house lambs," or with large flocks of a hundred or more sheep, when 

 pedigree records are not kept, several rams should be placed with th< 

 flock, one ram being used for forty ewes. 



During the breeding season the ram must be carefully fed and ex- 

 ercised. If separated from the flock, another ram or an old ewe thai 

 has previously been bred should be kept with him. His appetites 

 should be keen and a grain ration of equal parts of oats, wheat bran 

 and oil meal, not exceeding two pounds daily, should be fed. Suc- 

 culent feed in the form of roots or grass will serve to keep him in 

 good condition. A ram that loses his appetite may become tem- 

 porarily sterile at this time. 



The time of breeding for March lambs begins the middle of Sep- 

 tember. The normal gestation period in sheep is 146 to 147 days foi 

 mutton breeds, and 152 days for Merinos. The periods of heat occui 

 normally at the end of eighteen to. twenty-one days. The breeding 

 season should last at least six weeks, to allow for a second service of 

 ewes failing to become pregnant from the first service. After the matii 

 season, the feed for the ram should be reduced and he should be rested. 



Late Autumn Pasture. 



After the grain and corn crops have been harvested, the 

 may graze on them. The sheep will "clean up" the fence rows, the 

 weeds and the waste forage that was not collected in harvesting. 

 The longer the sheep are kept on pasture or grazed on harvested fields, 

 the better. They are thereby utilizing feeds that are otherwise wast- 

 ed. Grazing also keeps the sheep in better physical condition. In 

 most sections of Pennsylvania sheep may be grazed without extra 

 feed until December first, if given shelter at night. 



Winter and Spring Management of the Flock. 



Shelter. During the winter months the sheep should be con- 

 fined to shelter that is dry and furnishes protection from rain, wind 

 and snow and has available exercise lots. An open shed similar to that 

 illustrated in figure 16 gives plenty of warmth to sheep dur- 

 ing the coldest weather. The open shed should face the south and 

 have swinging doors that can be lowered during severe weather. 

 The exercise lot should have at least twenty-five square feet of space 

 for each mature sheep. The construction of this shed is cheap and 

 simple, and need not cost more than $1.50 per animal for a flock 

 of fifty ewes. The shed should be well ventilated, but free from 



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