108 FITTING SHEEP 



The best instrument to raise a cosset on is the common 

 nursing bottle used in feeding babies. 



Marking the Lambs. 



It is always advisable that we have some means of identify- 

 ing our lambs when very young, then should any happen to- 

 stray away from their pens no serious trouble presents itself 

 in the way of quickly finding them and returning to their 

 mothers. As soon as the new-born lamb is perfectly dry 

 I take a small quantity of shepherd's marking-ink and a small 

 pencil brush, and with this mark or number it on the back 

 with the corresponding number found on the ear tag of the 

 ewe. This method makes it a very easy matter to keep tab 

 on the lambs and helps to form a close acquaintanceship with 

 them. It is not advisable to insert the ear tags in the ears 

 of very young lambs, as the cartilage of the ear is soft, and 

 the weight of the tag will make them droop. Marking 

 the lambs in this way makes it a safe and easy matter to 

 recognize them when it is desired to ear tag them. I have 

 found it necessary to mark them twice before ear tagging, 

 them, for, as they grow, the marks seem to fade. 



Feeding the Lambs. 



Before we can feed lambs properly we must first give 

 consideration to what purpose we are feeding them. If we 

 are fitting them for the block the treatment must be some- 

 what different from that employed in raising them for store 

 purpose. In feeding for the market, or block, rations of a 

 fattening nature should be fed, and a neat, plump animal 



