SHEEP TJCK AND ITS ERADICATION BV DIPPING 



23 



after a long, liard drive before they have rested and cooled oif; 

 dipping late in the afternoon when the rJghts are cold; keeping the 

 sheep without feed and water for long periods before and after 

 dipping: using dogs in the corral ; and fighting stubborn sheep to get 

 them into the chutes, are some of the contributing causes of injury. 

 However, some of the dips if used in unsuitable Avater may cause 

 injury, and any of them when used too strong will injure the sheep. 



The question often arises as to the proper age at which lambs 

 should be dipped to get the best results and cause the least damage. 

 It is perfectly safe to dip the flock when the lambs are not less than 

 1 month old, provided the lambs are dodged out and dipped sepa- 

 rately. Any slight shrinkage caused at this time will be regained 

 quickly and the lambs will grow and thrive much more rapidly after 

 being freed of the irritation caused by the ticks. If the work is 

 done properly and the sheep handled carefully, pregnant ewes may 

 be dipped with safety at any time up to within one month of lambing. 



DIPPING PLANTS. 



-Portalile galvanizert-iron 



;heep dipping vat. 



EQUIPMENT FOR SMALL FLOCKS. 



The farmer who has but a small flock to dip can use a portable 

 galvanized-iron >at as shown in figui-e 1"2, turning a part of his 

 barn^'ard or sheds into 

 catch pens for tempo- j- 

 rary use. The port- I 

 able galvanized-iron — v 

 dipping vats, called I 

 " hog vats," can be ^ 

 purchased ready- ^^^ 

 made and will answer 

 ihe purpose ver}^ well for dipi^ing small lots of farm sheep. They 

 are sometimes set on the surface of the ground and the sheep lifted 

 into them, but this method is not very satisfactory. An excavation 

 should be made, the dimensions of which exceed slightly the outside 

 dimensions of the vat, except the depth, which should be less, so that 

 when the vat is set in the trench the top may extend about G inches 

 above the surface of the ground. Approaches and draining and 

 holding pens may be provided as desired. 



A canvas dipping bag (fig. i:^) is used sometimes when only a few 

 sheep are to be dipped at different points in a given section, as it 

 has the advantage of being easily transported. It is made of heavy 

 canvas, known in the trade as No. 40, and is constructed as follows: 

 Two strips of canvas 8 feet long and 26 inches wide are sewed to- 

 gether to form a bag 48 inches deep and 94 inches in circumfei-ence. 

 Seams are triple sewed and top and corners reinforced with leather 



