132 SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



speaking an illness, but an act of exuberance. It is accom- 

 panied by evident uneasiness, and in some cases with great 

 pain, but when once over the ewe seems to forget her troubles 

 immediately, and promptly undertakes the cares of maternity. 

 In normal cases which, by the way, are by far the most 

 numerous the ewe should be carefully watched and attended 

 to, but assistance ought not to be given. Patience should be 

 exercised, and a somewhat long period of labour often ends in 

 an easy birth. A watchful eye in such cases is all that is 

 needed, and attention to the newly-born lamb. Its mouth must 

 be cleared, and the first gasp for breath must not be stifled by 

 the water and mucus which often envelop the mouth and 

 nostrils. Exposure to intense cold or bitter weather might 

 at this stage prove fatal, and hence the shepherd transfers his 

 charges to a comfortable pen, and is content when he sees trie 

 youngster fairly Struggled on to its long spindly legs, and 

 groping about in its quest for the source of its first meal. 

 This, then, is our answer to the question so often asked, 

 " Should assistance be given to a ewe during lambing ? " No 

 interference, no inter-uterine examination, no forcing on the 

 pains by pulling at the legs of the foetus, but only carefully 

 watching the course of events. 



There are, however, times in which the shepherd needs to 

 put forth his obstetric skill. This is necessary in all abnormal 

 cases. Before a shepherd interferes in the process he should 

 at all times think whether or not artificial help is needed, and 

 if he comes to the conclusion that the ewe wants help he will 

 give it, in the manner about to be described. 



The ewe is laid gently upon her side, and the hand is care- 

 fully introdued into the vagina. If the foetus is to be found 

 coming forward in the natural position i.e., with his head 

 resting upon his two fore-legs immediate assistance is not 

 required, and the ewe had better be released and allowed a 

 little more time. 



Examination may, however, reveal the fact that the lamb is 

 presented in such a manner that assistance must be given. 



