lOO MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



only be made in unison with the efforts of the ewe to be 

 relieved of it. The aim should be to remove the placenta 

 at the same time. After the lambs have been removed 

 the womb should be treated with tepid solutions of car- 

 bolic injections twice a day for a few days. If much time 

 is covered in relieving a ewe of her dead lamb or lambs, 

 it may be necessary to administer some stimulant to pre- 

 vent her from succumbing. 



Giving aid to young lambs — When the lambs come 

 strong and vigorous it is seldom necessary to give them 

 help in any way. As soon as they ought to take food 

 from the dam they will do so, as a rule, unless in in- 

 stances when the ewes will not own them. Sometimes 

 even strong lambs will not nurse for a time, for the rea- 

 son that they are not hungry, but usually they will seek 

 to nurse as soon as they are well on their feet. When 

 they come into the world in a cold atmosphere, it may be 

 wise to try and get them to take some of the milk of the 

 dam as soon as possible after they are born, to fortify 

 them against the cold. Wrapping them in a warm 

 blanket may also prove very helpful. In some instances 

 it may be necessary to remove the thin mucus mem- 

 brane, that covers the mouth of the lamb to obviate the 

 danger of suffocation ; but usually the ewe, when strong, 

 will remove this when caring for the lamb. 



Newly born and young lambs may require aid from 

 the shepherd under the following conditions: (i) When 

 they are weak and unable of themselves to take nourish- 

 ment ; (2) when the dam gives attention chiefly to one 

 lamb when twins are born ; (3) when free passage of the 

 bowels is not secured within a reasonable time of the 

 birth of the lamb ; (4) when lambs become chilled. 



When lambs are too weak in themselves to take 

 nourishment, it should be given to them within a rea- 

 sonable time after they are born, usually within, say, half 

 an hour of birth. When the dam has milk for the lamb, 

 it should be assisted in taking the same directly from the 



