Williston graphic., 1919-03-13
Large Yields In
Lambs and Wool

Large Yields In
Lambs and Wool
Many new hocks Of sheep were 60.
tablished in the farming States 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 Agri-
culture, and the size and quality of
these crops determine 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 proper.
ly fed and cared for during the fall
and winter, the crops of lambs and
wool can be neither large nor Of high
quality. It is the weak, thin ewes
that require. most attention in the
lambing season, though previous mis-
takes 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 80 per cent crop Of
lambs where 125 per cent increase
considering that many ewes will
have twins-can readily be realized
from good sheepherding of flocks of
mutton quality. ..s n.
Advantages of Early Lambing
In many sections it is most profit
able to have lambs arrive in March
or even earlier. One important ad-
vantage of this plan is that other
work is then less urgent and full at
tention can be given to the ewes and
the new arrivals. Another advantage
gained by early lambing is that the
lambs can be made sufficiently heavy
and fat to market in June or July.
Early marketing usually means high
er prices, and it is especially desir-
able because the lambs are disposed
Of before the time of greater danger
of injury by internal parasites. The
eve lambs are 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 parasites, which is
most serious in warm, damp periods
of July or August. ~
Care Of Weak Lambs
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 saw
ing it's life. In cold weather lambs
should be wrapped in hot flannel
cloths to prevent chilling, which may
result in their death, and the cloths
should be renewed as often as is nec-
essary to keep the young animals
warm. Milk should be given freely
and the lamb returned to the eve as
soon as it is strong enough. Some
times it may be necessary to feed the
lamb with an infants nursing bottle,
giving a few teaspoonfuls of milk
every hour for few hours until it
is strong enough to nurse without as
sistance.
If lambs are to be sold at to 5
months of age they may run with
their dams until that time. The lambs
kept for breeding purposes should be
weaned at the same time and put on
fresh pastures where there is no dan
ger Of stomach worms. Where the
weaving is done at this time the ewes
can be put in better condition for the
fall breeding. When lambs are to be
kept on the farm, the best method of
weaving is to leave them on the old
pasture for three OF four days, re-
moving the ewes to a scanty pasture
to check their milk flow. AS soon as
the lambs cease fretting for their
dams they may be removed to fresh
pastures. Ewes with large udders
should be partially MIXED once every
three days until they 60 dry.
Details on the care of the flock
during the lambing season are given
in Farmers Bulletin $40, Farm
Sheep Raising for Beginners" copies
OF WHICH can De naO, so long as Cne
supply lasts, by applying to the Uni
ted States Department of Agricul=
ture, Washington, D. C..
HARVESTING THE WOOL CROP
Sheep shearing is usually done in
late spring after the lambing season.
The work should be performed on a
warm day, so that the ewes may not
become chilled. For fiocks Of less
than so head, hand-power machines
are the most economical. These ma
chimes are more rapid, produce
smoother work, iniure the sheep less,
are more easily handled, and result
in larger crop than where hand
shears are used.
After the fleece has been removed
all tags and dirt should be cleaned
out of it and it should be rolled up.
not too tightly, the skin side out, and
tied with paper twine. The value of