386 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



factory, it is possible when selecting the foundation ani- 

 mals for a flock to be practically sure that they are not 

 thus affected. This may be known from the previous 

 history of the flock. It is also possible to keep the flock 

 away from wet pastures that favor increase in such para- 

 sites when they are present. Similarly, while but little 

 can be done by way of treatment for goiter, it is quite 

 practicable to breed only from dams that do not usually 

 give birth to lambs that are not thus affected, In other 

 words, it is possible to discard for breeding uses all 

 females that have given birth to lambs in which goiter 

 has developed. It is also practicable to keep sheep under 

 conditions that will prevent them from drinking in dirty 

 pools which favor the development of nodule disease, and 

 to shield them, at least measurably, from the gadfly which 

 lays the egg that ultimately develops into grub in the 

 head. All such preventive measures are practicable, 

 while the successful treatment of some at least of the ail- 

 ments of sheep is virtually an impossibility. 



While proper environment and suitable care are im- 

 portant with all classes of live stock, these would seem to 

 be doubly important in the case of sheep. All experience 

 in the past has shown: (i) That sheep will keep much 

 more healthy on dry and rolling pastures than on those 

 opposite in character; (2) that pure living water is essen- 

 tial to the well-being of sheep ; and (3) that they do not 

 stand up well under close confinement. It is certainly 

 much wiser to aim to furnish such conditions than to 

 neglect to furnish them and later to have to grapple with 

 the ailments which their absence gives rise to. 



Proper care that will prevent troubles from arising 

 in the flock is also to be greatly preferred to the necessity 

 for dealing with these should they arise as the result of 

 lack of care. For instance, it is vastly easier to keep sheep 

 in sleeping sheds free from drafts than to cure catarrh, 

 which comes as the result of exposure to drafts. It is 

 much easier to furnish succulent food that wards off in- 



