44 



SHEEP 



GRUB IN THE HEAD 



This condition is met with in the Spring 

 of the year. Three or four of the fiock may 

 die as a result. 



RAMBOUILLET RAM 

 The RAMBOUILLET breed fine wool sheep, native of France. 

 Rams weigh 150 to 2Z5 lbs., ewes 123 to 175 lbs. Noted Jor 

 light, fine fleece, shearing 10 to 20 lbs., ewes 8 to 12 lbs. 



The grub is a specie of bot-fly. In the 

 hot summer months, the mature fly deposits 

 its larvae on the nostrils of sheep. Pro- 

 vided with two hooks, they gradually work 

 up into the cavities 

 of the head. There 

 they pass their larval 

 stage. At the proper 

 time they lose their 

 hold and are sneezed 

 out to the ground into 

 which they burrow 

 and in about two 

 weeks emerge as a full 

 grown fly. 



Symptoms are some- 

 what vague. We sus- 



SOUTHDOWN EWE Isl. Prize Minn, State Fair. 

 The SOUTHDOWN breed, mutton type, nntire of England. Noted 

 pect grubs when sheep for early matwing and delicious mutton. Rams wetgh 175 lbs. 

 ,1 £f A 1 ewes 135 lbs. 



are seen to he anected 



Low wool yield, 4 l" 8 lbs. 



prevail only in the range country, while foot 

 rot is comparatively unknown on the ranges 

 but is common in other sections. It is a 

 true infectious disease affecting sheep either 

 in the front or hind feet, particularly 

 between the claws. As the disease ad- 

 vances it extends up to the joints causing a 

 swelling just above the hoof and most in- 

 tense pain. It is distinguished cjuite easily 

 by the lameness and offensive odor. An 

 examination of the foot reveals the pus, 

 which is of a whitish nature and sometimes 

 small holes are seen in the upper and middle 

 surface between the toes. 



Treatment consists of running the sheep 

 through a foot bath, containing some 

 disinfectant. 



A trough about a foot wide and twentj^- 

 four feet in length and of sufficient depth 

 so that when the sheep are driven through 

 the solution will be about two inches above 

 the hoof. 



Blue stone is perhaps the best to use, 



dissolving about four 

 ounces in a gallon of 

 water. A trough that 

 will hold al)0ut twenty 

 gallons would take five 

 ]wunds of blue stone. 

 The foot bath should 

 be repeated every day 

 for a week. 



The same treatment, 

 with a little stronger 

 solution, can be ap- 

 plied to cattle which 

 are affected with this 

 same condition and 



in the early spring months with severe 

 catarrh, becoming stupid in their actions. 



Treatment is of little account and pre- 

 ventive measures must be instituted. 

 These consist of keeping the nostrils smeared 

 with Stockholm tar during July and 

 August. In addition the ground where 

 sheep rest in the middle of the day should 

 be plowed up, and animals allowed the use 

 of darkened sheds. 



Foot Rot is perhaps the next disease of 

 importance that confronts the sheep raiser. 

 It is more frequently found where sheep are 

 permitted to run on low, swampy land. 

 Occasionally we experience outbreaks where 

 this condition does not prevail. The dis- 

 ease is another form of necrobacillosis 

 which has been mentioned under swine dis- 

 eases. The same germ is responsible for 

 lip and leg ulceration and ulcerative vag- 

 initis. These two latter conditions seem to 



tills will be found very beneficial. 



37 MONTHS 



48 MONTH5 



8 YEARS 



SHEEP'S TEETH ACCORDING TO AGE 



Sheep have two sets of teeth like cattle^temporary or mil/c teeth 

 —later, permanent teeth. Like cattle, sheep have eight teeth only 

 in tower jaw, operating against a cartilaginous pad in upper 

 jnw. Milk teeth are peg-tike, the middle pair are replaced at 

 about 15 months by permanent teeth; succeeding pairs appearing 

 at about eleven month intervals. 



After fourth year all permanent teeth are in wear. As animal 

 ages teeth narrow. By eighth year much space appears between; 

 teeth become discolored and with age drop out one by one. 

 Other general considerations in telling age of sheep are, of course, 

 size up to one year. In old animals the poll is more pronounced : 

 the holloips above the eyes deeper and the sides of the face are more 

 depressed. 



