CHAP. II. 



DIFFICULTIES IN LAMBING. 



507 



within a little time the lamb's feet may be seen to protrude. If the 

 lamb is healthy and is in a natural position the two fore feet appear 

 with the nose resting on them ; when this is the case there is not much 

 difficulty unless the ewe has particularly little room, or the lamb's head 

 is unusually large. In the latter case, the shepherd can usually get the 

 lamb away by first drawing out the legs, then working the head out by 

 pulling at the legs and easing the head with his fingers. If a ewe 

 can lamb without assistance she is better left to herself, for if the lamb 

 is drawn away injury may be done to the ewe, and inflammation may 

 supervene. When assistance is given, the lamb should be djawn out 

 straight, but in a slightly downward direction towards the hocks. 

 Several forms of malpresentation are not uncommon: the most simple 



Fig. 131. Section of Outer Fence of Lambing Pen. 



A, space between two parallel lines of hurdles, filled with straw. B, 8-feet 

 stake, or post, supporting D, tie battens, c, c, covering hurdles, overlaid with 

 thatch or furze, to form roof ; they are supported at D, and by the two hurdles at 

 A. From A to H is one hurdle in length, and the coops or pens are thus divided 

 from each other by wattle hurdles. 



is that in which one leg is turned back, in which case it must be brought 

 forward so that the lamb lies in the natural position. At other times 

 both legs are behind, or the head is bent back, and these must be put 

 right, which will often necessitate the lamb being pushed back some 

 distance to allow freedom to the shepherd. Occasionally the lamb 

 comes backwards, and unless it is a small one, it is very difficult to 

 bring forth. It may indeed be necessary to push it right back and to 

 turn it altogether round, which is an arduous task, especially when the 

 ewe is young or has not much room. It is said by some shepherds that 

 cutting away should never be resorted to, but in extreme cases it is 

 often done, as the ewe's life is more valuable than the lamb's. If 

 the shepherd cannot get the lamb away otherwise it is better that he 

 should destroy the lamb rather than expose the ewe to too great risk. 

 The most troublesome cases to deal with are those where the ewe 



