FERTILITY IN SWEEP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2312, 3 October 1908, Page 1

FERTILITY IN SWEEP.

CONDITIONS TTIAT-TRODUCE -■-'■.../■■■ ■'-■■ TWINS. if.

A committee of tho Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, with the aid of Dr Marshall, of Edinburgh University, has been investigating the causes of fertility in ewes, and the results are reported in the “Transactions.” The first conclusion arrived at is that “flushing” at the breeding season has a very beneficial .effect on the percentage of lambs born —i.e., for a few weeks prior to and during tile mating season the owes got extra feeding, either in the shape of better grass or oats, maize, etc. AVhether this extra food pays for itself is another matter, but as most flockmastors like to see plenty of twin lambs, and feeding is common in the south country, it is probable that it does

Tho most important result of the inquiry, however, is the proof that is obtained that fecundity is hereditary—in other words, that sheop by selection can bo bred to yield twin limbs every time. The investigation was made in the caso of the Scottish breeds of sheep, of -course, but the experience of a Hampshire breeder is given-, who, by selection alone, has been able to obtain a crop of 200 lambs to every 100 ewes. There is the possibility that sometimes one good lamb is better than two weaklings. and in the case of the hill breeds of sheep high feeding is never practised at any time, hut with the large, low country kinds, where heavy feeding and folding is the rule, extra lambs are expected and desired. And now comes tlie principal point in these recommendations —viz., that the power to yield two lambs per head is hereditary and may he .improved by selection. Tho ewe lambs from a ewe that always bears twins are likely to be twin-bearers in their turn, hut Dr Alarshall points out that tho same principle applies to the ram lambs. The fear that a twin will not be strong and vigorous enough has deterred many from rearing such for rams, blit it is certain that rams of this description will bring -most twin lambs in turn, and evidence, is given to prove this, while a little extra feeding in their youth will help to develop greater vigor. The results noted above wero obtained by circulars issued to about fifty flockmastors.