164 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



about fifteen eggs, which hatch in about three 

 weeks, the exact period depending somewhat on 

 weather conditions. 



While not so destructive as the scab mite, the 

 tick causes a great deal of damage by blood suck- 

 ing, in lambs, often stunting the growth. 



It is not an essentially infectious parasite, as 

 it prefers to stay close to its old home. 



Swingle of Wyoming 

 found a sheep can be 

 kept free of ticks by 

 keeping a three-foot 

 partition between it and 

 infected animals. 



Coal tar or tobacco 

 dips are recommended 

 to eradicate this pest, 

 and two dippings, two 

 a P art > wil1 usually 



SHEEP FOOT LOUSE (Haemato- 



pinus pedaiis). Adult fe- clear up the trouble. 



male and egg, enlarged. _,. ., 



(From osbom, 1896.) It is the common pro- 

 cedure in the western states to dip the animals after 

 shearing; this is not only beneficial to the fleece 

 but rids the animal of ticks, lice and fleas, as well. 

 In the west the ticks are very numerous on 

 the sheep in the spring, but after shearing they 

 leave the older sheep and are found principally 

 on the lambs. Later, when the whole band are 

 driven up in the mountains for summer range, 

 practically no ticks are found at all in the band. 

 During the winter they become numerous again, 

 and do an incalculable amount of damage by suck- 

 ing the blood and causing a constant irritation. 



