WASHING, SHEARING AND MARKING 209 



loss is not worth mentioning when the advantage to 

 the flock is considered. 



It is a custom of some shepherds and feeders to 

 shear sheep and lambs before placing them on feed 

 in the fall and early winter. 



There, is little advantage in this. It forces and 

 crowds them close together and they do not gain 

 any better. 



The one advantage is that it is easier to free them 

 from ticks after they are shorn, and if they are 

 dipped less fluid is required. 



MAEKING. 



When sheep go to pasture it is well to have a 

 mark upon them so that in case they accidentally 

 become mixed with other sheep they may be known. 



A large letter made of wood, with a handle to 

 It, is used, some thick paint serving for ink. Lin- 

 seed oil and lampblack make a durable mark, plain- 

 ly seen. 



Permanent marking is done by splitting, crop- 

 ping or notching the ears. This is the universal 

 custom on western ranges, but such disfigurement 

 is seldom practiced in eastern states. There are 

 metal labels that are inserted in the ears; these 

 bear the name of the owners, or numbers, or the 

 numbers assigned to registered sheep by the breed 

 secretaries. 



There are various forms of these metal ear tags. 

 None of them is absolutely sure to remain in the 

 ear. The difficulty is that the ears become sore and 



