The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1919-03-27
LANDING AND SHEARING
THE SMALL FLOCK

LANDING AND SHEARING
THE SMALL FLOCK
Many. new flocks of sheep were es-
tablished in this county last year, and
this spring their owners will for the
first time experience the lambing and
shearing seasons. Spring, which is
the lambing and shearing season, is
the harvest period of the sheep raiser,
say specialists of the United States
Department of Agriculture, and the
size and quality of these crops deter
mine the profits. At this time extra
attention should be given to the ewes
and lambs. In no other way can time
be used to better advantage on the
farm.
If the ewes have not been properly
/ fed and cared for during the fall and
winter the crop Of lambs and wool
can be neither large nor of high quail
lity. 1t is the weak, thin ewes that re-
quire most attention in the lambing
season, tho previous mistakes can not
be remedied at that time. On the
other hand, failure to be constantly
near by while the lambs are arriving
may mean the raising of only an 80 or.
go per cent lamb crop where a 125 per
cent increase considering that many
! ewes will have twins-can readily be
realized from good shepherding Of
! flocks of mutton quality.
| In many sections it is most profitable
4 to have lambs arrive in March or even
earlier. One important advantage OF
this plan is that other work is then
Hess urgent and full attention can be
given to the ewes and the now ar
rivals. Another advantage gained by
early lambing is that the lambs can
a be made sufficiently heavy and fat to
market in June or July. Early mar
keting usually means higher prices,
and lis especially desirable because
the lambs are disposed of before the
time of greater danger of injury by IN
ternaI parasites. The eve lambs are
8 stronger than those which arrive later
in the season and are, therefore, kept
for the breeding flock. They are less
/, susceptible to injury caused by para
sites, which is most injurious in the
warm period of July or August.
, The lamb that is born strong and
vigorous, with good dam, will need
little care. Prompt attention given to
the weak lamb Immediately upon its
! arrival will frequently result in say
ing its life. In cold weather lambs
should be wrapped in hot flannel cloth
to prevent chilling, which may result
j in their death, and the cloths should be
renewed as often as is necessary te
keep the young animals warm. Mill
should be given freely and the lamt
returned to the eve as soon as it !:
! strong enough. Sometimes it may 81
necessary to feed the lamb with an In
fant's nursing bottle, giving a few
teaspoonfuls of milk every hours to-
few hours until. it is strong enough
; to nurse without assistance.
e If lambs are to be sold at three 7
4 five months of age they may be rul
D with their dams until that time. In
# lambs kept for breeding purpose
/ should be weaned at the same TIM
and put on fresh pastures where ther
is no danger of stomach worms. Wner
I the weaving is done at this time tn
!. ewes can be put in better conditlo
:. for the fall breeding. When lamb
d are. to be kept on the farm, the bes
method of weaving is to leave tnei
on the old pasture for three or lou
D DAYS. removing the ewes to a scant
pasture to check their milk flow. a
r. coon as the lambs cease their frettln
for their dams they may be remove
to fresh pastures. Ewes with lare
udders should be partially MIXED ono
'. every three days until they go dry.
e Details on the care of the flock du.
y y ;ne the lambing season are given
: Farmers, Bulletin $40, "Farm Shee
Z. Raising for Beginners" copies
at which can be had, so long as the SUI
II ply lasts, by applying to the oni''
TX States Department OF Agriculture
r Washington, D. G.