583 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



SHEEP. 



CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM, OTTAWA, ONT. 



REPORT OF THE DOMINION ANIMAL HUSBANDMAN— 

 E. S. ARCHIBALD, E.A., B.S.A. 



BREEDING SHEEP. 



There are now 57 pure-bred sheep in the pens. Two breeds only are kept, 

 namely, Shropshires and Leicesters. 



The Shropshires include 1 ram, 13 aged ewes, 3 shearling ewes, 8 spring ewe 

 lambs ard 9 spring ram lambs. 



The Leicesters include 9 aged ewes, 2 shearling ewes, 8 spring ewe lambs, and 

 4 spring ram lambs. 



Only a fairly successful year can be reported so far as breeding operations with 

 sheep are concerned. 



The crop of lambs in the spring of 1912 was good (132 per cent), and until 

 midsummer both ewes and lambs did particularly well. Limited as they were to tbe 

 small area of two acres of pasture, this restriction proved their undoing. Although the 

 six acres in the sheep rotation is in a three-year rotation and the sheep remain only 

 one year on each field, yet it is so soon cropped close that intestinal parasites spread 

 and multiply very rapidly. 



The ewes and lambs, as in former years, became infested with both tape worms 

 and stomach worms, and though treated promptly, they did not recover from the effects 

 of the parasites until transferred to the less limited and the clean aftergrass pasture 

 of the larger rotations on the Earm. 



The treatment given for tapeworms, with such good results, was as follows: — 



Fast the animals for at least 24 hours. Drench mature sheep and shearlings 

 •with a mixture of 4 ounces of castor oil and 1 dram (J ounce) of ethereal extract 

 of Male Fern. Lambs may have one-quarter to three-quarters of the above dose, 

 depending on size and age. Confine sheep for 24 hours after drenching. Destroy 

 worms given off in manure. 



Follow the above drench with a laxative tonic such as: Common salt, 2 pounds; 

 potassium nitrate, 4 ounces; Epsom salts, 1 pound; iron sulphate, 8 ounces; powdered 

 gentian, 8 ounces. This mixture is sufficient for 100 mature sheep or 150 to 200 

 lambs, and also is best given in water solution as a drench. 



Only one lamb was lo3t during, or as a result of, the whole treatment. By a 

 post mortem it was discovered that the intestines had actually become congested with 

 clots of worms which was the immediate cause of death. 



Apparently very favourable results were obtained in the eradication of stomach 

 worms by the use of a 1 per cent solution of coal tar creosote. Lambs were given 2 

 to 4 ounces, and mature sheep 3 to 5 ounces, varying with the size. This was admin- 

 istered as a drench, was preceded by a 24-hour fast, and succeeded by a 24-hour con- 

 finement and the laxative tonic as above. 



Owing to limited accommodation, no lamb-feeding experimental work was under- 

 taken on the Central Farm during the past year. With the erection of a lamb-feed- 

 ing shed, anticipated, this work will be continued and extended. 



