238 Journal of Agriculture. [10 April, 1909. 



Ill the autumn, just before lambing time, ewes in some districts get 

 struck very badly. At this stage, in-lamb ewes, (especially if a flush of 

 green picking has come), pass a secretion, that is both an attraction for flies 

 and a home for maggots. 



Lambing ewes, of course, offer special attractions to flies, for if not 

 crutched the cleanings and urine get caught in the wool, and the 

 better the class of sheep from a wool-cutting point of view, the more 

 trouble is found. If the wool is previously cut away, there is less likeli- 

 hood of there being anything retained for the maggots to work on. In 

 timber country, flies are most active and plentiful during the calm, warm 

 weather after the first autumn rains. 



If showers keep the ewes damp after being blown, the maggots spread 

 rapidly, and will go up over the back in a very short period. Fresh 

 larva is deposited by flies at every opportunity during this time. 



The action of powder dips is both to dry up the stain and moisture about 

 the tail parts, and to check the spread of maggots that may later on be 

 deposited there. The powder falls among the new growing wool, and in 

 many cases prevents the larva living. Strong bluestone wash is effective; 

 it dries up the moisture, and is deadly to maggots, but has not the lasting 

 effects of a finely ground powder dip at three or four times the ordinary 

 strength. 



With aged ewes, especially if of the plain bodied bare pointed class, it 

 will be sufficient if the tail parts are done, but iii young Lincoln -merino 

 ewes, it is at times necessary to remove the wool from all woolly udders, 

 as the lamb in cold weather undoubtedly gets a better chance on first rising 

 to its feet. Many lambs from maiden ewes are lost on cold nights, owing 

 to their sucking locks of -wool and yolk fribs instead of the teat. After 

 the ewes are well crutched (unless the country where they are located is 

 very bad for flies), it is not necessary to put on any of the powder dips. 



About six weeks before lambing commences is the usual time for crutch- 

 ing. It is rather dangerous later, especially with men who are careless or 

 inexperienced in the way of setting them down. 



Feet trimming is usually done once a year on the shearing board, and 

 at any time when an odd ewe is seen in the yards through the year. Under 

 certain conditions, it is necessary to keep them trimmed, for it is a preventa- 

 tive of footrot in some soils to have tlie hoofs steadily growing and kept 

 short. In gritty country they keep their hoofs well worn by walking about, 

 and consequently need very little attention. 



The cold getting to the udders when the wool is cleared away does not 

 affect the milk yield to any extent, although some farmers who have 

 crutched their ewes maintain that it docs. As a rule, ewes are poor about 

 crutching time. Poverty, and scarcity of good, milk-giving feed, affects 

 the milk yield most. If ewes are kept strong, as thev should be at 

 this time of the year, there is no need to fear that the milk yield will be 

 affected. Ewes of the Border Leicester t\pe have no wool at anv time 

 about the udders and they are the best of milkers — the cold gets to them. 

 Ewes, when cleaned about the udder and tail, seem to be better milkers 

 on that account. 



Many sheep breeders often allow their ewes to get too low at this 

 time of year to have a successful lambing. Ewes heavy in lamb should 

 be kept strong. Thev may look well to a casual observer, but it is the 

 lamb inside that makes them appear full and in fair order, but who has 

 not noticed how very poor ewes are when the lamb comes awav in April 

 and Mav. ^ . .^ 



