FECUNDITY OF SHEEP

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1626, 29 April 1903, Page 60

FECUNDITY OF SHEEP

lii a late number of the fr Live Stock Journal,” Mr W, A. Treweeke mentioned the result of the lambing of the first 100 owes in his registered Oxford-down flock. There were 194 lambs from the 100 owes, made up of 9 triplets, 76 twins, 15 singles. One ewe had three dead lambs, two others had two. dead lambs, and five lambs died from different causes. Two ewes died after lambing. With the 98 ewes there were then 182 lambs; the ewes had plenty of milk, and the lambs and their dams were in excellent condition. This the breeder gives as the record lambing during his 20 years’ experience, and it may, I think, be accepted as the record lambing for England and that means for the world. Hitherto not much attention lias been paid by Australian sheep farmers 1 0 1 increasing the fecundity of their

sheep, but now that lamb-raising has become such a profitable rural industry, tlio quality is being more sought after. It has been noticed that great fecundity, like tlio milking quality, comes largely through the 'sire, in the present condition of sheep-husbandry with us, such a heavy yield of lambs as that which occurred in Mr Trewceke’s flock would bo a disadvantage, as the ewes would not ho able to rear them on the natural pastures of the country. To bo profitable such a yield of lambs must bo accompanied by a plentiful supply of the best kinds of fodder, and we have not yet come to that state of advanced husbandry.