28 N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



any blacksmith in an emergency. The pincers or docking iron are 

 heated red hot, the tail is run through a hole in a board and then 

 severed by the pincers or iron just below the board which partially pro- 

 tects the remaining portion of the member from the heat of the instru- 

 ment. By this method there is no bleeding and consequently no danger 

 whatever, whereas by other methods a lamb sometimes bleeds profusely. 

 If for any reason a mature sheep is to 1 be docked, the docking pincers or 

 searing iron should be used. Some good disinfectant material, such as 

 that used in dipping, should be applied after the tail is severed. In 

 warm weather every precaution should be taken to see that the stump 

 tail does not become infested with maggots. 



The castration of lambs should likewise be performed early. The 

 operation is simple. The lower end of the scrotum is cut off, the tes- 

 ticles forced down through the openings, after which they are pulled 

 out with a portion of the cords adhering. After the operation a mixture 

 of lard and turpentine or other good disinfectants should be applied to 

 the wound. In castrating old rams the safest way is to use the hot docking 

 iron, severing the entire portion of the scrotum containing the testicles. 

 By this method the arteries are seared by the heat and there is no danger 

 of excessive bleeding. In both castration and docking great care should 

 be taken to use tools which are thoroughly disinfected before use. 



Constipation. 



Constipation is usually the result of injudicious feeding or the lack 

 of succulence in the ration. Roots, silage or oil meal are indispensable 

 in preventing this trouble. This trouble in lambs is generally brought 

 on by improper feeding of the ewe. Rations which are inclined to be 

 heating or excessively fattening should be avoided. These troubles 

 are likely to come on during the winter season, when succulent feeds are 

 not available and when heavier grain feeding is practiced. With lambs, 

 constipation may be very detrimental and cause heavy losses in the 

 flock. The symptoms of constipation are dullness, sleepiness and loss 

 of appetite. A rectal injection of raw linseed oil or soapy water will 

 usually relieve the condition. If the lambs are affected the ration of 

 the ewe should be corrected, and the lamb should receive a dose of castor 

 or linseed oil. 



Stomach Worms. 



One of the most dreaded diseases of the sheep farmer is the stomach 

 worm, which is very fatal to young lambs. Fortunately the stomach 

 worm thrives only during warm weather and under rather moist soil con- 

 ditions. This fact can be used to advantage by having the lambs come 

 early and sell them before the stomach worm has a chance to thrive. 

 This is one important argument in favor of the early lamb in this 

 State where worms will likely give trouble if proper management and 

 preventives are not used. While these worms are common in mature 

 sheep they do not cause the great emaciation and high mortality here 

 as in young lambs. The worms are matured in the sheep, from which 

 the eggs produced finally pass and are scattered over the pasture. 

 Afterwards they hatch and find their way into the stomach of the lambs. 

 Here they develop and generally cause serious trouble. 



