Remarkable Fecundity of a Ewe

Mr. William Nottingham, sen. has at his farm near Eastville, (Northampton, Va.) a ewe which has brought 20 lambs in 7 years and 2 months, from the first to the last yeaning; and omitting the last, the first 19 lambs were produced in less than 6 years. The following dates and numbers were copied from the written memoranda kept by Mr. Nottingham, on whom, as a man of observation and accuracy, the most entire reliance may be placed.

The ewe was yeaned in February 1827.

In February 1828, she brought 2 lambs.

February 1829, 4.

November 1st, 1829, 3 (being 7 in 19 months.)

February 7th, 1831, 3.

March 10th, 1832, 3.

January 18th, 1833, 2.

December 31st, 1833, 2.

April 13th, 1835, 1.

None of these were supposed to be premature births, and as large a proportion of the lambs lived as could have been expected in ordinary flocks, from births as they usually occur. Great care was generally taken of the mother, but owing to particular occurrences, she was sometimes greatly exposed. Her four lambs were yeaned at birth, when out in a severe snow storm, and all (I believe) died in consequence. The ewe was raised as a house lamb, and is of the common breed. She was the only ewe kept on this farm, and has been always fed abundantly. When giving milk, her udder was stated to be more like a cow's in size, than that of a sheep. But if her fecundity was caused altogether by high feeding, it would seem that the same effects may be continued in her race by like treatment. Some of the female lambs of this ewe were given to Mr. Nottinghams' sons, and have been kept as breeders, with the like abundant supply of food. Of these, "one has had 4 lambs at one time, and 3 at another time -- another had 4 lambs at her first and only yeaning -- and a third has had 3 lambs at one yeaning." These latter facts were also furnished me in writing by Mr. Nottinghams' son. I omitted asking what proportion of these were raised -- and did not note down the proportion of those lost by the old ewe.

Mr. Nottingham's flock of sheep is kept on grazing land on the sea side, and the mother of this family has been the only ewe kept at his house. In addition to this peculiar situation, she had the company every year except the last, of more than one male -- as several ram lambs were brought home from the sea-side pasture at shearing time, to be killed in the course of the year. Upon these facts, and his observations, Mr. N. has formed the opinion that the several lambs of each yeaning, had different sires -- and that the number of males in fact determined the number of lambs. Whether this strange opinion is well founded or not, Mr. N. is so sure of it, that he has latterly more than once before the yeaning stated correctly the number of lambs that would be produced. The last time there was only one male with her.

E. R.

July 13th, 1835.