312 SUMMER MANAGEMENT 



daily until recovery or until the animal is able to walk about. Re- 

 duce doses gradually for about one week. 



It is advisable to shear an overheated sheep, but care must be 

 used because the animal will die if it gets excited and exerts 

 itself much. 



Predatory animals are a menace to the flock in all seasons of 

 the year, but especially so in summer when the sheep are in the 

 fields far out from the winter quarters. 



Of all the predatory animals, the dog is the worst in the middle 

 west and eastern parts of the United States, but in a few places 

 between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains wolves 

 and coyotes must be contended with. 



In many places farmers have been forced to quit keeping sheep 

 because of dogs. Were dogs controlled, farm flocks would be much 

 more numerous than they are. In 1914, the United States Bureau of 

 Animal Industry, upon inquiring as to what prevents the keeping of 

 sheep on farms, received many replies, over 58 per cent of which gave 

 dogs as the cause. These replies vividly picture the need of laws 

 that will eliminate cur dogs and keep all other dogs under proper 

 control. When good laws are secured, sheepmen must have courage 

 enough to have them enforced. 



There is no way of equipping the flock to insure it against an 

 attack of dogs. Putting bells on a number of sheep assists some, 

 but the discordant jangling characteristic of American sheep bells 

 will not stop a bold dog bent on mischief. If the field in which the 

 sheep are running is near the farm residence provision can per- 

 haps be made for allowing them a road to the farm buildings, so that 

 when they are chased by dogs they can come near enough to awaken 

 someone to come to their rescue. But this plan cannot be depended 

 upon, as often neither the sheep nor the dogs make enough noise 

 to awaken persons sound asleep. One other recourse is to place the 

 flock in dog-proof pens at night. This requires a great deal of 

 labor, and it prevents the flock from feeding at the most desirable 

 time. 



As soon as it is discovered that sheep have been wounded arid 

 worried by dogs, they should be brought to the barns, where there 

 are 'conveniences for 'giving them the necessary attention. The 

 first thing to do is to locate all the wounds, including even the 

 slightest tooth marks, and to rub them thoroughly, though gently, 

 with carbolized oil (olive oil, 99 parts; concentrated carbolic acid, 



