PROLIFIC FLOCK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21249, 1 August 1932, Page 14

PROLIFIC FLOCK

SHEEP AT CIRENCESTER Mention was made in the London Times recently of the prolific flock of half-bred ewes at the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester. Mr. J. F. 11. Thomas, who is in charge of this flock, gives some details of tho management in the Journal of tho British Ministry of Agriculture. During tho past fivo years three different types of ewe havo been bred from, which have reared 1.7 laiitbs per ewe mated. It is only a small flock averaging 25, and unquestionably this has exerted a favourable influence upon fertility and upon tho percentage of lambs which survived. Lambing lias tukcn placo during the months of February and March, and the lambs havo had some hand-feeding in order to havo them ready for sale during May and June. Throughout tho year tho ewes havo been going on pastures, sports fields and poultry pens. Owing to the limited area availablo for stocking the sheep, and to tho small size of enclosures, frequent changes of grazing havo been made, special care being taken to avoid very cloao grazing, particularly during spring and summer. There has been 110 need to resort to dosing tho lambs as a means of controlling parasitic worms. It is remarkable that no effort has beon made to induce a high birthrato by flushing tho ewes except by the necessary chango of pasture. Starting six weeks before lambing, small quantities of trough" food have been supplied, varying from iib. to 31b. daily. A small ration of mangels has beon supplied before lambing, but hay has been withheld entirely or only fed in very small quantities until after lambing,