FEEDING AND CARE OF BREEDING EWES I4I 



The reduction in the feeding of grain should be more 

 gradual than the reduction in the roughage fed. The rea- 

 sons for this are: (i) That shrinkage which sometimes 

 results from the lax condition of the digestion caused by 

 the fresh grass is counteracted more or less by the grain 

 fed ; (2) that sheep will eat grain for a much longer period 

 than they will continue to eat roughage; (3) the lambs 

 are thus given an opportunity to share in what is even 

 more helpful to them than to the ewes. But when the 

 pastures have become abundant and when the sheep have 

 become quite accustomed to the change, it is doubtful 

 if the further feeding of grain will be profitable. Reduc- 

 tion should first begin with the evening feed of grain, 

 for a reason that will be obvious. The quantity is 

 gradually reduced until none is fed, and then reduction 

 should be similarly carried on with the morning feed. 



A further important advantage resulting from a grad- 

 ual change from the sheds to the pastures is found in the 

 protection against exposure to hurtful influences that 

 may arise from the lying of the lambs on the ground while 

 yet cold and damp. They may thus be given the benefit 

 of well-bedded yards to lie on until the ground has been 

 warmed by the advance of spring. 



Management when on pasture — Ordinarily no addi- 

 tional food is needed for the dams when on pasture, after 

 the change from yard to field conditions has been com- 

 pleted. This, of course, is on the assumption that the 

 grazing is sufficient. But there may be instances when 

 it may be desirable to feed such food as oilcake as a means 

 of speedily adding fertility to the land. And there may 

 be instances when it is desirable to sell the lambs as soon 

 as they can be made ready for the market, and also the 

 dams as quickly as possible thereafter. In such instances 

 the feeding of grain to the dams on pasture would not 

 only be justifiable but commendable. Whether it will 

 prove profitable to feed grain subsequently to the wean- 



