SHEEP PRODUCTION 197 



Two men must be employed to dock and castrate lambs. With proper ar- 

 rangements the work can be done rapidly and under no circumstances should it 

 be neglected. Docking prevents filth and infection from maggots, saves wool 

 and insures the safe breeding of ewes that otherwise will not be likely to get 

 with lamb. 



Dipping Ewes and Lambs. Sheep require dipping to rid them of ticks 

 and in some instances of lice and other parasites. After the ewes have been 

 shorn, the ticks resort to the lambs. Eight to ten days after shearing when the 

 weather is bright and sufficiently warm, the entire flock should be dipped. Many 

 dip oftener, depending upon the necessity. Sheep should be examined for ticks, 

 especially lambs purchased in the fall for feeding and dipped whenever neces- 

 sary. Ticks will prevent profitable gains in spite of the best rations and feeding 

 quality of lambs. 



Use standard sheep dips following directions submitted with them. Avoid 

 getting the dip into the ears, eyes and mouths of sheep and do not let sheep be- 

 come chilled by remaining out nights or out of doors day times should the 

 weather change and become cold. 



Weaning Lambs. It is best to wean lambs at the age of four and a half 

 to five months. This offers the ewes a chance to regain strength and vitality 

 when the breeding season comes on which is more important than giving the 

 lambs the further benefit of their mother's milk. 



Taking the lambs away from the ewes, turning them into a good pasture 

 some distance removed from their mothers and not allowing them to go back 

 again, is the best plan to follow in weaning. There is a less prolonged worry on 

 the part of lambs and their mothers which is accompanied by better gains to 

 both lambs and ewes. 



Use of Rape. Good pasture at weaning time and later in the fall when 

 ewes and lambs make good use of green feed cannot be assured and it is there- 

 fore, a good practice to have a piece of rape on which lambs can be turned a 

 part of each day or run regularly when they have become accustomed to it 



Bloat in Sheep. When turned on new pasture, sheep are very subject to 

 bloat and should be -watched carefully. Green clover, alfalfa, and rape when 

 wet at a more mature stage, are especially dangerous and should be pastured cau- 

 tiously. Sweet, warm milk is an effective remedy for bloat. One-half pint given 

 with a drenching bottle brings immediate relief if the sheep or lamb is not too 

 far gone to survive from any ordinary treatment. Tapping may be resorted 

 to when other methods fail, but should be the last thing to do to treat sheep 

 for bloat. 



Marketing Lambs. The market for lambs is active from late summer 

 until late spring and should be studied by one having lambs to offer. There are 

 times when there is *a scarcity of lambs on the market and one having lambs in 

 good condition may find these times the best to market. 



Lambs born in the early spring can be made to reach 80 pounds in weight 

 in late summer. This is a most desirable weight for the market providing the 

 lamb is fat and is in a good place to sell at this time to avoid the rush of many 

 lambs that are put into the market a little later. 



