Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-03-09

kept IN pen by themselves for few
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 we'll. 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 a
rather poor pasture and turning them
into a 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 a little corn added.
! Glover 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 a great deal of cold
If their fleece does not become wet. A
dry. we'll 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 Landing. 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
a check in growth. will give parasites
| oI 70 TOW ic
plan to have a fresh pasture of clover
or rape to put the lambs in at this
time. Rape and clover mixed and
sown with oats make excellent fal
pasture after the oats are harvested
Another way Of getting good fall feeo
for lambs is to SOW rape in the corn al
the last cultivation. The lambs will
. eat the rape. weeds and lower leave:
, Of the corn, leaving the field in ex
cellent shape for husking without in
turing the corn to any extent. The
lambs should be locked and castratet
while young.
: Feeding the Lambs.
e The lambs should be taught to ca
: before weaving, and a small ration o
grain should be fed from that time on
There is no better feed for lambs thai
t oats When the lambs are on Glove
l pasture half the grain ration may b
i made of corn. AS a general rule it
: better to avoid the holiday rush am
j market the lambs later in the seasol
i with a better finish. AS soon as the
are off pasture the grain should be in
[ creased until they are getting all the
! will eat. Corn and clover hay max
e one of the best rations for fattenin
D sheep. Before putting the lambs int
L the feed lot a few of the best eve
d should be sorted out to replenish tn
. flock. All improbable ewes or thos
a that are getting old should be shut u
e and fattened as soon as the lambs ar
q weaned Plenty of salt should be Pre-
e vided for the sheep during the fatte1
e ing period as we'll as at all other time
|. of year. Salt is more necessary
J. sheep than to any other class of stool
D Sheep are not very heavy drinkers, br
IL they do need some water, and suppl
s should be provided at all times.
b Many feeders make a practice {
d buying western lambs on the markt
{ and feeding them through the winte
2 If good stuff can be bought at rigl