Sexual Development of Range Ewe Lambs as Affected by Winter Feeding

Results of a study of the effects of lot-feeding of range ewe lambs during their first winter indicate that the reproductive tract develops more fully, as compared with development in ewe lambs maintained on open range. These results, coupled with earlier work in which larger lamb crops were produced at two years of age as a result of lot-feeding during the first winter, indicate the desirability of giving special attention to the feeding of ewe lambs in range flocks. Problems needing further attention, to determine how far the rancher can afford to go in giving special attention to his ewe lambs, are outlined.