166 THE TEEATMENT OF BORDER 



If this year the ewe lambs were marked with a " forebit " in the 

 far ear, next year's lambs must be marked with a "forebit" in 

 the near ear, wdiile on the year after they might go without any 

 ear-mark at all. 



By this method the shepherd can at a glance tell whether a 

 sheep is a gimmer, a " one-crop " ewe, a " two-crop," or a " three- 

 crop," Avhich latter must be drafted. Wether lambs which have 

 only to be fed off require no ear-marks. If they are buisted 

 when lambs that is all they require. In regard to the supposed 

 cruelty of ear-marking, a few words may not be out of place. 

 If the operation is done quickly, and with a proper instrument, 

 very little pain can be caused to the sheep. When, however, a 

 punch and mallet are used, as we have seen done, a great deal of 

 pain must and does ensue, and those who practise this system 

 deserve to be reprimanded for what is in reality unnecessary 

 cruelty. Were they to provide themselves with proper instru- 

 ments, we consider that the operation would cause very little 

 pain, as the piece is small, quickly removed, and very little 

 bleeding, if any, follows. Xevertheless, although the operation 

 may be sim];^"-)e and almost painless, we have no doubt that hill 

 farmers who have a larQe flock of both ew^e and wether lambs 

 to mark would be glad of any other system which would entail 

 less work and give no pain. 



Management of Lambs up to Weaning. 



The after-management of lambs is usually simple, and where 

 there is a good shepherd the farmer will have little trouble. The 

 first thing to be considered is, that as it is necessary to keep the 

 lambs always advancing, what feeding will be needed for them ? 

 !N"ow, as gimmers have not so much milk for their lambs as ewes, 

 when they have twins they must be placed on the best pasture, 

 and if possible on " seeds." Ewes which have twins are put on 

 second-class pasture, while those ewes or gimmers which have 

 single lambs are placed upon less rich grass than the ewes with 

 twins. It is always desirable to give gimmers and their lambs 

 the preference in the selection of grass. This feeding goes on to 

 the end of June, but before we follow the lambs through the 

 summer months it will be advisable to say something in regard 

 to the clipping season. 



Before clipping is begun it is necessary to have the sheep well 

 washed, and then to leave them a sufficient time to allow the 

 yoke to come up into the fleece, not only that it may weigh 

 heavier wdien clipped, but that it may be more valuable to the 

 manufacturer. About the 21st of May it is customary to wash 

 Leicester sheep, and the modus operandi need hardly be described. 

 Suffice it to say, that every sheep is hand-washed, and not 



