106 FITTING SHEEP 



Wool to be Clipped from the Ewe's Flanks and Udder. 



For the benefit of the lamb it is sometimes found beneficial 

 and even necessary to remove the wool from the flanks 

 and udder of some ewes before allowing it to take the teat, 

 as sometimes its eyes become seriously damaged by the 

 wool- getting into them. Then by getting into its mouth it 

 is liable to cause it to refuse the teat. Just at what time 

 the wool should be cut off is a matter on which shepherds 

 differ, many claiming, and with good cause, that it should 

 not be done when the ewes are in an advanced stage of 

 pregnancy. I have always found this work most easily 

 and satisfactorily accomplished immediately after* the ewe 

 has been delivered of her offspring, but not yet having re- 

 covered strength sufficiently to object to the operation. 

 Care must be exercised that the udder is not cut while the 

 operation is being performed, or serious injury may result. 



How to Catch a Sheep. 



A sheep should never be caught by its wool. This method 

 not only causes the animal unnecessary pain, but in the case 

 of fat sheep, that are to be killed, it does much harm to 

 ihe joint of mutton that lies underneath where the wool was 

 pulled. It causes a dark bruise just in the same manner 

 as our bodies become discolored from being bruised. 



The proper way to catch a sheep is to take it either by 

 the hind leg just above the gambrel joint, or by putting the 

 hand underneath its jaw or neck. In using a crock it i^ 

 important that the sheep are not caught below the gambrel 

 joint, as injury to the leg is liable to result from this. 



