116 BRITISH SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING. 



As soon as the ewe recovers from lambing she should be dressed 

 if she has foot-rot, to prevent it from spreading, and the lamb's 

 feet should be kept clean and healthy. At the least sign of lameness 

 the lamb's feet should be cleaned and wiped dry, then a small 

 quantity of a mild caustic (sufficient to moisten the abraded parts) 

 should be placed between the claws to harden them and prevent 

 foot-rot from being established. A mild caustic of 3 oz. of blue 

 vitriol (sulphate of copper), dissolved in a pint of vinegar, effects 

 this without inconveniencing the lamb, and is preferable to stronger 

 caustics. The sheep require feeding as night approaches, and 

 should receive roots, hay, and the second portion of the corn. 

 The backward ewes require bringing in for the night, and those 

 which have already lambed sufficiently long to go out into the 

 fields during the day should be brought in also. The shepherd 

 has to prepare for a long night, as early in the season the days 

 are short. The last thing to be done in the evening is to make 

 sure that all the lambs are well fed, and special attention should 

 be given to those which require suckling from their mothers or 

 feeding from a strong -necked bottle. A short piece of elder, from 

 which the pith has been extracted, inserted in the cork of the 

 bottle, makes a convenient and safe mouthpiece ; but it is far better 

 to use rubber artificial teats, which cost little and are easily cleaned, 

 though an occasional wash in an antiseptic should be given. 



Having got his sheep safely folded, the shepherd's attention is 

 chiefly required among the ewes which are likely to lamb, so that 

 he may be at hand to give assistance where necessary. He must 

 get his sleep as best he can, and for this reason the advantage 

 of living near to the yard, or better still, in a temporary hut, is 

 evident. It may be necessary for him to be about nearly the 

 whole night when lambing is going on rapidly. At other times 

 it is sufficient if he looks round every two or three hours. The 

 advantage of having a large number of small pens handy to turn 

 in the ewes as they look like lambing is especially marked at night, 

 when the only assistance the shepherd has in finding them is a 

 lantern. It is advisable to mark each single lamb with a spot of 

 ochre, and each twin with two dots, so that they may be recognised. 

 Confusion is often saved by doing this. If ewes get low in condition, 

 and weak through troubles at the time of lambing, they should 

 be given easily digested and nutritive food. Concentrated 

 strengthening powders, specially prepared for the purpose, are 

 valuable aids to the shepherd in such cases, and should be kept 

 in readiness. Strong, warm gruel of oatmeal, ginger and strong 

 ale is serviceable when these are not at hand. The gruel may be 

 made of a pint of ale, 1 oz. of oatmeal and 1 oz. of powdered ginger. 



