InvestiffdUons tcith Sheep. 



481 



the average given in the preceding table have often been fonnd 

 by investigators. * 



The yield of mUk by sheep will vary greatly according to the 

 condition of feed and the breed. Martiny states ^ that the yield 

 of Friesian milk sheep ia Westphalia, Germany, is about four 

 quarts of milk daily for four months. These sheep lamb once a 

 year, dropping two or three lambs. Three sheep are estimated 

 to consume as much feed as one cow. Ordinary sheep yield from 

 100 to 150 pounds of mUk per year, while the milk breeds pro- 

 duce 300 pounds or more. " 



The period of lactation for sheep is from four to six months. 



735. Weight of lambs at birth. — The weight of lambs at birth 

 will vary with the breed, ranging from 5.5 to 12 and even 15 

 pounds, the latter weight being unusual. 



At the Ontario Agricultural College, * Brown reports the fol- 

 lowing weights of pure-bred and grade lambs from Canadian ewes: 



736. reeding milk to lambs. — At the Wisconsin Staition^ the 

 writer endeavored to ascertain whether lambs make as good us« 

 of food given them as other farm animals, by rearing them on 



1 See Staz. Sper. Ag. Ital. 23, p. 572; Analyst, 1893, p. 248; Fleischmann, 

 Milchwirtschaft, 1893, p. 54. 



» Die Milch, 1871, p. 183. 



* Concerning yield of mUk from sheep, see Weiske, Joum. f. Landw., 

 1881, p. 451; Eodiczky, Oestr. Ldw. Wochenbl^ 1886, No. 47; Besana, 

 Analyst, 1893, p. 248; Goltz, Landw., Ill, p. 460; Shepperd, Agrl. Science, 

 VI, p. 397. 



' Eept. 1885. • Kept. 1890. 



31 



