LAMBING SEASON.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20272, 14 August 1937, Page 26 (Supplement)

LAMBING SEASON.

PREVENTION OF LOSS. With the lambing season here It j should be remembered that mortality In lambs Is traceable to many causes, j most of them avoidable, if the ewes I are frightened at some stage of oouI ceptiou this will often result in scri- ! ous trouble, but one of the worst j evils is when ewes are restricted to i heavy cold land during continuously j wet weather and their wool Is given little or no opportunity of drying. Such conditions invariably result in a chill through the ewe lying on cold water-logged ground. In addition, the sheep tin not movo freely about and • thus obtain Insufficient "xerrisp, which J at fliis period Is of the most importance. Premature birth and dead lambs arc of! on due hi the Taut that the j owes had cat mi some I\.-mI which was | were then turned suddenly mi to tin - , ft I 1 itnieti • lime, all Imiieh Hie ill cffcci . ! 'nig11 1, not be imliced until then. 9 j *■! "p is I .ir — 1 ■ I y hmiml up with Hie ;

1 predate the value of mating the ewes at a time when they are gradually improving in condition. This means that the ewes should have access to rather better keep for three or four weeks before the ram Is Introduced io the flock, I Where roots are normally grown, it Is an advantage to Include a small amount in the diet of in-lamb ewes throughout the winter, but over-feed-ing with roots should at all costs be avoided. Excessive root feeding causes a distension of stomach, which seriously interferes with the normal development of the lamb. It is Important that tlie ewes at lambing time 1 should be in a fit, thriving condition, i without any tendency to over-fatness, and therefore a reasonable amount of exercise is beneficial. The ewes should from time to time be examined and their condition noted, so that if at about eight weeks from lambing they are not in good condition, -some supplementary feeding may be necessary. For this purpose, any mixturo suitable for feeding to cows before • calving will be good for ewes before lambing.