THE DISEASES OF SHEEP 343 



the enemies that led to the discarding of the old 

 ones. 



The shepherd may take advantage of the fact that 

 lambs are born healthy to start anew with a clean 

 flock, even though the ewes were tainted. Infection 

 will not come from the mother's milk, unless in rare 

 instances from the fouling of her udder. If she has 

 a clean bed there is small risk of that. If she is 

 scouring she should not be put in the company of 

 ewes devoted to this purpose. 



The ewes should be bred as early as practicable, 

 so that their lambs will come if possible in Novem- 

 ber, December or January. That is because in 

 northern situations there is practically no danger 

 of infection anywhere, indoors or out, in cold weath- 

 er. Ewes and lambs should all be well fed to en- 

 courage a vigorous growth. 



When warm weather begins to come in April the 

 ewes should be confined rigidly to the barn and 

 small yard. In that yard there should not be per- 

 mitted to grow even a single weed or spear of grass. 

 This rule must be absolute. The yard must be small 

 and kept always perfectly clean. If it is not the 

 lambs may nibble at some plant and from its lower 

 lengths, or roots, imbide the germs that we are seek- 

 ing to avoid. 



Nor should there be any feed thrown into the 

 yard. Furthermore, the hayracks should be kept 

 clean and the water pure at all times. 



As fast as ewes cease giving a good milk flow 

 they should be removed to another pen and thus 



