Animal Castration 



197 



CHAPTER IV. 



EWE SPAYING. 



Objects and Indications — Sheep spaying is rarely ever prac- 

 ticed in this country on account of the ewe being more valuable 

 as a breeding animal than she is for mutton purposes. Spayed 

 ewes will mature earlier, grow larger and take on fat faster and 

 more of it than will entire ewes. On this account they are some- 

 times spayed for fat stock show and exhibition purposes. 



Age — 2V2 to 3 months is the desirable age. 



Season — Late winter and early spring. 



Preparation — Empty alimentaiy tract by withholding feed for 

 24 to 30 hours previous to operating. 



Position — Hanging. 



Restraint — The ewe is exceedingly docile and submits kindly to 

 operation. With a small rope or large cord looped above each hock 

 the animal is suspended from a hook or beam above. The field 

 of operation should be on a level with breast of operator. 



Instruments — 1. Curved scissors (Fig. 35) for clipping wool 

 from site of incision. 2. Miles' hook knife (Fig. 25). 3. Swine 

 and sheep emasculator (Fig. 80). 4. Hagedorn's needle % cir- 

 cle , No. 3 (Fig. 84). 5. Richter's needle holder (Fig. 34). 6. 

 Braided silk No. 12 for suturing. 



Fig. 177 — External and Internal Genital Organs of the Ewe. G, Vulva; H, Vagina; 

 I, Uterus; J-J, Horns; K-K, Ovaries; L-L, Broad Ligament. 



