SHEEP. 247 



LAMBS. 



Young lambs require particular attention. If the 

 weather should be cold or stormy, they should be in a 

 dry, warm place, yet pretty well ventilated. If there be 

 wool around the sheep's bag, in the way of the iamb 

 when sucking, cut it off. Sometimes lambs are so feeble 

 soon after they are born, that they cannot suck without 

 assistance, or they are so weak or stupid that they will 

 make no effectual exertion to help themselves. In such 

 cases it often becomes necessary to press out the biest- 

 ings in the teat, as the lamb has not strength to draw 

 out the thick matter ; then he may suck ; if not, lay the 

 sheep on her side, and put the teat into his mouth, and 

 if he will not draw the milk, press it out into his mouth, 

 and he will soon learn to suck. 



Some young sheep will not own their lambs, or own- 

 ing them, they will not stand still and allow them to 

 suck, owing to their ignorance, or the tenderness of their 

 bags ; and attention is necessary, else the lamb will be 

 lost. Some lambs are troubled in cutting their teeth, 

 and cannot suck well for soreness of the gums. In such 

 cases, rub hard the swelled gums with the thumb-nail, 

 or other hard, smooth substance, which will promote 

 teething. 



Some sheep, old as well as young, will not own their 

 lambs, so as to allow them to suck at all ; this is a very 

 troublesome case, and sometimes difficult to remedy. 

 Bringing a dog near the lamb may have some effect, as 

 she may be disposed to protect her lamb, and fight 

 bravely in its defence. If she persist in her unnatural 

 course, hold her often, and let the lamb suck ; he will 

 soon learn to run to his mother for this purpose, as soon 

 as his kind assistant appears. Let him suck as often 

 as morning, noon, evening, and at night, just before 

 bedtime ; in this way, sheep will often own their lambs, 

 sometimes in one week, and again not till after two or 

 three weeks. 



If a single lamb die, and another sheep will not own 

 her Iamb, or another sheep has twins, skin the dead 



