THE SHEEP INDUSTRY ON THE MINIDOKA PROJECT. 21 



kind of protection must be provided for the sheep. High fences 

 which are proof against coyotes or dogs furnish effective protec- 

 tion. In some parts of the project it is necessary to confine the 

 flock in a good corral during the night. It is important that present 

 and prospective sheep growers have clearly in mind the possibility 

 of damage by dogs. In certain sections of the United States the 

 damage from this source has become serious, and it is therefore 

 recommended that irrigation farmers provide ample protection for 

 their sheep. 



External 'parasites. — The common external parasites of sheep are 

 lice, ticks, and the scab mite. Of the three, the scab mite is the most 

 important. This mite burrows under the skin of the sheep and causes 

 the formation of scabs. Suspected cases should be reported to the 

 State or Federal inspectors, who will examine the sheep and if 

 scab is present superintend the dipping. 1 The sheep louse is rarely 

 found on the Minidoka project, but ticks are very numerous. By 

 sucking the blood of the sheep, these pests reduce the animal's 

 vitality, interfere seriously with the thriftiness of the flock, and 

 retard the growth of lambs. In view of the serious damage caused 

 by these parasites, it is surprising to note that on many farms the 

 flocks are allowed to go unprotected year after year. Some of the 

 farms are now equipped with dipping vats, made of wood, galvan- 

 ized iron, or concrete, in which the flock may be dipped. These 

 vats are 16 inches wide at the bottom, 24 inches wide at the top, 

 4 feet deep, and 5 feet long at the bottom and 10 feet long at the 

 top, with an inclined bottom at one end. Any of the standard 

 sheep dips used according to directions will destroy both lice and 

 ticks. It is best to dip the flock just after shearing. If any sheep 

 are added to the flock during the summer or if the presence of ticks 

 is noticed, the flock should be dipped again in the fall, as the ticks 

 increase rapidly during the winter. 



Internal parasites. — Important internal parasites are stomach 

 worms and small and large tapeworms. Although the stomach 

 worm has not been reported on the project, it is believed that its 

 absence is due merely to the fact that it has not yet been introduced 

 and not to any local conditions unfavorable to the worm. In some 

 sections of southern Idaho stomach worms are becoming common. 

 A satisfactory method of treatment for this parasite is to drench 

 the sheep with a solution made by dissolving 1 pound of copper 

 sulphate (blue vitriol) in 10 gallons of water, 1 dram of the copper 

 sulphate being sufficient to treat one sheep. Gasoline, adminis- 

 tered in doses of from 1 to 3 drams in linseed oil or milk, is another 

 effective remedy in general use. To be effective, these treatments 



1 A detailed discussion of sheep scab is given in United States Department of Agriculture Farmers' 

 Bulletin 713, entitled " Sheep Scab." . 



