CARE OF THE BREEDING FLOCK. 193 



in such a way as above mentioned, they should be carefully 

 walked a short distance every day. To keep a breeding 

 ewe penned up in a small place is simply nothing short of 

 killing her with kindness. 



Whatever kind of quarters be provided for sheep, they 

 should be dry, both overhead and under foot. If the quarters 

 are dry sheep will endure considerable cold without any in- 

 convenience. Breeding ewes require about ten to fifteen 

 square feet in a building, and about one and a half feet at a 

 feeding rack. In building a barn one should also provide 

 ample room overhead for enough hay to winter the flock. 

 There should also be a room or office for the use of the 

 shepherd, especially during the lambing season. Such a 

 room should be equipped so that the shepherd can sleep and 

 cook in it during the lambing season if he so desires. It is 

 absolutely necessary to keep the sheds or barn where sheep 

 are kept well bedded, because if the sheep are compelled to 

 walk in a filthy, wet pen or muddy lot serious results are 

 usually experienced. Foot rot is often brought on by allowing 

 sheep to run in filthy places. Just how often one should 

 clean out a sheep barn is a question that cannot be answered 

 very satisfactorily. However, it is conceded by the most 

 practical flock masters and shepherds that it is advisable to 

 always clean the barn thoroughly before lambing time. It 

 is also advisable to hurry or rush such work, because many 

 undesirable and disagreeable odors usually accompany the 

 operation. A disinfectant such as air-slacked lime should be 

 used freely in the barn after the manure has been removed. 



Ventilation of the sheep barn should receive careful con- 

 sideration by the shepherd. To keep the sheep in as pure 

 an atmosphere as possible and avoid draughts should be the 

 aim of every shepherd. Draught should be avoided, especially 

 when young lambs are in the barn, because such often brings 

 on rheumatism, etc. 



Sheep seldom need tagging in winter, except when they 

 have been receiving a too generous allowance of succulent 

 food. If any of the members of the flock become filthy, due 

 to scouring, they should be thrown on their side and the dirty 

 tags of wool removed from the stem with a shears or knife. 

 Care should be taken not to trim too close in cold weather. 



To keep the flock comfortable and quiet is an all important 

 thing; strangers and boisterous men and boys should not be 

 allowed to go plunging about among sheep. Sheep should 



