Farm Sheep 183 



the ewes are fed heavily with httle exercise, particularly 

 if a large amount of bran is fed, the lambs, when they come, 

 will be of such enormous size as to make lambing difRcult, 

 often causing the death of a number of ewes. When the 

 ewes have been exposed in storms with little or no feed, 

 they have no milk for the lambs and will not own them. 

 Pregnant ewes must have enough food of the right nature 

 to nourish the growing foetus without stimulating too 

 much development of the bone. A good rule is to use 

 feeds fairly high in protein and mineral matter, and in 

 sufficient quantities to keep the ewes in moderate condi- 

 tion, neither very fat nor very thin. Combined with this 

 must be abundant exercise. Ewes must have good clean 

 water, which can be reached without wading in the mud 

 so deep that they will not drink until they are very thirsty. 

 Sheep are so particular about mud that one must be very 

 careful in this regard. When streams are used for water, 

 conditions may often be improved by making an ap- 

 proach out of gravel or boards. 



The attention given to the ewes at this season of the 

 year must be constant. Turning ewes into a back pasture 

 and never going near them is poor policy. They are sub- 

 ject to accidents which may seem trivial, but which kill 

 many sheep. Of these, the most common is falling on 

 their backs in a dead furrow where they remain helpless 

 waiting for death or rescue. A successful shepherd early 

 forms the habit of counting his sheep, in order that he 

 may know when any are missing. 



Wintering the ewe lambs. 



Wintering the ewe lambs is essentially the same as 

 wintering breeding ewes. When the flock is out on pas- 

 ture and is receiving no grain or hay, the ewe lambs may 



