12 FARMERS' BULLETIN 840. 



from the necessary work of circulating through the flock. A bag or 

 a piece of cloth tied under the belly prevents the " teaser " from serv- 

 ing the ewes. If the ram is allowed to run in the field with the ewe* 

 he may be made to mark the ones lie has served, so that the approxi- 

 mate dates of lambing can be determined. A daub of special brand- 

 ing paint that later will scour out of the wool can be applied every 

 day or two to the left side of his chest and brisket for the first two 

 weeks, on the right side for the next two, and on the middle for the 

 last two weeks of the season. Different colors of paint may also be 

 used, but under no consideration should any mixture containing tar 

 be used. When the ram is not in the flock he will be quieter and more 

 easily handled if one or two ram or wether lambs or bred ewes are 

 kept running with him. 



FALL FEEDING. 



Stubble and stalk fields may well form the principal means of 

 sustenance for the breeding flock in the fall if they are used before 

 the rains injure their feeding value. Fence strips in plowed fields 

 may also give good grazing for a few days. Clover and grass pas- 

 tures may well be left until the stubble and stalk fields have been 

 used. For regions where the winters are open a heavy stand of 

 well-cured bluegrass will help very much in carrying the .flock 

 through the winter in good condition. Green rye pastures in the 

 late fall give considerable succulence and furnish exercise for the 

 flock. In the South velvet beans will be found of great help in 

 carrying the flock into January. 



The shepherd should train himself to read the condition of his 

 sheep by feeling the bone of the loin or back. At no time while they 

 are in lamb should ewes be allowed to lose in weight. In open wet 

 fall seasons there is danger of waiting too long to start feeding. A 

 rank growth of soft grass may appear to be good feed, but the real 

 need of the flock should be determined by a closer examination of 

 the actual condition of all or a representative number of the ewes. 



THE FLOCK IN WINTER. 



WINTER FEED. 



Winter management has a very important relation to the returns 

 from the flock. The feeding should be such as will produce the 

 most vigorous lambs and at the same time keep the wool in good 

 condition. Leguminous hays, straws, and cornstalks usually form the 

 main part of economical winter rations. Clover, alfalfa, or cowpea 

 hay, if of good quality, may be used as the sole feed until near lamb- 

 ing time, from 3 to 3J pounds being sufficient for ewes weighing 

 less than 150 pounds. Oat and wheat straw are better than rye 

 or barley straw. The beards of the latter are likely to prove trouble- 



