Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-05-26

kept III pcu ny lueHlSelNeS IOT lew
days until the period of heat is over.
Twenty weeks is the usual time Of
CESSATION in ewes. On the general
farm the preferable time to have the
lambs come Is just about the time the
grass is starting well. If you are In
the pure bred business it will pay to
have the lambs come a little earlier
than this. as the larger lambs bring
better prices as breeders in the fall.
In order TO have the ewes come In heat
as nearly the same time as possible a
plan known as flushing" is often used.
This consists in taking them from
rather poor pasture and turning them
into luxuriant growth of rape or
some other good forage. A little grain.
say one-half pound a day per head.
should also be given. Oats and bran,
with little oilmeal added, make one
of the best ratiOns for the ram during
the breeding season. He should be
given all he will clean up when in
heavy service.
Winter Care.
During the winter the ewes should
be fed on a ration of oats and bran.
with perhaps little corn added.
Clover hay is one of the best forms Of
roughage. A little silage will add sue
culence to the ration. but it should
not be fed in very large quantities.
Roots are also good for this purpose.
Exercise is essential. A winter pas
ture over which the ewes can run
will provide this, but they should not
be made TO depend on this pasture for
any considerable portion Of their feed.
Sheep can stand great deal Of cold
if their fleece does not become wet.
dry, well bedded shed. open on the
south. is the best sort of winter pro-
lection.
Just before Landing the wool on the
TANKS and udders should be clipped. A
little oilmeal should be added to the
ration for two or three weeks prior
to lambing. Many Of the newly born
| lambs will have to be assisted to stand
up and suck. after which they will
usually be able to take care OF them
selves. In cold weather lambs are
liable to wander away from their
mothers and get chilled. The best way
! to save & chilled lamb is to put it In
warm water for half an hour. 1t
should be thoroughly dried before put
ting it back in the pen.
The lambs should be weaned when
! they are from three to four months old.
This is a critical time in their life. as
/ Ia, piV GitnS
! a chance to get a start. 1t is good
plan to have q fresh pasture Of clover
or rape to put the lambs in at this
time. Rape and clover mixed and
sown with oats make excellent fall
pasture after the oats are harvested.
Another way Of getting good fall feed
! for lambs is to sow rape In the corn at
the last cultivation. The lambs will
eat the rape. weeds and lower leaves
Of the corn. leaving the field In ex
cellent shape for husking without in
juring the corn TO any extent. The
| lambs should be locked and castrated
while young.
Feeding the Lambs.
The lambs should be taught to eat
before weaving, and small ration OF
grain should be fed from that time on.
! There is no better feed for lambs than
oats. When the lambs are on clover
pasture half the grain ration may be
made of corn. AS a general rule 1t is
better to avoid the holiday rush and
market the lambs later in the season
with better finish. AS soon as they
are Off pasture the grain should be in
creased until they are getting all they
will eat. Corn and clover hay make
one of the best rations for fattening
sheep. Before putting the lambs into
the feed lot a few Of the best ewes
should be sorted out to replenish the
| dock. All Improbable ewes or those
| that are getting old should be shut up
AID fattened as soon as the lambs are
weaned. Plenty of salt should be pro-
vided for the sheep during the fatten-
ing period as well as at all other times
of year. Salt is more necessary to
sheep than to any other class of stock.
! Sheep are not very heavy drinkers. but
! they do need some water. and a supply
should be provided at all times.
/ Many feeders make a practice of
buying western lambs on the market
and feeding them through the winter.
! If good stuff can be bought az right