FEEDING SHEEP 391 



good plan to have the lambs dropped before the ewes go into 

 winter quarters, as the lambs then entirely escape danger from 

 stomach worms and as a rule can be taught to eat grain much 

 younger. 



After purchasing the grade Merino flock, some persons prefer 

 to give the ewes a year's rest, shearing them in March and begin- 

 ning the breeding in May. This has the advantage that the 

 ewes are not nursed down in flesh as a result of raising a crop of 

 lambs. Whatever system is used, the ewes must have weaned 

 their lambs sometime previous to going to pasture, they must 

 have been shorn for some time, and they must be gaining in 

 flesh while mating. With such a flock thus treated, there 

 should be no difiiculty in having the lambs dropped in the 

 late fall and early winter months. 



The winter quarters for winter-lamb production. — In the discus- 

 sion on care and management will be found a statement of the 

 method and equipment for housing sheep (page 433) . The term 

 "hot-house" lambs has led many to think that extra warm 

 quarters must be provided, some thinking that artificial heat 

 must be used, others that the roof or side of the sheep barn 

 should be of glass construction resembling a green-house. Not 

 only is such extra equipment unnecessary, but if the quarters 

 are too warm, neither the ewes or lambs will thrive. On the 

 other hand, winter lambs cannot be grown if the ewes are ex- 

 posed to the rain, snow, or storm. The winter quarters must 

 be well lighted, well ventilated, and free from draughts. There 

 should be sufficient window space to make the quarters light 

 and comfortable. Artificial heat is entirely unnecessary. 



Feeding the lambs. — The ewes should be fed milk-producing 

 foods, such as wheat bran, silage, and clover hay, in order that 

 the milk flow be large, but in addition to the dam's milk the lambs 

 should be taught to eat grain as soon as they will take to it. 

 Some lambs will begin to nibble grain when only ten days or two 

 weeks old, and they should be encouraged to do so. A lamb 



