8 April, 1908.] La/iib-iuarkiiig. 205 



LAMB-MARKINa. 



//. IT'. Ham, Sheep Exfert. 



Ear-marking, castrating, and tailing of lambs are known to sheep men 

 under the term of lamb marking. This term, is given because ear-marking, 

 being the guide to ownership, is the most important of the three practices. 



Ear-marking. — There are several systems of ear-marking, and each is 

 more or less correct. Some are cumber.some, and only suited to stud flocks. 

 The worst evil is too large an ear-mark, a small neat one being sutificient. 

 When a large ear-mark is put on a young lamb it grows as the lamb grows, 

 and, in after years, looks bad for no real benefit. Some ear-marks, made 

 with the knife, are clumsy, and very unsightly. 



With stud masters the old style ear-label is still in most favour, and 

 aluminium metal is preferable to galvanized. A good method of putting 

 these in the ears is to make two punch holes, as far apart as the length 

 of the label, and clasp the label on the ear lengthwise, not too tightly, 

 keeping the number uppermost. There is less likelihood of it being torn 

 out through getting caught in netting, or in troughs, when it is necessary 

 to feed the sheep ; it also looks very neat. With a little observation and 

 practice the vein in the ear can be avoided, and no bleeding caused. 



Castration. — Castration of lambs has of late years undergone some 

 changes in the right direction. Our wool -growlers' style of slashing off 

 sometimes half the purse, or slitting it half-way down, in order to get at 

 the testicles more quickly, is dying out. Lambs are often slit to the full 

 depth of the purse, and the flesh laid bare, owing to the operator being 

 forced to get through from three to four thousand lambs in a dav. These 

 methods of slitting or cutting off, when carried out carefully, are satis- 

 factory enough to the wool-grower, but, with lambs intended for export 

 at an early age, as in the case of small farmers, the slower method of 

 making a small incision in each section of the purse is preferable. Some 

 argue that the cutting off or slitting allows the blood to drain away. 

 The side-cut does not admit of this, but it will be found that more trouble 

 arises from the use of a dirty knife, or from bleak, windy weather, or 

 frost. With the deep slit, or the purse cut off, lambs are liable, when 

 lying down, to pick up dirt, etc., and cold winds are more to be feared 

 than when the .small opening method is adopted. 



When speed is necessary for larger numbers yarded, splitting, when 

 done shallow, is the best method. Proud cutting of lambs will be found 

 an advantage to lamb-raisers. The wool-growing style is to draw with the 

 teeth, and, in doing this, the cords are dragged out also. If the lamb be 

 proud cut carefully, he will fatten equally with the ewe lambs. Most 

 lamb-raisers find a greater proportion of the ewe lambs ready before the 

 wether lambs. With wool-growers' flocks there are usually too many lambs 

 yarded to practise any other than quick methods. Ewes and lambs on 

 large properties cannot be starved in the yards too long, but Avith smaller 

 holders there is no need for such hurry. Small farmers copv the large 

 land-holder in too many things, especially in lamb-marking and time of 

 lambing, and also in many shearing and wool preparation matters. 



Proud cut wether lambs, at four months old, have heavier fore-quarters, 

 and have not had such as severe a check as teeth-drawn ones. The purse 

 is taken hold of, with the thumb and forefinger, thumb uppermost, and 

 drawn fairly tight. The incision is made on the side, low down, near the 

 body ; this is the secret of being able to hold the stone easilv with the 



