91 



Ewes and lambs should have a change of pasture every two 

 weeks to prevent stomach worms (see Page 48 for treatment). 

 Ewes should be fed like dairy cows when they are raising lambs. 



Every farm should have a patch of rape for the lambs. 



Care should be used in getting the sheep accustomed to rape 

 pasture to prevent bloating. Pasture a short time each day for sev- 

 eral days, and at first keep sheep off after a rain or when dew is on. 



There is also danger from bloat when clover or alfalfa is pastured. 



There is no place where lambs will thrive better and with more 

 profit than in the standing corn just as it begins to ripen. They 

 will eat the lower blades that would otherwise go to waste. 



Silage and alfalfa make an ideal sheep feed. 



The breed depends on locality and the preference of the 

 owner. The large mutton breeds thrive better in small flocks 

 and they must be liberally fed. The fine wooled sheep are the 

 hardiest and will live in large herds. 



If the sheep have ticks on them they should be dipped twice 

 about two weeks between dippings. 



Many good shepherds dip their sheep once a year whether 

 they have ticks or not. 



Sheep men are too careless about preparing wool for market. 

 Sheep should not be permitted to get burs, chaff or straw in their 

 wool. 



Manure and filth should never be tied up in the fleeces and the 

 tying should be done with "paper twine." 



Never tie wool with binder twine. 



Machine shears are best for shearing. They should be run 

 by gas engine or farm power. Turning by hand is not satis- 

 factory. 



Dogs are a great menace to the sheep industry. Every state 

 should have laws unqualifiedly putting the dog on the same 

 legal status as horses, cattle, and hogs. 



Where there are co-operative associations or farm bureaus, 

 ewes can be purchased in car lots by the organization for dis- 

 tribution among the farms of the community. Where there is 

 no organization farmers can join in the purchase of a car load 

 of ewes if there are no sheep in the neighborhood. 



Here is a chance for the County Agent to do good work. 



