Fertility in Scottish Sheep. 



59 



me with information regarding their personal experiences. The com- 

 paratively small number of schedules issued and returned (the latter being 

 about 50), rendered it possible to obtain fuller information than would other- 

 wise have been the case, while the information obtained in this way was in 

 some cases supplemented by personal conversation or further correspondence. 

 For the purpose of showing the percentages of lambs per ewes, of barrenness, 

 and of abortion (Tables I, II, and III) among flocks treated in different ways, 

 these are divided into six groups as follows : — * 



Division A. — This includes hill sheep (Scotch Black-faced and Cheviots), 

 which were kept all the year round on the sides of hills, and received no 

 sort of special treatment. 



Division B. — This includes hill sheep (Scotch Black-faced and Cheviots), 

 which were placed upon better grass at tupping time {i.e., during the sexual 

 season) or shortly before. 



Division C. — In this division are included half-bred (Border Leicester x 

 Cheviot) ewes which underwent a process of flushing by being fed on turnips, 

 cabbages, oats, dried grains, maize, or other artificial food during tupping and 

 for about three weeks before. The ewes were in most cases merely fed on grass 

 during the greater part of the year, but received a certain amount of extra 

 food (turnips, etc.) during the latter part of pregnancy (i.e., usually from 

 about the beginning of the year). 



Division D. — This includes two flocks of Cheviot ewes which were flushed 

 at tupping time but were fed on grass during the rest of the year. 



Table I. — Number of Lambs per 100 Ewes. 



Flocks. 



Under 

 90 p. c. 



90 

 p. c. 



100 

 p. c. 



110 

 p. c. 



120 

 p. e. 



130 

 p. c. 



140 

 p. c. 



150 

 p. c. 



160 

 p. c. 



170 

 p. c. 



180 

 p. c. 



190 

 p. c. 



Total. 



Division A 

 » B 



„ c 



„ E 

 F 



2 



10 

 1 



2 

 1 



1 



1 

 1 



1 



1 



2 



3 



1 





2 



15 



4 

 10 

 2 











1 



1 



1 

 1 



1 

 1 



3 

 2 



2 



1 



1 



7 



6 



Total 



2 



10 



3 



1 



3 



2 



3 



4 



8 



3 



1 



3 



44 



The numbers represent the numbers of flocks, the total being 44. The percentages are the 

 percentages of lambs per ewes in the different flocks. The flocks are arranged in six divisions, 

 according to the methods of feeding, as explained in the text. 



* The variation in the number of flocks in the three tables is due to the flock-masters 

 not having supplied complete information in all cases. Some flocks, therefore, are 

 included in one table but not in another. 



