feet wide and 17 feet deep ; these adjoined an open lot of the same 

 width and 22 feet deep. This plan provided a pen for each lot 39 

 feet deep and 7^2 feet wide. The open pen had a cement floor 

 with a retaining wall. Sufficient bedding was used to keep the 

 pens dry at all times. 



A sheep shed open to the south was used also for Part II of 

 this investigation. The quarters available to each lot were 9 feet 

 wide and 23 feet long; adjoining them was an open lot of the same 

 width and 30 feet deep. The ground surface was well drained, 

 and sore feet gave no trouble, as in the first two winters when a 

 retaining wall and a cement floor prevented drainage from the 

 exercise yards. The lots did not allow the pregnant ewes enough 

 exercise. At the open end of the shed, a door was hinged above, 



5 Detailed description given in The Pennsylvania State College Annual Ee- 

 port, 1915-16. 



