The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-02-11

lambs come il just about the time the
grass Is starting we'll II you are In
the pure bred business II Will pay to
have the lambs come little earlier
than this, as the larger lambs bring
better prices us breeders In the fnll,
In order To have the ewes come In heat
MS nearly the same time rs possible
plan known rs Gushing" is often used.
This consists In taking them from "A
rather poor pasture and turning them
into luxuriunt growth OF rape or
some other good forage. a little grain.
say onc.half pound day per head,
should also he given. Oats and bran,
with little oilmeal added. make one
OF the best rations for the ram during
the breeding season. He should I've
given all he will clean up when In
heavy service.
Winter Care.
During the winter the ewes should
be fed on ration of oats aud bran,
with perhaps N little corn added.
Glover hay is one of the best torms Of
roughage. A little silage will add sue
cuence to the ration. but 1t 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 II great deal OF cold
If their fleece does not become wet. a
dry. well bcdded shed. open on the
south. Is the best sort OF winter pro
lection.
Just before lambing the wool on the
tanks and udders should be clipped. \
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 1t In
warm water for half an hour. 1t
should be thoroughly dried before put
ting II back In the pen.
The lambs should be weaned when
they are from three to four months old.
This is critical time In their life. as
check in growth will give parasites
chance to get a start. 1t Is good
plan to have n fresh pasture of clover
or rape to put the lambs in at this
time. Rape and clover mixed aud
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 e1-
cellent shape for husking without In
juring the corn to any extent. The
lambs should be locked and castrated
while young.
Feeding tho 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
maze OF corn. AS ppneTdl RUE IL IL
better to avoid the holiday rush and
market the lambs later in the season
with a better finish. AS soon ms 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 fattenlng
sheep. Before putting the lambs into
the feed lot few Of the best ewes
should he sorted ont to rcpeniSh the
flock. All Improbable ewes or those
that are getting old should be shut mp
and fattened as soon as the lambs are
weancd. Plenty of salt should be pro-
Vided for the sheep during the fntten-
ing period as well as ut all other times
Of year Salt Is more necessary 10
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 nj all times.
Many feeders make practice OF
buying western lambs on the market
and feeding them through the winter.
II good stuff can be bought at right