﻿34 BULLETIN 20, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGKICULTUKE. 



belly to prevent his serving the ewes is commonly used for this 

 purpose. 



Hand coupling is superior to allowing the ram to run with the ewes, 

 for the following reasons: One ram can cover more ewes because he 

 is prevented from devoting all his attentions to one, and his energies 

 are conserved by permitting only one service. The exact date of 

 service can -be kept, and an infertile ram can be detected much 

 easier. As many as 100 ewes have been covered by a single ram 

 with this method. The one objection to the practice is that it takes 

 considerable time. 



The length of the breeding season depends upon the time of the 

 year. For instance, if rams are turned in with ewes during the 

 months of August or September, the season would be much longer, 

 owing to the fact that not so many of the ewes are likely to be in 

 heat at this time. The season should be long enough so that the ewes 

 can return in heat, if they do not become pregnant at the first service. 

 The duration between periods of heat in a ewe ordinarily ranges from 

 14 to 18 days. In exceptional cases 21 days have elapsed between 

 periods. 



CARE AT OTHER TIMES. 



During the winter the ram should receive enough grain to keep 

 him in good condition. Clover or alfalfa hay makes good roughage, 

 and silage or roots, such as turnips, swedes, and rutabagas should 

 form the succulent part of the feed. Sugar beets or mangel-wurzels 

 should never be fed to rams. They cause the formation of calculi 

 in the kidneys and bladder, and stoppage of the urethra, and the 

 bladder is often ruptured as a result. Many good rams have died 

 as a result of their being fed these roots. 



Where there is but one stock ram, he can be used only two seasons 

 without inbreeding, but where there are several they can often be 

 kept longer. In either case the rams should be well taken care of, 

 and they can often be disposed of to good advantage to some other 

 breeder. In this way, inbreeding will be avoided and the flock can 

 be managed with little increased expense for rams. 



CARE OF STORE SHEEP. 



Ewe lambs that are intended for breeding purposes the following 

 season should be separated from those lambs intended for the butcher 

 before fattening begins. It is essential that the breeders should be 

 kept in good growing condition, but it is unnecessary, and even 

 undesirable, to have them fitted as highly as the market lamb. 

 Neither should they be allowed to run with the breeding ewes during 

 the winter, as their feeding requirements are somewhat different. 

 If good roughage, such as alfalfa,' or clover and roots, or silage, is 



