MANAGEMENT OF EWES ON FAT-LAMB FARMS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 4641, 18 May 1938, Page 3

MANAGEMENT OF EWES ON FAT-LAMB FARMS.

On the average North Island fatlamb farm the rams are put out during March, so that lambing will begin with the earliest grass growth in the spring. Earlier mating and earlier lambing is not desirable unless special supplementary feed is provided to make up for the shortage of grass; early lambs which receive a check through the ewes beingpoorly fed or from bad weather are late in fattening, says a writer in the Journal of Agriculture.

Flushing prior to mating is a sound practice and leads to a higher lambing percentage. Flushing consists in feeding the ewes on good pasture, the change from dry to succulent feed invigorates the ewes and they come in season more quickly and surely. Unflushed ewes come in season later and may return to the ram two or three times and may be missed towards the end of the season. The pregnant ewe should be reasonably well fed from tupping- onward so as to build up as much reserve condition as possible with which to nourish her unborn offspring. In the average season, topdressed pastures usually supply sufficient sheep feed until about midJune, when grass-growth practically stops. Under good management provision is usually made by shutting up one or two fields where the grass is rationed or crops such as swede, turnip, black barley, or Italian ryegrass are grown. These crops, in association with the cleaning-up of unpalatable, indigestible roughage which is the major winter feed on most farms, keeps the ewes in a heathy condition without undue loss of weight.

Exercise for the pregnant ewe is most essential, more particularly if special crops are grown. Regular moving from one paddock to another is beneficial, as the ewes get lazy before lambing and the fact of moving through the flock is not sufficient. They should be definitely moved, the shifting giving the necessary exercise and avoiding undue urine retention, which is common in sheep that are lame or in overfat condition.

Crutching should be done as late as possible so that the ewes will be reasonably clean at lambing-time. Careful management of the ewes at this stage is most necessary, or losses through abortion may occur if the sheep are at all roughly handled.