GETTING LAMBS EARLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19403, 11 August 1926, Page 17

GETTING LAMBS EARLY.

FOOD AND SHELTER. IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS. SOME USEFUL HINTS. BY W.S. In some of the earlief districts and on small holdings, already some lambs have put in their appearance. This, however, is rather an exception than the rule, as only a comparatively small proportion are dropped so early in the season as this, and those only with the object of having forward lambs to come in at a season when prime lambs are usually in good demand and realise a high figuro for local consumption. For early lambing not only should suitable feed be grown to keep the youngsters in good condition until the feed in the pastures is plentiful, but proper shelter should be provided. This is an all-im-poi'tant item when dealing with earlylambing ewes, and this leads to the consideration, not only of the ordinary shelter, but of temporary shelter (where necessary), and also to the erection of lambing pens. Refering to shelter, there is fifst the natural or line shelter, such as scrub, plantations, or line fences, of which most farms possess more or less. These line shelters, if possible, should be made use of for lambing, and where thoy can be used to the best advantage, little more will be l'equired. But it often happens, even on comparatively well sheltered farms, that the shelter may not bo just where it is most needed for the time being. As for instance, the rotation of cropping necessitates practically all the fields on the farm being put into forage crops for grazing in tui'n, and as it is seldom that every field on the farm is sufficiently sheltered for the above purposes, it may be necessai'y to erect temporary shelter for the protection of the owes for early lambing. There aro many different methods of erecting these shelters, the choice of which is determined by certain circumstances. For instance, where scrub, or raupo,.is in abundance and easily procured, a temporary wire fence can be erected and the scrub interlaced through the wire, or hurdles can be placed in a row, and these thatched with'scrub. This makes a fairly good shelter, arid is cheaply and easily erected. On farms where there is plenty of straw available,' a very useful slielter can be made by erecting a double wire netting fence and filling the space with straw. Making Straw Shelters. To do this first run out the netting, put in stakes three or four yards apart, staple the netting securely to the stakes, then put in the second row of stakes about 2ft. from the first row, staple the second coil of netting to these, and fill with straw. Any old straw or bulky refuse will do, and if well trampled down will make excellent shelter. A shelter of this description can be put up in the green feed, in the pasture, or anywhere the ewe flock happens to be located. It is simplo and cheap, and at ' the same time effective. Instead of putting the rack in a straight line as above mentioned, if necessary the netting can form a halfcircle, or the shapo of the letter L. By this means, the ewes can take shelter from practically every point, and it is on the whole better than the straight line. On open country minus line shelter it is wonderful how the ewes and their lambs will take shelter should rough weather arise. \ ° The next item of importance to the flock-owners is to get a few mothering pens erected, or at least to have a supply of hurdles in readiness. The pens should be placed in some well-sheltered spot, and in the same field as the ewes are lambing. If possible, it may be placed along a shelter fenca or plantation, or against a straw stack. A few very comfortable pens can be arranged along the lee side of a stack. In largo fields these pens are usually placed in various positions. The pern are usually made with 7ft. hurdles, made of light timber, with one end placed against the fence or stack. This makes a handy pen large enough to hold a ewe and her lamb. To do this, first drive in two stakes 7ft,. apart close in to the fence or stack; then .tie a hurdle to each stake and bring the two outer together and tie. This makes a V-shaped pen 7ft. by 7ft. If two or more of these pens are required at one place a third can be made with an additional hurdle by placing the hurdles of the first two pens close together at the base; then by placing another hurdle across the front this will make three V-shaped pens of equal size, \;z., 7ft. by 7ft. This is a more economical way than making square pens or separate ones. Any number of pens can be made in this way; five hurdles make three pens, ten will make six, and so on. Feeding in Shelters. To complete the shelter a few old sacks or similar material may be tacked on the hurdles. This is important, for when the ewe is closed into such a small space there is httie room for , her to take exercise. So, unles? the pen is in a very snug spot, this precaution should be taken. If old sacking is unavailable brushwood will serve the above purpose very well. A few mangolds or turnips should be put into the corner of the pen, or, better still, a bundle of green feed, such as oats, rye, etc. This keeps the animals healthy and assists the ewes in their milk. Moreover, animals become more contented when they have some succulent food to nibble. With early lambs as with the ordinary flock it is a good practice to separate the lambed ewes from the unlambed ones; firstly, because once ewes have got over the period of parturition and the lambs are well on their feet, the ewes are more easily attended to—'•in fact they need very little attention beyond keeping them supplied with eucculent food; secondly, by cutting them out the unlambed ewes are rediuced in number, thus minimising the work of looking through them; and, thirdly, the dry ewes, if any, will be left m a separate mob at the finish. These can be fattened off, or, if if it is intended to keep them over for another season, they can be put on to inferior feed. Dealing with Twin Lambs. I would strongly urge the attendant to mark all twin lambs as this enables him to pair them off again should one of them get- left behind. A ewo will soldom leave both lambs behind, but quite frequently one of a double is left. With this in view, the shepherd should always carry some marking material with him. For a temporary mark a piece of raddle is very convenient and can be carried in the waistcoat pocket. As each new pair is noticed they should be caught and marked, with some distinguishing sign. In every case each pair of twins should tie marked exactly the same to avoid mistakes For instance, the first paircan be marked on the face, the next pair on the head, the next on the neck, and so on until all the points are exhausted, when the colour can be changed. Then commence in "the same way as above mentioned, until another change of colour is necessary. The pairs of the whole mob may be marked in this way, no matter how large the mob may be. This practice will prove of immense value when mobs of owes and lambs havo to be shifted from one field to another for a change of feed.