134 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



It would seem safe to say that, because of this inherent 

 feature of their constitution, it would not be easy to give 

 pregnant ewes too much exercise. 



When not sufficiently exercised the lambs come weak 

 and the amount of nursing and care to enable them to 

 survive is greatly increased. The lambs produced by 

 sheep that are seldom housed are on their feet, strong and 

 vigorous, within a few minutes of birth, while those from 

 ewes over-housed may not live but for a short period. 

 There is also trouble frequently with the ewes at the time 

 of yeaning.* But it must not be understood that ewes 

 well managed cannot in any instances be confined to 

 the yards and sheds the entire winter without producing 

 the troubles indicated. Experience has shown this can 

 be done, but experience has also shown that it is not a 

 good practice to follow. 



How to secure the necessary exercise for pregnant 

 ewes may be somewhat of a problem under some condi- 

 tions, as, for instance, when the fields are covered for 

 months in succession with deep snow. If confined en- 

 tirely to the yards, the lambs will be lacking in vitality 

 more or less, and if the ewes have been in poorly venti- 

 lated quarters much of the time, the evil will be greatly 

 aggravated. To encourage the ewes to take exercise, 

 various devices have been resorted to, as making one or 

 more roads with a snow plow, and strewing a little hay 

 along these occasionally, or giving food in racks or other- 

 wise in some sheltered spot not too near the shed. When 

 the sheep can have access to the fields for any consider- 

 able portion of the winter season, such devices to en- 

 courage them to take exercise will not be necessary. Even 

 though they obtain but little nutriment while they roam 

 over the bare portions of the fields, they are getting the 

 necessary exercise. 



Where the ground is usually bare more or less during 

 the winter, the owner should aim to have a reserve grass 

 pasture with a thick firm turf on which the ewes may find 



