LEICESTER EWES AND LA:MBS. 165 





'*iany have cried out against the custom of docking sheep as 

 a cruel and unnecessary operation, but we must plead in its 

 favour, not only because it gives a compact appearance to the 

 sheep, but because of its cleanliness. If diarrhoea should attack 

 the lamb, as it is likely to do in some degree, the long tails 

 harbour filth, and sometimes cause sores, on which the fly will 

 deposit its eggs. Thus, were the tails left long the shepherd 

 could hardly perform all the extra work which they would cause, 

 for " cowing " or cleaning away the clotted wool on even short- 

 tailed sheep takes a considerable amount of time. The tails 

 of half-bred sheep are left longer than those of the Leicester 

 breed, while those of the Cheviot lambs are left much longer 

 than either, and the tails of the Dorset and Somerset sheep 

 are allowed to grow to their natural length. 



Another common method of castrating is as follows : — The lamb 

 being held as in the previous description, the shepherd with his 

 left hand causes the testicles to make the point of the scrotum 

 smooth; then cutting through the integument of the scrotum 

 with a sharp penknife, first to one testicle and then the other, he 

 protrudes both testicles forward with both hands, and seizes first 

 one testicle with his teeth, drawing out the spermatic cord until 

 it breaks, and then treating the other in a similar manner. It 

 is advocated for this latter method that the two simple incisions 

 heal by the first intention, whereas the wound caused by cutting 

 oil' the point of the scrotum takes a longer time to heal. This 

 may be true, but frequently, when the wound heals by first 

 intention, it would have been better open ; for should suppura- 

 tion set in, and no outlet for the pus be present, serious inflam- 

 mation is certain to ensue. This cannot happen when the other 

 method is followed, as all discharges are readily got rid of. 



Eau-marking. 



At castrating time it is usual to perform another operation, 

 i.e., ear-marking. Although this practice has been much depre- 

 cated, we hope to be able to show that it is necessary, and not 

 so cruel as many suppose. In a flock of sixteen score of half- 

 bred ewes, the annual average produce of lambs will be about 

 twenty-three score, and seeing that all these must be marked, 

 what are we to em})loy as a mark whicli will not become effaced 

 in a year ? Xow the practice is as follows : — At castrating time 

 the shepherd, having provided himself with a pair of nippers 

 (very similar to those used by ticket collectors), snips a small 

 piece out of the far ear of each ewe lamb. This mark, being 

 placed at the tip of the ear, is called a " forebit," and will remain 

 in the ear for three years, until these sheep, having had three 

 crops of lambs, are drafted out. 



