176 Sheep-Farming 



and loss of lambs from crowding through narrow 

 doorways. It is a good plan to provide an old 

 sod upon which the sheep may remain until winter 

 storms make it necessary to take them nearer the 

 barns. With dry footing, sheep are better off to 

 remain in the fields as long as possible, and if some 

 grass has been allowed to cure upon the ground, it 

 is a good place for the ewes during the daytime until 

 snow becomes deep or the ground becomes wet. 



Division of the flock for wintering. — One advantage 

 of a large flock is that the sheep are more likely to 

 be sorted by age, sex, and condition into various lots 

 for wintering. In a small flock in which all kinds 

 are run together, some members of the winter flock 

 are sure to get more or less feed than they need. 

 It is first of all desirable to have one shelter and lot 

 for ewe lambs. If the wether lambs and cull ewe 

 lambs are to be sold fat after shearing, they may run 

 the first part of the winter with the good ewe lambs 

 and be separated later to be finished for market. 

 Ordinarily, however, it will be found more economical 

 to dispose of all the lambs that are not wanted for 

 breeders in the fall and use the winter feed and 

 quarters mainly for a large number of breeding ewes. 

 When ram lambs are kept over to sell as yearlings, 

 they will need to be in a separate group. Stud 

 rams may run with the ewes in lamb, but unless 

 very quiet will be better kept away as lambing time 

 approaches. The number qf ewes in lamb that will 



