MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 317, 2 October 1908, Page 5

MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP.

AN INTERESTING PAPER. . ADVICE ON IMPORTANT POINTS. . At the recent annual meeting of tho National Sheep-breeders' Association, hold.at Nowcastle-on-Tyne, England, where over a dozen New Zealand breeders were present, Mr. Alfred Mansell, of Shrewsbury, England, read a paper. on "The Management of Sheep." First Steps. ■ • In the founding of tho flock, he said, great care should be taken to start with an even lot of: ewes,' selected from not more than one or'two flocks, carefully bred, and of long pedigree. . The first efforts should be directed to improving the ewes, an easier and less costly task than ram-breeding, because rams calculated to breed good ewes cost less than those for ram-breeding. After the ew;es have been • made uniform and of high type, the subsequent. breeding is, simplified, ; and judicious mating will result in a successful showyard career. ' Importanoe of Sire. In choosing rams, tho chief aim should be to select those which are calculated to correct the faults which may still be apparent in the ewes. Tho ram must be strong in those points where tho ewes'are weak,' but must also be vigorous, have robust constitution, good chest development, well-sprung ribs, .wide loin, straight spine, good underline, strong bone, and legs well placed .at each corner, or as near to this ideal as possible.' It must be remembered that -the ultimate object is to produce. mutton .arid wool at a' minimum cost. Pedigree is as important in a ram as in a bull, but unfortunately it is less often sought by the purchaser. If low prices of produce necessitate economies, they should not .be attempted by using .inferior sires, which would spoil the future of the flock and the next year's returns. Animals of long pedigree havo more power to convey their characteristics to a flock than animals' of equal appearance but short pedigree. Success depends,.so much on the sire that : extraordinary efforts should be made to secure the best obtainable whenever an outcross is. required. , Do. not be too hasty to condemn a ram because his lambs havo little promise. Sometimes they develop later into grand sheep. 1 . What Flushing Does. , When the" ewes are first put to the rain, flushing-(that, is, placing them on a fresh pasture), or folding on rape, mustard, kale, or. other green bite, is considered a good practice, and usually.'results in l an early and profific crop of lambs.. Lambing confined to. a few weeks is the best and most prolific, and if-flushing can produce this it is wiso -'to pursue it.' Stubbles, if the shed 'corn is not excessive, aro excellent for this period,' and flushing can bo secured : by a daily allowance of 'cabbage,' kale, or white turnips carted out. To ivoid harm resulting from the : sudden' change, the'ewes should'bo allowed.; in for only three ;or four' hours on . the' first few days/ The -great aim is to have bbth the ewes and the rams in as' thriving a dition as possible, and thus reduce the number of barren ewes. But they 'must;'not be too' fat or too lean. 'Of these two evils, leanness is preferable; After the ewes, arc served some breeders move them to a poorer pasture; believing that this prevents "turning." i ... '• :

Twins and Triplets. A case had been reported in which," out of. 60 ewes put upon rape and seeds at tuppine time, ; had. -either.twi)is' : or triplets, and gave a'Si&l'ylera 'fafj.oxQeeding. that of e,Wcs' other\vise7,treat<;d'.'''Flushing, accordmg'\o l #; ,( V^'Ti;U^ : MaMl^:'S c t ! ; .results 1 in; on .earlier lambing and increases; the percentage;' ; " ' '• Early or Lata Lambs/; , ; .'!" The "date' of mating should depend on''the date at which the'farm will be .'best ablo to keep the. lambs thriving, but as'early lambs "show .to .'great' advahtage. over late ones in the business of stud breeders,' the. ewes are mated to lamb as early as' conditions - war; rant;'-' 'i In early' autumn, sound old pastures or second year's' seeds',, provide all the feed required, and as winter approaches a; few roots (white: 'tnrnips;- for'- preference); or cabbage' may be given,'daily, with a little hay'/ A full, supply of roots is not advised. A month or six week's before lambing a little trough feed bonefits both the' ewes and lambs. Ample trough accommodation is necessary to prevent crushing. . . , EwM In Trouble. If any ewe'dies or miscarries or strains after ' lambing, she , should be removed at , once to a safq distance and the pen she occupied bo.' disinfected with' carbolic acid or other disinfectant and all litter burned.' A high rate of mortality among ewes and lambs is often due to an excessive supply of tur : nips or to depasturing on cold, wet soil. Assistance at- lambing - should not ' be. attompted too soon, but when given," the shepherd should freely use carbolic vaseline on hands and arms. 'A shepherd should use disinfectants freely about his hands l and clothes, and never go from a bad case to assist a healthy ewe without first thoroughly 'disinfecting- himself. Litter, etc., should bo burned. A large flat india-rubber hot-water bag is far preferable to- fire warmth, and a good shepherd can often save, a lamb by it. Take Care of tho Twin Ewes. ' Twin ewes should havo the best pastures, and as there will be no fear of such ewes getting too fat, they can be assisted with generous diet. Swedes, cabbage, lor mangels and good clover hay are of great assistance to keep up the flow of milk. As much change of pasture as possible is recommended, and if the change is to a poorer! pasture, assistanco should bo given. A cn'ange: "for the worse" is better tnan no change at' all.' Weaning, _ conducted without ample provision of nutritious, easily-digestible food, will often check the lambs. Weaning. . Early weaning is an advantage if pastures' [ are poor, because the lambs can then, be given the best fields and the ewes the poorest pastures, which they require at this stage. Tho lambs shoijld afterwards be divided according to sex and pushed on with vetches, turnips, mustard, young clover, tares, cabbage, kale, rape, etc., as these become available through autumn and winter. This can bo done by planting tares and rye in the autumn, followed by ' spring tares, early market Enfield cabbage, or cabbage at intervals, assisted with whito turnips, rape, kale, kohl-rabi, etc. Ram lambs are the most difficult to keep thriving, and theso should get the best feed. ■ ■' . At. shearing-time ■ all the lambs and ewes should be dipped, the ewes being dipped again in the autumn. Dipping gives them rest from tho irritation of ticks, and other parasites, and improves the quantity and .quality of the wool. In trying to get relief from l ticks, lambs .often nibble at the fleeco and swallow, small portions of it with fatal results.- Authorities are divided as to the advantage of shearing lambs; but it gives greator freedom .'from fly'in summer and prevents the clinging of tho soil to the belly in jvet weather on turnips/ but it should not take place'till risk of. injury from cold is past.'. Seller and Buyer. Mr. Mansell gavo detailed instructions as to drafting for.the-breeding flocks; pr'epar ; ; ation' for shows, treatment of diseases, etc., and advised never- to sell, tho best ewes, at any price. As -to transactions between seller and buyer, he said:—"By a good delivery you make a real friend Of the buyer. He is pleased with his purchase, and when ho is again in tho market his thoughts.naturally turn to tho man who used him well, in contradistinction to the man who thinks when ho has sold his sheep ho has fulfilled all his obligations to' the buyer." s In the subsequent discussion, Messrs. P. Pattiillo, H. C. Cameron, and J. Robson (New ' Zealanders) wero among those who complimented Mr, Mansell on his paper.