294 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



This renders the sheep powerless to get away until it can 

 be grasped by the hand. Long practice will make the 

 shepherd very dexterous in using this aid in catching 

 sheep. Its use is now mainly confined to large flocks. 



When the attempt is made to catch sheep by hand 

 within an inclosure, a number of them, and in some in- 

 stances all the flock, will rush into a corner. The person 

 who is seeking out one of them should follow, keeping his 

 eye closely on the sheep that is to be caught. He then 

 rushes forward and grasps it by placing one hand under- 

 neath the neck at the throat or in front of the breast and 

 the other hand at the tailhead or buttock. The sheep is 

 then in his power should it struggle to move forward or 

 backward. In some instances the sheep is grasped at 

 first by the hind leg with one hand, and held until the free 

 hand, which is usually the left one, is reached forward in 

 front of the breast of the sheep. Should a sheep be 

 grasped by the wool over the hips it will lunge forward 

 to get away, and this will result in injury to the part thus 

 grasped. 



When holding sheep, especially those that are restless 

 or refractory, they should be held by placing one hand, 

 usually the left one, so as to grasp the jaw underneath 

 and well forward. The fingers or some of them are 

 pushed upward into the soft parts underneath the tongue, 

 the thumb remaining on the outside of the jaw. The 

 right hand is thus left free to use as occasion may call 

 for. With the left hand thus placed and the right hand 

 at the tailhead, a refractory sheep may be moved forward 

 should this be desired. The parts underneath the jaw 

 are sensitive, hence the pressure of the fingers there 

 should never be more than occasion calls for. 



Sheep may be taught to lead the same as other ani- 

 mals. This is usually necessary only in the case of rams, 

 more especially such of them as are to be shown. They 

 will submit readily to such teachings, but it is most effec- 

 tive when they are thus taught while young. Out on the 



