The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-10-05
MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP.
the Greatest OF Care Should Be En-
ercised in the Selection of the Fave
as Well as the Sire-Time and Pa
thence Also Necessary

as We'll as the Sire-Time and Pa
thence Also Necessary.
81 w. r. Gilbert, Canadian Expert
ment Station.)
In laying h foundation Of the
flock the ewes should be selected as
UNIFORM IN character and quality as
possible.
The first few years should be
devoted to improving the eve flock
This is more easily achieved and far
less costly than ram breeding. mas
much as sires suitable for getting
good ewes never command such high
figures as those likely 20 beget high
class rams.
In the selection of s,res argue in
favor of choosing robust rams. In
no case let the fashion lead the
breeder to forget that the ultimate
object in breeding sheep is to pro
luce mutton and wool at u minimum
Of cost.
Some rely little on pedigree. others
much on form and symmetry, but
the power of a carefully bred sheep
to stamp a flock must be insisted on.
The selection of sireS during the
first few years is not a difficult mat
ter, but in after years it IS very trou
blesome.
Should a direct blood cross be
sought or a slight line outcross, /
III lICIlIlttt l u t11t / I view.
Breeders should be in no hurry to
dispose of rams in service. as some
times lambs OF little promise develop
into good sheep.
When mating ewes. fIushing-i. e.,
placing them on fresh pasture or fold
ing on rape, mustard, kale, etc.-ls
considered "a good practice.
1t usually results in an early and
prolific crOp Of lambs.
kf}or SCrticn hrpp6e-S recon m mend
hat the ewes should be removed to
poor pasture. IN practice it has been
found to prevent urnine and IN the
case of large flocks can be carried
out without trouble.
Extra feeding at about tipping time
results in a larger crop OF lambs at
the subsequent 1ambinG.
AS to the date Of mating, it varies
considerably. Dorsets going to the raj
in june, while many Of the breeds are
not mated until october or OVEN
Der. For show purposes ewes w
generally mated three weeks carrier.
In the treatment OF in-lamp ewes
in early autumn SOUND DO pasture or
second wears seeds provide all that
is reoiured. and as winter approaches
. few rOots-preferably white tufnlpS
or abhae e-may be given daily, with
a little hay.
A fun supply of root is not recon-
roended Some months prior to lamb
ing a little trough food is sound econ
onov as the lambs are healthier ana
tho ewes for the treatment.
II is of Importance mat no crushing
shall take place at the trough. Inc
fnld shouId be arranged to open to
the south. To be perfect the lncloSure
should have a spared, raised tloof, IN
sections. made of creosoted WOOD, SO
az To be easily removed and cleaned.
The ewes are not thus SO apt to con
tract fOot-rot. Among the necessary
precautions in the lambing foid are
tho removal Of ewes abortlng or
c~training. and disinfection.
A tub of live lime under cover
with an empty tab -1d shovel, is a
Dicn nrovision. The cleaninSs should
ho nIaced in the tub and q shoVelfui
of lime thrown over hem
Nuch OF the so-caned bad luck IS
USUALLY ~traceable to the treatment OF
ia ewes received during the preg-
nancy period, and a high rate o. NOR
tality among ewes and lambs IS often
Inc result of an excessive supply OF
4Irnins or the ewes bein" pastured
an cold. wet soil. or being folded on
heavy turnip lands, with water up to
their bellies.
II is Of im~Dortancc to get the ewes