534 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



Be careful in dipping rams, as they are more likely to be over- 

 come in the dip than are tne ewes. 



Injury may, however, result to pregnant ewes, which must, on 

 this account, be carefully handled. Some farmers arrange a stage, 

 with sides, to hold the pregnant ewes, which is lowered carefully 

 into the vat, and raised after the proper time. 



Use a dip made of lime and sulphur, tobacco and sulphur, or 

 one of the coal tar dips. 



Purchase no proprietary dips except those having the approval 

 of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D, C. 



Use all proprietary dips according to directions. 



Remove all sediment from the lime and sulphur dip, as it in- 

 jures the wool. 



Tobacco dips should never be boiled. 



For a general dip a tobacco or coal tar preparation is to be 

 preferred to lime and sulphur, as a lime and sulphur dip has little 

 effect in destroying the sheep tick or louse. 



A fresh solution should be used for the second dipping. This 

 is absolutely essential if the lime and sulphur or the tobacco and 

 sulphur are to be used. 



Mix the dip well in the vat. 



It is better to use warm water than cold water in dipping 

 sheep, as warm water cuts the grease and allows the dip to get to 

 all parts of the skin of the animal. 



The correct temperature for a dip is from 100 to 105 degrees 

 Fahrenheit. 



Sheep can be dipped in the winter if warm days are selected 

 for that purpose. If the sheep are badly afflicted with scab, the 

 thick scabs should be softened previous to the dipping of the sheep 

 by pouring some of the dip on these places and rubbing them with 

 some smooth instrument, or the scabs can be softened while the 

 sheep are being dipped, by rubbing the thick scabs with a brush. 

 Care should be taken, however, not to draw blood, as on coagula- 

 tion it will protect the mite from the dip. 



Lambs do not need to be dipped for so long a time as older 

 sheep, as their wool is short. They are also more delicate in constitu- 

 tion, hence can not stand the dipping as well as older sheep. 



Always water sheep before dipping, otherwise they may drink 

 the dip which is sometimes found in little puddles in the dripping 

 pens. Each sheep should be held in the dip from two to three min- 

 utes, and the head quickly immersed once or twice just before the 

 sheep leaves the vat. A sheep in moderate length of wool and al- 

 lowed to drip thoroughly after being dipped will carry away from 

 two to three quarts of the dip. A sheep after being shorn will carry 

 away about a quart of the dip. The question should not be, how 

 many sheep can be dipped in a day, bat how well can they be 

 dipped. 



If scabby sheep are taken from a pasture and dipped, they 

 should not be returned to that place for a period of thirty days. 

 Heavy rains are said, however, to disinfect open fields. If the 



