CHAPTER VII 

 AUTUMN MANAGEMENT OF THE FLOCK 



The various and numerous details of flock man- 

 agement can be discussed most logically by taking 

 them up in natural order, beginning with the autumn. 

 The beginner with sheep is likely to make his pur- 

 chases in the fall. With the established flock, the 

 fall is the time for closing up the old year and putting 

 the flock in shape to produce the next crop of lambs. 

 Only the breeding sheep will be discussed, the needs 

 of the weaned lambs at this period being treated 

 as the last consideration of summer management. 

 The aim of the shepherd, beginning with the autumn 

 season, should be to have his ewes improving in 

 condition so that they may be prepared for the 

 winter season. There are various details relating 

 to the management and feeding that require atten- 

 tion at this time, chiefly with the object of having 

 ewes in such thrift that they will pass through the 

 winter season and the lambing season with the great- 

 est success. 



Sorting the ewes. — The important things to be 

 attended to in the fall are the culling of the ewes, 

 having them get in lamb, and the selection of the 

 rams. In fact, the latter matter should by no means 



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