The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-04-18
AGRICULTURAL.
Growing Spring Lambs.


alone since his death, L have had charge
of small flock of sheep for about fifty
years, and most of the time the lambs
have been ready for market before the
sheep are ready to turn to pasture. To
begin with, should plan the spring
before. should want good flock of
sheep free from ticks. Mine are grade
Southdowns, which are good enough
for me, although l admit that there are
other breeds from which you can get
earlier lambs.
Sheep not under two or over nine
years that have raised early lambs in
the past are preferred. Separate the
ewes from the bucks, turn them into
fairly good pasture until about July 15
Return the bucks to the flock; then
turn if possible, into newly-mowed
field, an orchard with plenty of wind
fall apples being the best of all. Let
them remain five or six weeks, then
give them plenty of feed until time to
house them for the winter. This
should be done before they have
chance to suffer from hunger or storms.
Give them comfortable quarters, so ar
ranged that later they can be closed up
warm. The flocks should not contain
more than twenty or twenty-five, grad
ed according to size, those of the same
size in the same flock as nearly as pos
sible.
Commence at first to feed all the
rowen hay they need. After two or
three weeks begin to feed meal, first
lightly, then gradually increasing to
one quart per day each l fed this year
mixture of one-half bran and one
fourth each of gluten and linseed meal.
Give plenty of water, salt every week,
watch the flock and ava t develop
ments.
Ordinarily the ewes and lambs:will
take care of themselves at first, but in
almost every flock there are ewes that
need special attention. Some may be
neglectful of their lambs, Others may
not have milk for day or two, or re-
fuse to own their lambs. Ia either
case separate from the flock, give them
a small pen and endeavor by feeding,
coaxing or force to make things right.
Twins are not desirable, but fair
lambs can be raised by extra care, or
in some cases they can be used after
few days old to replace one that for
any reason is lost, taking the pelt of
the lost lamb and fastening it to the
other. Place the eve and lamb in a
small pen and'give the extra attention
as in Tie other cases.
When the earliest lambs are two or
three weeks old give them quite
roomy place where they can 60 by
themselves. Provide plenty of meal,
SKINNED milk and the best of rowen
hay all the time. use for meal one
half linseed, one-fourth each of bran
and cornmeal. Now, if it is necessary
to feed the sheep at any time poorer
quality of hay, wait until the lambs
will take full rations of meal, but be
sure until that time to give them plenty
of the best of hay, rowen preferred,
and grain, roots if you have them, but
that is not necessary if you have plenty
of the other feed.
Shear the sheep two or three weeks
before you wish to turn them to pas
ture, and if any of the lambs are not
ready for market at that time keep
them in the barn. Continue to give
the flock the same care and in two or
three days they will be contented and
your sheep will be ready to begin an
other year.-A. F. Croker in Farm
ing.
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