SHEEP RAISING. 29 



One of the most practical methods of overcoming this pest is to have 

 the lambs come early. They should then be weaned before the advent 

 of warm weather, during which the worms will begin to develop. After 

 the lambs are taken from the ewes they should be placed on a non- 

 infected pasture, be well fed and kept until marketed. Frequent change 

 of pasture, even during this short stage of development is effective. 



Care of Feet 



Sheep kept on rough rocky soil ordinarily keep their feet in good con- 

 dition. However, on the arable farm where there is nothing to cause a 

 natural wearing, the hoof should be kept trimmed to prevent deformed 

 feet. If the natural wear does not keep the hoof in good condition it will 

 be well to trim the feet before going to pasture in the spring. The hoof 

 can be very greatly softened by allowing the sheep to run through damp 

 grass. When worked on in this condition they will cut much easier than 

 otherwise. The hoof should be kept short and straight, to prevent a 

 crooked foot or leg. 



One of the most common diseases of the foot is known as foot-rot or 

 foot-scald. Any indication of this trouble should be looked after at 

 once. All the diseased parts should be kept cut away and exposed to 

 the action of a disinfecting solution. This disease in the simpler form 

 can be treated quite successfully by a solution of some coal-tar disin- 

 fectant or with carbolic acid. When the disease has become deep-seated, 

 however, more careful and persistent measures should be used. The 

 diseased parts should be thoroughly exposed by frequently trimming 

 away all such tissue and disinfected with a strong solution of copper 

 sulphate. If the parts have been cut away to any extent the foot should 

 be bound up and the animal kept in a dry, clean place until a cure is 

 effected. Wing recommends the use of a trough, about ten feet long, six 

 inches wide at the bottom, twelve inches wide at the top and six inches 

 deep. This is placed in the passage-way from the barn to the lot in 

 such a way that the sheep are compelled to walk through it in going to 

 and from the barn. The trough should be partly filled with whitewash 

 to which is added copper sulphate solution in liberal amounts. This is 

 an effective remedy, especially if the disease is discovered and treated in 

 the incipient stage. 



Caked Udder. 



Caked udder is likely to give trouble in a heavy milking flock of ewes 

 if proper care is not given. This may happen early after the birth of 

 the lamb by too rapid forcing of the ewe or at weaning time when the 

 feed of the ewe is not properly changed or reduced and the excess of 

 milk drawn from the udder. For several days after weaning the ewes 

 should be kept milked out and by properly reducing the feed the milk 

 flow can be checked. In a bad case of caked udder the ewe should be 

 well sheltered, the udder bathed in hot salt water, and a mixture of lard 

 and turpentine applied. 



In case of garget of the udder, which is sometimes brought on by cold 

 and exposure, purgatives shonld be given, the udder bathed, and cam- 

 phorated oil or lard and turpentine applied. If an abscess forms it 

 should be opened and kept well washed out with a good disinfectant, 

 such as a weak solution of carbolic acid or creolin. 



