LAMBING EWES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 672, 25 May 1929, Page 27

LAMBING EWES

ATTENTION ESSENTIAL In reckoning up profits in connection with the breeding of fat lambs, many farmers fail to take into account the value of the ewes which died at lambing time, nor do they give more than a -passing thought to extra returns that would have been theirs had some of the ewes not lost their lambs during the lambing period. Some time back the New South Wales Department of Agriculture, during the course of certain experiments, made special note of the number of ewes that required assistance, or which died before or during lambing, and it was observed that no breed or cross stood out as being free from trouble. When raising lambs a certain amount of trouble is always to be expected. It is possible, with a little care, to minimise these losses, firstly, by using ewes with well-grown, roomy frames, and, secondly, by giving the ewes extra attention during lambing. Regarding the second point, the flock should be visited in the early morning and perhaps again toward evening. Cases requiring assistance will then usually be noticed in time to save the ewe and the lamb. Ihe early morning visit is most important, as it is at that time that assistance is usually required, and it is in the early morning also that the crow claims most of its victims.