FITTING SHEEP FOR SHOW RING AND MARKET. 113 



insert the ear tag or the weight of it will cause the ear to- 

 droop. 



The proper way to put the tag in is to catch your lamb, 

 seat it on its rump, and hold it between your legs; both 

 hands are then free to handle the punch, etc., in performing 

 the operation. The breeder's tag should be inserted in the 

 right ear, and the association tag in the other. The shepherd 

 should be extremely careful that he keeps a true and honor- 

 able record of the pedigree of his lambs, or he will not only 

 be doing an injustice to the association which champions 

 the breed he keeps, but he will also lay himself open to 

 litigation. 



Weaning. 



In weaning his lambs it is necessary that the shepherd 

 should have forethought in preparing suitable succulent pas- 

 tures and rich, nourishing foods to fill the place and loss of 

 the lacteal nourishment caused by the separation of the ewes 

 and their offspring. This means untiring, faithful vigilance 

 on the part of the shepherd who, of course, will see that 

 everything possible is done to mitigate the suffering of the 

 ewe from fever and inflammation caused by the presence of 

 pent-up milk in her udder. A little care given at this time 

 w.ill no doubt often be the means of saving many a fine 

 ewe from losing a part or the whole of her bag. It should be 

 remembered that it is very rarely that a poor milker gives 

 much trouble from this cause. 



What are the most suitable rations for the newly weaned 

 lamb? I have not, as yet, found anything equal to the second 

 crop of clover. Where rations of a highly succulent nature 

 are fed, great care must be observed or we may experience 



