Farm Sheep 179 



a superior mutton conformation. Ewes for breeding pur- 

 poses must not be overly fat. The ewe that is patchy 

 and seems to have a ledge of fat projecting out above the 

 sex organ is objectionable, as it may be difficult or impos- 

 sible for the ram to serve her. Femininity is as desirable 

 in a ewe as masculinity is in a ram. It is an indication 

 of refinement and should not be confused with indications 

 of weakness. Ewes that are good mothers should be se- 

 lected as far as possible. All stubborn ewes that have a 

 tendency toward disowning their offspring or ewes that do 

 not milk well are a source of considerable annoyance and 

 the sooner they are removed from the breeding flock the 

 better. There seems to be a direct correlation between 

 the amount of milk and the degree of maternal relation- 

 ship the ewe bears toward her young. When it is possible, 

 the ewes should be selected on their past records and rec- 

 ords of their ancestors. Investigations have shown that 

 good breeding stock comes from good breeding stock. A 

 ewe is not ready for breeding purposes until she is a year- 

 ling. Sheep ordinarily breed in the fall and drop their 

 young five months later. This would make a ewe about 

 a year and a half old at the time she is first bred, and two 

 years old at the time she drops her lamb. The reason for 

 not breeding sooner is that the strain of carrying a lamb 

 is too great for a ewe until she has had her full develop- 

 ment, and if bred young, may be stunted and never attain 

 her full growth. It is usually preferable to buy ewes as 

 yearlings, since the older ewes offered for sale are usually 

 culls, unless the owner is disposing of his entire flock. 



Fliishing the ewes. 



About a month or so before the breeding season begins 

 the ewes are flushed. The term "flushing" means bring- 



