LAMBING SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20621, 21 July 1930, Page 15

LAMBING SEASON.

NEED FOR PREPARATIONS. CONDITION OF LAND AND STOCK. r.Y TI TS.T. If success is (o attend (lie operations of farming it is essential that preparations In.- made well before-hand for all tho chief events of the year, In no part of the year's work on tho sheep farm is ihis more necessary than with lambing, for on the successful handling of tho natural increaso depends, to a very largo extent, tho profits which can be made. At this season of the year, it is most important to study tho breeding ewes' condition. Over-fat ewes, besides giving tnoro troublo and loss at lambing time, will produce small lambs, while on the other hand poor-conditioned ewes produce weak lambs, and frequently a big loss is sustained from desertions. Tho ideal is what is usually termed " fresh storo " condition in which tho ewes, though- not being poor, are activo and healtbv

Whero owes are considered to bo overfat for lambing it would bo wise to put them now on to short hill grazing whero they will bo brought down in condition and got abundant exercise, which is most important in tho development of healthy lambs Supplementary Fodder. Tho farmer should always have a supply of supplementary focldor, in the form of ensilage, hay, and roots of green crops which he can feed to his breeding ewes at this time of the year. It will pay handsomely to draft out those ewes which are luoking tucked up and are apparently going back in condition, and put them on this reservo feed. At the same timo these ewes, which apparently are unable to stand up to a pinch, should bo marked for fattening and disposal as soon as the lambs are weaned. It does | not pay to kt-ep ewes that from lack of constitution, go to pieces when they aro ! asked to face a timo of comparative shortage. It is not too early now, and especially i in a season of shortage of feed such as this, to select and close up tho paddocks or blocks which aro to be used for lambing. Such paddocks should have plenty of natural shelter, bo well supplied with easily accessible water, and lie well to tho sun. They should be top-dressed during July with superphosphate at the rato ot at least lOOlbs. per acre, and if the sole of grass is good, a similar quantity of sulphate of ammonia can be added to securo extra early growth. A good bite of fresh feed is most important for lambing ewes, to encourage a flush of rpilk, and the ewes should be put on to these reserved paddocks about a week or fortnight before lambing commences. An Abundant Milk Supply. Unless lambs can get an abundance of milk as soon as they are born,' they will not thrive as thoy should, besides which", it tho ewes are hungry and short in miik supply, thoy will very frequently desert their lambs which then become a total loss. It is better to keep ewes a'little short and rustling for feed now if this temporary deprivation means that they will havo plenty at lambing time. The health and growth of lambs will be improved if their mothers have been supplied wit!? a lick containing lime, phosphate, iron, sulphur and iodine, and this should be left before the ewes after they have lambed. Tho youngsters will soon learn by following their mothers' example to relish the lick, and tho ingredients will supply the requirements of growing framo and muscle, prevent intestinal worm infection, and reduce losses from " pulpy kidney." Whero very early Down cross lambs aro expected with tho object of catering for tho Christmas market at Home, it is essential to have some artificial " green feed on which their mothers can bo moved directly they havo lambed. To succeed in getting these lambs prime at an early ago they must never receive a check, and must havo tho most favourable conditions from birth until they enter the freezing works. Necessity for Concentrates. ft is probable that in the near future farmers catering for this profitable earlylamb trade will find it pays to feed a certain amount of concentrated food to the ewes and lambs; when this is done it will become the practice to yard the ewes and lambs at night and food them there a ration of chaffed lucerne damped and sprinkled with 20 per cent, linseed meal and 10 per cent, meat meal. Whero stud lambs have been dropped early and aro being pushed along to develop for sale as two tooths, concentrate feeding on. tho lines suggested above will pay handsomely, and should bo continued with tho ram lambs foi a couple of months after weaning; with this treatment they will get a Hying start and will avoid becoming affected with internal parasites. When' careful selection and breeding has done all that is possible in providing iho " quality in the stock, good freeding and protection from parasites will give tho growth and finish which will show off this quality npd induce buyers to .givo full value for the animals. Isefore tho ewes are too heavily in lamb they should bo put over tho board and trimmed up round the crutch and udder' so that they will keep clean and the | lamb will not get wool-ball when suckling, i