QUESTIONS 69 



Horned breeds of sheep are said to be less afraid of their enemies 

 than hornless breeds. Strong, masculine rams are also more 

 aggressive and somewhat less afraid than ewes; but spirited ewes 

 with lambs at side will defend their young. Both ewes and rams, in 

 their attempt to scare away the enemy, have a habit of vigorously 

 stamping the forefeet. 



Non- Resistance to Disease. — Sheep do not show much evidence 

 of illness until they are very sick, and this is perhaps the reason for 

 the oft-repeated statement, "A sick sheep is as good as dead." A 

 careful and observant shepherd, however, takes many a sick sheep 

 in hand in time to save it and any sheep raiser to be successful must 

 learn to discover that something is wrong with his sheep before they 

 are " as good as dead." Certain breeds apparently resist disease 

 better than others; hence it seems probable that general hardiness 

 may have been more or less disregarded in the development of 

 some of our modem breeds. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Can you tell how a healthy sheep acts when it is separated from its 



fellows? A sick one? 



2. Why are the attacks of predatory animals so injurious to sheep? 



3. Do you know what parts of the sheep's body are most frequently bitten 



by dogs? 



4. By what may the age of a sheep be estimated? 



5. Compare the period of growth in sheep with that in man. 



6. Can you give reasons why sheep select high, well-drained places for 



sleep alid rest? 



7. Do sheep prefer extensive or limited range? 



8. How do they graze over hills? 



9. Do you know how a goat grazes over a hill? 



10. In what seasons are lambs born in the United States ? 



11. How many lambs can a ewe conveniently nurse? 



12. What proportion of lambs to ewes have you observed? 



