466 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



either direction through the choice of dams has been 

 demonstrated in the experience of many breeders, espe- 

 cially when increase in twins has been sought. Whether 

 it would be possible to so enstamp the habit of producing 

 twins on any breed to the extent of excluding the birth 

 of any single lambs, has not been demonstrated, but it 

 would seem to be of possible attainment through the con- 

 tinuous selection of dams and sires of plural birth. That 

 the sire influences to any extent the numbers produced at 

 a birth as the result of his inheritance has been disputed, 

 and experiments to determine this matter beyond possi- 

 bility of dispute have not yet been forthcoming. If, 

 however, it is true that the sire of dairy cattle does exer- 

 cise an influence on milk production in his progeny, a fact 

 that is generally accepted, it would seem reasonable to 

 believe that a ram would influence function in his progeny 

 with reference to the number produced at a birth. It has 

 been noticed by breeders that more lambs may be looked 

 for from mature rams than from ram lambs. 



That food exercises an important influence on prolifi- 

 cacy in flocks of sheep is shown: (i) In the more abun- 

 dant production on an average of the more vigorous ewes 

 in the flock : (2) in the more abundant production from 

 ewes mated when the powers of the system are building 

 up ; and (3) in the more abundant production from rams 

 vigorous and well sustained, as compared with those un- 

 der conditions the opposite. The fact last stated has been 

 disputed, as previously intimated. It would be easily 

 possible, however, to hinder prolificacy by feeding food 

 too stimulating and too lacking in succulence. The most 

 abundant breeding results not from a high condition of 

 flesh, but from a high condition of the same accompanied 

 by what may be termed a sappy condition of the system, 

 resulting from feeding succulent food. 



Much left to the shepherd — In managing a flock of 

 sheep much should be left to the judgment of the shep- 

 herd, where the flock is of sufficient size to justify keep- 



