392 MANUAL OF FABM ANIMALS 



creep should be provided. This " creep " consists of a little pen 

 with openings so small that the lambs may pass in and out at 

 will, but through which the sheep cannot pass. These openings 

 may be made of vertical slats placed seven inches apart, and the 

 edges of the slats rounded. These must be conveniently placed 

 for the lambs or they will fail to find them, as the young lamb is 

 largely a victim of circumstances. The grain boxes within the 

 creep should be flat-bottomed and placed rather low. The first 

 feed put into the trough may be wheat bran, to which has been 

 added a little brown sugar. At first it may be necessary to aid the 

 lambs by placing some of this mixture on their lips. The troughs 



Fig. 128. — Champion Shropshiee Ewes. An almost perfect flock. Owned 

 by Dr. G. H. Davison, Millbrook, N. Y. 



must be cleaned daily and the food kept fresh. After the lambs 

 have learned to eat grain, the following mixtures should be used : 

 50 parts of cracked corn, 50 parts of wheat bran, and 10 parts of 

 oil meal, coarse ground. This may be varied by adding oats, 

 barley, or gluten feed as circumstances demand. A fresh sup- 

 ply should be provided each day. Lambs thus cared for should 

 grow rapidly and fatten at the same time, so that by the time 

 they are ten to twelve weeks of age they will weigh from 50 to 60 

 pounds, when they should be slaughtered. The most desirable 

 weights vary somewhat on the different markets, and the owner 



