Summer Feeding and Care. 135 



have raised one, two, or perhaps even three lambs. 

 Although she has had good care and pasture she 

 will naturally be run down soinewhat in condition, 

 because the greatest portion of the feed she has 

 consumed has been utilized for the production of 

 milk. She therefore needs a rest before she is bred 

 again, and the time for her vacation will be be- 

 tween the weaning and breeding periods. During 

 this time the breeding ewe ought to be what is 

 commonly termed "flushed." Flushing means 

 bringing the ewe from a thin condition into a good, 

 strong, vigorous condition in a short time. When 

 this is done the breeding ewe will be in the proper 

 condition to assume her duty again when the 

 breeding time arrives. 



Flushing is highly recommended, for it has sev- 

 eral advantages. How can a ewe which has been 

 suckling her lamb all summer be brought into 

 proper shape to take up her new burden at breed- 

 ing time unless her lamb is weaned and she is 

 flushed before she is bred? If bred in a thin, run- 

 down condition she must resume work again im- 

 mediately and will probably be brought into win- 

 ter quarters thin and weak. In such condition she 

 will be subject to many more diseases. She will 

 be so delicate that any little cold which may at- 

 tack her in this condition is liable to cause her 

 death, while another ewe in good condition will 

 resist the attack. 



