﻿10 BULLETIN 20, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



on this subject. Ewe lambs are not satisfactory for breeding. With 

 the ram lamb the amount of service can be regulated, but with the 

 ewe lamb that is bred the entire burden of maternity must be borne, 

 as it can not be controlled. An English experiment x showed that 

 ewe lambs bred at seven months, when producing and rearing a 

 lamb were stunted to the extent of 17 pounds as compared to those 

 bred at one year and seven months. During the second year of the 

 experiment the difference was lessened, but did not disappear. Ewes 

 should not be bred before 18 months old, and this is the common 

 practice in this country. 



In founding a flock it is better to select ewes that have produced 

 lambs. They have less trouble in lambing and something can be 

 told of their breeding qualities. 



Overfitted ewes are as undesirable as are rams in the same condi- 

 tion. They rarely produce after this condition has appeared. The 

 presence of fat in the ovaries, or rather the conditions under which 

 it is put on, is destructive to the reproductive organs. They are 

 among the first parts of the body to suffer from high condition. 



SIZE OF THE FLOCK. 



The number of sheep that can be profitably kept will depend some- 

 what upon each farmer's conditions. The size of the farm and the 

 number of acres that can be devoted to sheep, the natural fertility 

 of the land, and the system of farming must all be considered. 

 Whether sheep are a specialty or whether a small flock is kept for 

 cleaning up the farm and increasing the fertility are other consider- 

 ations. During the past, the prices of wool and mutton have had a 

 powerful influence upon the size of farm flocks. There has always 

 been a tendency for most farmers to dispose of their flocks when 

 prices become low and to enter into the business again when the 

 prices become high. Where purebred sheep are kept the size of the 

 flocks are, as a general rule, much smaller. 



The work of caring for the flock should be considered in determin- 

 ing the size. Certain chores must be done, and many of these would 

 take little more time with 50 than with 15 or 25 head. Much of the 

 equipment needed for a smaller flock will serve for a larger one. A 

 ram will be necessary for a dozen ewes, while as a matter of fact a 

 mature one could be bred to 50 ewes fully as well. 



As a general rule, under mixed farming conditions, one sheep to 3 

 to 5 acres is considered advisable. The question should not merely 

 be "How many sheep can you keep ?" but "How many can you keep 

 healthy?" A small healthy flock is much preferable to a larger one 

 that is diseased. 



1 Journal of the Southeast Agricultural College, Wye, 1909, No. 18. 



