SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT. 77 



that she has been bred. It is wise to use a 

 different color in marking each week, thus all 

 the ewes that are bred the first week will be 

 marked red, all the next week blue, the third 

 week yellow, the fourth week black, the fifth 

 week green and so on. This marking is done 

 with a brush and a daub of paint, on the back 

 of the head or on the shoulder is a good place. 



After the first ewe has been taken out, the 

 ram will proceed quietly to search for another. 

 Unless he is a very vigorous ram, it is unwise 

 to allow him to serve more than four during 

 a morning, and if a large number seem to be 

 in heat, it will be well to get them up again 

 after sunset in the evening. The ram has an 

 exceedingly vigorous reproductive system, and 

 has power to impregnate more females than 

 most animals, especially as his work is con- 

 fined to a short period each year. 



The ewes that are served and put out should 

 be put by themselves and not returned to the 

 flock for three days, else they may be still in 

 heat and receive unnecessary attention from 

 the male. One service will as surely impreg- 

 nate as more and will beget stronger lambs. 



Managed in this way a ram will easily care 

 for 40 or 50 ewes if he is vigorous and well 

 cared for. He should be kept quiet all day, 

 in a cool place, and well fed on stimulating 

 food such as oats and bran with clover hay. 



One advantage from this way of managing 

 ewes is that one will know those that do not 

 take the ram at all and can put them out of 

 the flock, and by giving them a little extra 



