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WEANING LAMBS. 



The time usually allotted for the- lamb to suckle is four 

 months. The first thing is to separate the lambs and ewes, 

 as far as possible, from each other, so that they will not hear 

 each other's bleating. The lambs should be put on better 

 pasture than they have been accustomed to, but it must not 

 be too luxuriant. They should previously have been trained 

 to eat plenty of salt, which is a good preventive of a great 

 many diseases. A contrary course must be pursued with 

 the ewes in reference to their pasture for a week or more 

 after weaning. It can scarcely be too poor, otherwise it is 

 frequently followed by great distension of their udders, and 

 inflammation or garget. If this should be likely to occur 

 they should be milked for a day or two, and fed with hay, 

 or other dry food. After a week or more they should be 

 placed on such pasture as will hasten their return in the 

 shortest time to good condition. 



Several eminent sheep raisers separate the ewes and lambs 

 for the day, only turning them together at night, thus allow- 

 ing the ewes to relieve their distended udders. By pursuing 

 this course for a week or ten days the lambs will become 

 accustomed to doing without the dam, and they are finally 

 weaned without any ill effects to the ewe. Should, however, 

 the udder of a ewe become inflamed, and danger of garget 

 or abscess supervene, the ewe should have immediately a 

 full dose of Epsom salts, say a heaping tablespoonful, with a 

 teaspoon ful of pulverized ginger, the two mixed in water. 

 For the next two days give them, morning and evening, 

 twenty grains of saltpetre. This will so increase the action 

 of the kidneys, and cause a consequent determination of 

 blood to those organs, that the udder is thereby relieved. 

 Hay should be fed to them, also, instead of pasturage, thus 

 giving them a quicker drying up. 



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