328 FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



daily should keep ewes of average size in good condition during 

 the winter. 



To insure a crop of strong, healthy lambs, exercise for the ewes in 

 winter is essential. They should have access to a dry, sunny yard, 

 well protected from wind and storm, and on all fair days should be 

 forced to exercise by scattering roughage over a nearby field. "When 

 the snow is deep, paths should be broken out with snow plow or stone 

 boat. On stormy days the sheep should remain indoors. 



To avoid udder troubles, ewes should be given but little grain for 

 two or three days after lambing, and the allowance gradually in- 

 creased with the demand for more milk by the lamb. With good 

 roughage not over 2 lbs. of concentrates per ewe daily is necessary. 

 Legume hay and succulent feeds are essential at this time, and more 

 silage or roots may be safely fed than before lambing. After being 

 turned to pasture the ewes need no additional feed, if grazing is good. 



The ram. — For a good lamb crop, it is essential that the ram be 

 kept in thrifty, vigorous condition. He needs no grain while on good 

 pasture during summer, but beginning at least a month before breeding 

 time some concentrates should be fed. During the breeding season 

 he should be fed such muscle-forming foods as bran, oats, peas, and 

 oil meal, and not be allowed to run down thru insufficient feed or 

 over use. On the other hand, he should never become fat. 



In winter the ram may be kept thrifty on a daily allowance of 0.5 to 

 1.0 lb. of concentrates, with good roughage. Some succulent food 

 is desirable but mangels and sugar beets should be avoided. Lack of 

 exercise injures the ram's breeding powers. Ram lambs need liberal 

 rations of muscle-building foods, but should be given little fat-form- 

 ing food. 



Lambing time. — In about 147 days after the ewes are bred the 

 lambs may be expected. During 24 years, at the "Wisconsin Station ° 

 the average birth weight of lambs of the mutton breeds was 9.1 to 

 10.6 lbs. for single lambs, 7.7 to 8.5 lbs. each for twins, and 5.5 to 8.2 

 for triplets. On the average,. 161 lambs were yeaned each year per 

 100 ewes during this period, a result which can be secured only with 

 good feed and excellent care. 



The shepherd should always be close at hand during lambing time 

 to assist the ewes or any weak lambs. It is wise to provide lambing 

 pens for the ewes and their newly born lambs. Here each ewe and 

 her young may remain for a couple of days until they are wonted to 

 each other and the lambs are strong enough to look out for them- 

 selves among the flock. 



Raising the lambs. — After about 2 weeks the lambs begin to show 



5 Kleinheinz, Wis. Rpts. 1902, 1907, and information to the authors. 



