﻿14 BULLETIN 20, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



CATCHING. 



. Formerly the shepherd's crook was used largely for catching 

 sheep, as it is still used in England and Scotland and in the West. 

 The crook is used to catch the sheep by the hind leg. Sheep should 

 be confined to close quarters when they are to be caught or handled. 

 They can best be caught around the neck, by the flank, or by a hind 

 leg immediately above the gambrel joint. After being caught the 

 sheep can be easily led by placing one hand beneath the lower jaw 

 and the other to the rear of the buttock. A little pressure upon the 

 dock will usually persuade the most stubborn sheep to lead readily. 

 Sheep should never be caught or led by the wool. Doing this causes 

 a bruise that requires weeks in healing, and there is no necessity 

 for it. 



SETTING A SHEEP UPON ITS RUMP. 



There are a number of ways of setting a sheep on its rump. Quite 

 commonly they are lifted by main strength and placed in this 

 position. This is difficult for the operator where the sheep is a 

 large one, and it necessitates more or less rough handling of the sheep. 

 A far simpler and easier method is as follows: Taking a stand upon 

 the left side of the sheep, the left arm is placed around the neck. 

 With the right hand grasp the right hind leg just above the fetlock. 

 Pull the hind leg in under the sheep and lift backwards with the 

 left arm. In this way the sheep is set back upon its rump in the 

 easiest possible way. When through with the sheep shove it for- 

 ward upon its front feet and it can readily rise without needless 

 struggling. 



LOADING. 



Sheep can be lifted into a wagon handily in the following way: 

 One person stands on each side of the sheep. The right hand of one 

 grasps the left hand of the other between the fore legs of the sheep. 

 The other hands are grasped in a similar manner beneath the hind 

 flanks. In this way the sheep can be lifted quickly and with little 

 effort. A loading chute made of inclined planks with cleats across 

 them to prevent the sheep from slipping is a convenience in loading 

 large numbers. Sheep should never have their legs tied in trans- 

 portation. A special sheep rack or wagon should be used when many 

 are to be hauled, while if only two or three are being transported 

 they can be tied in the wagon or crated. (See Plate III, fig. 1 , and 

 text fig. 1 ). When shipped a long distance in a crate special arrange- 

 ments must be made for feeding. If a gunny sack is tacked loosely 

 over the front end of the crate sufficient hay can usually be placed 

 between the sack and the crate. A receptacle for water and grain 

 should also be fastened in the front end of the crate. 



