SHEEP. 



the rams to remain with the ewes for a month or fix weeks, 

 and in fome cafes longer, in order to complete the bufinefs 

 of impregnation, which in fome dittrifts is afcertained by 

 fmearing the fore-bows of the rams with fome colouring fub- 

 ftance. The method formerly in pr?.ftice, and which is too 

 commonly the cafe at prefent, of turning a number of rams 

 among the flocks, is highly exceptionable, as tending to 

 prevent the main objefl, and injure the rams. A better way 

 is to let each ram have a proper number of ewes, and with 

 very choice (lock to keep the ram in an inclofed fmall pafture, 

 turning a few ewes to him, and as they are ferved replacing 

 them with others. By this means there is more certainty, 

 and more ewes may be impregnated. In fuch fort of fine 

 ftock, it is likewife of great utility to keep the rams during 

 this feafon in a high manner. In this view a little oats in the 

 ftraw, or a mixture of barley and pea-meal, are excellent. 

 Where ewes are backward in taking the ram, the bell means 

 to be employed are thofe of good ilimulating keep. The 

 rams fhould always be continued with the ewes a lufBcient 

 length of time. It is ftated in the General Treatife on 

 Cattle, that the ewe will breed twice and even thrice a year, 

 if it be made a point to produce fuch an efFedt by attention 

 and high keep, fince fhe will receive the male indifferently at 

 any feafon, and, like the rabbit, very foon after bringing 

 forth. And that Lifle gives an inttance of three of his 

 ewes, well kept, lambing at Chriltmas, fattening off their 

 lambs at Lady-dav, and producing lambs again the firfl 

 ■week in June. It feems they Hole the ram immediately after 

 lambing, but brought the fecond time only fingle lambs, 

 although of a breed that generally produces twins. The 

 former writer thinks there is no doubt but the flieep would 

 produce young thrice a year, were the bad praftice reforted 

 to, which has been fo currently recommended with the 

 rabbit, of allowing- the male immediately after parturition ; 

 the ready way to render both the female and her progeny 

 worthlefs. Could the lambs be advantageoufly weaned at 

 two months, fufRcient time would, he conceives, remain for 

 the ewe to bring forth twice within the year ; for example, 

 fuppofe the young ewe tupped in Auguft, the lamb would 

 be dropped in the middle of January, and might be weaned 

 in mid March, the ewe again receive the ram on the turn of 

 the milk, like the fow, perhaps in or before April, fhe 

 would then bring forth within the twelve months, or in 

 Auguft. This plan would, he thinks, at leaft injure the 

 dam infinitely lefs than fuckhng during geftation. 



And it is n« cedary, that during the time the ewes are in 

 lamb they fhould be kept in pallures, and as free from dif- 

 turbance as poffible, being carefully attended to, in order to 

 prevent accidents, which are liable to take place at this time, 

 fuch as thofe of their being call in the furrows, &c. 

 Where any of the ewes flip their lambs, it is advifed by Mr. 

