for breeding. Since the ovum is the hereditary part contributed by 

 the ewe to the lamb and the spermatozoon the hereditary carrier of 

 the ram, it seems reasonable that when the animals producing these 

 two cells are in a vigorous state of health and nourishment the vital- 

 of the organs that produce the cells would also contribute more 

 igor to the cells themselves. 



Flushing is accomplished by feeding extra feed on pasture and by 

 ic use of a forage crop. In a wet season when grass is abundant 

 there is no necessity for extra feeding; in fact there is danger of get- 

 ting the ewes too fat. Usually a daily allowance of a quarter to a 

 half pound of grain mixture, rich in protein, is sufficient to flush a 

 ewe in a period of four to six weeks. Rape pasture is recommended 

 highly for this purpose. One acre of rape will ordinarily flush forty 

 to fifty ewes when they are grazed for only one or two hours daily. 

 The extent of extra feeding will depend upon the condition of the ewes. 

 There is less danger of excessive fat from the use of forage crops 

 than from grain. This method of feeding should be continued until 

 the ewes have been bred at least once. 



The Mating Season. 



Preparatory to mating, the ewes should be trimmed about the 

 vul\a and all tags removed. The method of handling the ram will 

 depend upon the number of sheep in the flock, the method of sheep 

 raising practice and the experience and quality of labor employed. 

 For small flocks of twenty-five or less ewes, allow the ram to run with 

 the ewes. However, the ram should not be placed with the flock 

 longer than an hour the first two days. If fifty ewes are to be safely 

 bred to one ram, the "hand-coupling" system should be employed. 

 By this system is meant allowing the ram to be with the flock in the 

 early morning and the late evening to serve the ewes that are in heat. 

 The ram should not serve more than three without a rest, lest he 

 be rendered sterile. The ram should have lamp black placed on 

 the breast so that all ewes are marked by him. When mated the 

 wes should be separated from the flock and records made of the 

 date of service, so that the time of lambing may be closely pre- 

 dicted. The ewes that have been bred snould be watched, and if 

 a large number of them come in heat again a new ram should 

 be secured. When the rams are allowed to run with the flock, mark- 

 ing of the ewes by the ram should be practiced, records being taken 

 at the end of each day of the ewes newly marked. In raising "hot- 



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