Il6 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



swers at least reasonably well, and it is certainly the 

 easiest method of castration by far that can be adopted. 

 It has been objected to on the ground that the lambs 

 show some stiffness of gait for a time after the operation, 

 which is cited as evidence that it must so far retard de- 

 velopment. 



By the second method, the operator does the work 

 alone. The lamb is laid on the left side, and the operator 

 presses the lamb against his knees and keeps it in position 

 with his elbows which leaves both hands free. With a 

 sharp knife he cuts off a portion of the base of the scro- 

 tum, including the lining membrane. The testicles are 

 thus exposed, and when pressed out by the hand are 

 seized and drawn out one at a time by the teeth. 



By the third method two persons are engaged in the 

 work. One catches the lamb, gathers the feet in his 

 hands and then presses its back firmly against his chest. 

 A second person then cuts off a portion of the scrotum 

 as in the second instance and similarly draws out the 

 testicles. No other method will remove the testicles so 

 easily as when they are firmly grasped by the teeth. 

 Should there be any repugnance to removing them thus, 

 they may be grasped by the hand or by forceps in the 

 hand, drawn out, and in the case of older animals the cord 

 when drawn far enough is severed with the knife. 



Should lambs be purchased for winter feeding in the 

 autumn that are uncastrated, it may be more profitable to 

 subject them to castration before feeding than to feed 

 them as rams. The work may be done as follows : A 

 strong person catches the lamb, places him on his but- 

 tock with his back leaning against the one who holds him. 

 The holder of the animal takes a hind leg in each hand 

 and draws the legs up until the lamb is almost lifted from 

 the ground. The knees should be pressed tightly against 

 the lamb to prevent struggling. A second person catches 

 the end of the scrotum in his right hand and with the left 

 pushes the testicles down against the abdomen and keeps 



