1560 SHEEP J BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



If a ewe loses her lamb, and it is requisite to replace it, one 

 of a pair of twins is generally selected, or it may be a lamb 

 which has lost its dam. The skin of the dead lamb is re- 

 moved, stretched over the little stranger, and made secure. 

 The ewe is then put in a small coop or crib and placed in 

 the " stocks," and the strange lamb will then make itself at 

 home, and in a day or two the ewe's objections will disappear, 

 after which she may be released. It may seem unnecessary 

 to further describe the process, but as some of our readers 

 may be ignorant of what is meant by the stocks, I will briefly 

 describe what is meant. Two hurdle stakes are driven firmly 

 into the ground, about yin. apart, and a thong or shackle is 

 passed over the tops of them both. The head of the ewe is 

 then put through the stakes, so as to hold her by the neck, 

 and the thong is used to keep the stakes close enough together 

 to imprison the ewe. A third stake is passed horizontally under 

 the ewe's belly, and supported at the two ends on the bottom 

 bars of two hurdles placed on either side of the ewe, but at a 

 sufficient distance to allow the lamb to approach its foster 

 mother. The ewe is thus not only held but is unable to throw 

 herself down to prevent the lamb from sucking. After a short 

 discipline of this kind the ewe will generally take to her new 

 charge. 



When ewes have not a sufficient supply of milk, cow's milk 

 may be used. Various views have been expressed as to 

 whether a cow recently calved or old in milk is most suitable 

 for supplying nourishment to a young lamb. In Wilson's 

 " British Farming " we are told that to give a lamb milk 

 from a newly-calved cow is tantamount to knocking it on the 

 head, but the experience of many shepherds is entirely 

 contrary to this forcibly expressed opinion. 



When a young lamb is weak and unable to stand, it should 

 be placed near a fire, and a teaspoonful of gin in a little warm 

 water, sweetened with moist sugar, may be administered 

 with good effect. The ewe should be milked into a cup, and 

 the lamb fed with a spoon, and in a few hours it will probably 

 regain its strength, and be able to rejoin its dam. 



