HOTHOUSE LAMBS 23 1 



FEEDING AND CARE 



The management of ewes previous to lambing 

 requires no special methods not ordinarily used in 

 the general care of breeding ewes. Throughout 

 the autumn they should be allowed the range of 

 the farm, grazing wherever feed is to be foimd. In 

 case the pasturage is insufficient to keep the ewes in 

 the very best of condition, a liberal quantity of clover 

 hay or sheaf oats, or some other feed having a high 

 protein content, should be given. It is not essen- 

 tial to have the ewes extremely fat at this time, 

 but they should be kept in a strong, vigorous con- 

 dition, without which it will be impossible for them 

 to produce thrifty, quick-growing lambs. If they 

 are given the freedom of the farm, they will obtain 

 for themselves the exercise so essential. If, how- 

 ever, for any reason, it is necessary to keep the ewes 

 in a small inclosure, some provision should be made 

 for plenty of exercise. As lambing time approaches 

 the ration given should include more and more of 

 feeds calculated to produce a heavy flow of milk. 

 It will be necessary to have the milk production of 

 the ewes at the maximum from the time the lambs 

 are born. This change from ordinary feeding to 

 feeding for a heavy milk flow cannot be made sud- 

 denly, so preparation for it should begin several 

 weeks before the actual time of lambing. In prob- 

 ably no other line of stock feeding, with the pos- 

 sible exception of the production of market milk, 

 is the value of succulent feed so apparent as in the 

 raising of hothouse lambs. The silo is a valuable, 

 although not indispensable adjunct to this industry. 

 Succulence may consist either of corn silage or of 

 any of the common root crops which are in use for 

 stock feeding. A liberal supply of leguminous hay 



