LEICESTER EWES AND LAMBS. 151 



KUPTUEE. 



When the ewes are brought into the lambing field in March, 

 and are receiving turnips, the shepherd frequently notices that a 

 ewe is giving way at the side (usually the left), or straight down. 

 This occurs when the ewe is close at the lambing, and is caused 

 by the lambs growing so large and heavy that they cause a 

 hernia of the intestines. If not attended to the belly of the ewe 

 almost touches the ground, and when it goes thus far nothing 

 will ever bring it back to its normal position. 



When the shepherd notices the first tendency to this mishap, 

 he should provide himself with a deal plank six inches broad, 

 and the length of the ewe from the top of the shoulder to the 

 tail head. He must now take a corn sack, cut it open, and nail 

 one side of it along the plank with tacks, tlien placing the board 

 on the ewe's back at that side which is farthest from the rupture 

 — the right side — he must place the sack under the ewe's belly 

 and draw it up so that it sustains or supports the broken-down 

 side. When he has drawn up the sack as tightly as necessary 

 he must tack it on to the plank, and cut off that portion of the 

 sack which is left over. The best time to place this support 

 on the ewe is in the morning before she has had time to fill 

 herself, and if it is done in time the rupture will never go any 

 further. 



Of all the plans which have been tried this is decidedly the 

 best and most successful. After the ewe has lambed the support 

 may be removed, in order that the lambs may obtain milk. 



When ewes are so near lambing-time the shepherd must be 

 very careful how he allows his dog to go amongst the sheep, and 

 should see that the fences are good, for were his ewes from any 

 cause to break pasture and jump the dyke, abortion would be 

 very apt to follow. At this time, and more especially upon 

 sunny days, the shepherd is caused considerable trouble from 

 ewes lying " awkward," that is, they roll over on to tlieir backs 

 and are then very often quite unable to rise. Where there 

 are deep furrows in the field this accident is most dangerous, as 

 should a ewe roll over in one of them,slie cannot by any chance 

 get up again. Many ewes are not badly affected by lying for a 

 length of time upon their l)acks, but others which have any 

 ati'ection of the lungs go almost at once, and before the shepherd 

 lias time to rescue them from their perilous position. Some dogs 

 have the natural instinct to lift a ewe when lying awkward, but 

 they are few, and the great majority of sheep dogs are quite 

 unable to render any assistance. 



Some few sheep in a flock seem to liave a special tendency to 

 take this position, causing the shepherd much troulde, as he has 

 frequently to lift them twice or thrice a day. In this case it is 



