HELPING THE LAMB TO NURSE 



257 



the lamb shortly after it is born. If she is too exhausted to arise 

 the shepherd should place the lamb near her nose. In fact, it is a 

 good practice to pinch off the umbilical cord about four inches from 

 the body and place the lamb at the ewe's nose before she has time 

 to arise, for then she can both rest and give the lamb the attention 

 which is prompted by her mother instinct. As soon as it is apparent 

 that she intends to care for her lamb it is best to go away and leave 

 them for from twenty to thirty minutes. During this interval the 



Fig. 173. — The kind that needs no help. His legs are sturdy and strong, his chest is deep 

 and wide and his head carried high bespeaks health and vigor. 



ewe removes much of the mucus from the lamb's body, and by so 

 doing she hastens drying and arouses the lamb's instinct for feed 

 (Fig. 173). 



Helping the Lamb to Nurse. — If the lamb is able to nurse 



without the assistance of the shepherd, well and good, but often 



assistance is necessary. Sometimes the ewe, especially with her 



first lamb, refuses to let it nurse because she is nervous and desires 



17 



