FEEDING AND CARE OF BREEDING EWES 147 



ther than to cut away any torn or protruding locks of 

 wool, but it may be of more or less benefit in enhancing 

 the appearance of a flock of pure breds, and in the case 

 of sheep that are to be shown it has come to be a neces- 

 sity (see page 268). 



The trimming of the hoofs of ewes and other sheep 

 calls for attention. The horn of the hoof may under some 

 conditions grow out and become broken or split so as to 

 cause lameness. In other instances the outer edge turns 

 under the sole, enhancing the difficulty of walking. These 

 injurious growths of hoof are most marked in soft soils, 

 which do not wear the hoofs as do soils that are firm in 

 texture. The remedy consists in paring off with a sharp 

 knife all the portion of the bone that may have turned 

 under the sole, and in clipping back the outer edges, and 

 especially the toes when they grow out too far. 



Dipping for ticks once or twice a year is now recom- 

 mended and practiced by nearly all flockmasters who take 

 pride in the conditions of their flocks. It would seem 

 easily possible to so eradicate ticks that further dipping 

 would not be necessary, but in practice such attainment 

 is seldom if ever reached. For the further discussion of 

 this question (see Chapter XX). 



The too close crowding of breeding ewes should be 

 avoided. They need more room than sheep that are being 

 fattened or than shearlings that are retained for breeding 

 uses. The space called for will, of course, vary with the 

 size of the sheep. Fifteen to 20 square feet will be at 

 least approximately suitable as shed room for ewes of the 

 large breeds, as the Leicesters, Lincolns, Cotswolds and 

 Oxford Downs, and 10 to 15 square feet for ewes of the 

 smaller fine wool types, as the American Merinos. 



Too close housing of sheep in winter will soon bring 

 disaster to any flock if long persisted in. This comes not 

 only from inhaling the foul air, but from overheating, 

 which frequently induces sweating in the sheep. When 

 turned into the yards in such a condition, catarrhal 