 Bannifter that they (hould be immediately removed from the 

 flock. They alfo require, under thefe circumllances, to be 

 kept as well as the nature of the farm will admit, in order 

 that there may be lefs lofs at lambing-time, from the ewes 

 being flronger, and the lambs more healthy, and better ca- 

 pable of contending with the ftate of the feafon at which 

 they may be dropped. At lambing-time every poffible at- 

 tention is to be paid. The Ihepherd (liould at this period be 

 particularly careful and attentive to afford his affiftance where 

 It may be neceflary. He (hould conllantly have regard to 

 the fuckling of the lambs, and to fee that the udders of the 

 ewes are not difeafed. His attendance will often be required 

 in the night as well as the day. At this feafon covered 

 flicep-folds are often of very great advantage, in faving and 

 protefting both ewes and their lambs. And in refpecl to 

 the number of lambs, it is remarked by the author of the 



work on Live-ftock, that the ewe brings mod commonly 

 one, next in degree of frequency, two, rarely from three to 

 five lambs at a birth. This property of double birth is, he 

 fays, in fome inllances, fpecific ; the Dorfet Iheep ufually 

 yeaning twins ; and the large-polled Belgic (heep, with 

 their defcendants, our Teefwater, doing the fame, and pro- 

 ducing occafionally more at a birth. Other breeds bring 

 twins in the proportion of one-third of the flock, which ij 

 fuppofed to depend coiifiderably on good keep. A certain 

 number of ewes per centum prove barren annually : the caufe 

 very rarely, natural dcfeft ; fometimes over-tatnefs, a mor- 

 bid Itate of body, from poverty, or nsgleft of the ram ; in 

 other words, want of fyllem in the fliepherd. 



Further, it has been recommended, that where rich paf- 

 tures, or other forts of good grafs-lands cannot be referved 

 for their fupport, turnips, or other kinds of green food, 

 (hould be provided for the purpofe, and given them in a 

 fuitable manner ; but where it can be done, it is always 

 better to leave this fort of food untouched till about the 

 period of lambing, when it (hould be regularly fupplied, in 

 proportion to the neceffity there may be for it. The ewes 

 alfo demand at this time much care, to fee that they are put 

 upon a dry (heltered pallure, free from difturbance, and that 

 neither they nor their lambs fuilain injury from the too great 

 feverity of the feafon. Whenever this is the cafe, they 

 (hould be carefully removed into a proper degree of warmth 

 and (helter, until perfectly reftored. It is hkewife a necef- 

 fary, as well as a ufeful praftice, as they lamb down, to take 

 them and their lambs away from the common ftock, putting 

 them into a piece of turnips, or fre(h dry pallure, where 

 there is (helter when neceflary, as by this means much fewer 

 lambs will be loft than would otherwife be the cafe. It is 

 alfo found, that by a proper fupply of turnips, or other fimi- 

 lar green food at this period, the milk of the ewes is much 

 increafed, and the growth of the lambs greatly prpmoted ; 

 which is of much future importance, as when they are ftinted 

 at this early period of their exillence, they never turn out 

 fo well afterwards for the farmer. With the green and root 

 crops, and preferved after-grafs, hay, ftraw, corn, and oil- 

 cake, are in fome cafes made ule of in the winter fupport of 

 (heep-ltock. With turnips, where the foil is not fufficiently 

 dry to admit the flieep, it is the practice to draw them and 

 convey them to a found iirm pafture, that the ewes may be 

 baited upon them once or twice in the day, as there may be 

 occafion, care being taken that they are eaten up clean, 

 as the circumftaiice of their being thus eaten may ferve as a 

 guide to the farmer for the fupply that may be daily necef- 

 fary. In this way this fort of food will be confumed with 

 the greateft economy. Where the land is perfeftly dry, and 

 the intention is to manure it for a grain crop, eating the tur- 

 nips on the land, by means of portions hurdled off as wantvd, 

 is a good praftice. And with this fort of food, efpecially 

 where it produces fcouring in the ewes, green rouen hay, 

 cut ftraw, or peafe-haulm, fhould conftantly be given, and 

 alfo with rape, Sec. Mr. Young has ftated, that in fome 

 parts of the kingdom, the beft farmers give their ewes and 

 lambs bran and oats, or oil-cake, in troughs, while they are 

 feeding on turnips ; but he fuggefts, at the fame time, that it 

 muft be a good breed for fuch a praftice to repay. And it 

 has been advifed, when the weather is very wet, ftormy, or 

 there is much fnow upon the ground, that the ewes and 

 lambs (hould have hay given them in baits as may be necef- 

 fary, which is moilly done in covered moveable racks, a 

 portion being given frelh every day. It is, however, much 

 better to have it cut into chaff, and given in troughs, as 

 much lefs wafte is made. There is ftill a higher praftice 

 of feeding made ufe of by fome farmers, with ewe-ftock of 



the 



