278 GROWING THE LAMB 



a dependable sheep pasture. In most regions, more good can be 

 secured from it in the form of hay. 



How to Treat Bloated Sheep. — When sheep are grazing on 

 pasture that will cause bloat, they should be watched closely, for 

 dangerous cases develop very rapidly. Many methods of treatment 

 have been given, but the one which is most likely to be successful 

 is the trocar and canula. These should be inserted three ot four 

 •inches in front and a little below the hip bone on the left side of the 

 animal. The writer uses the trocar as a last resort because of bad 

 after-effects. It punctures the paunch and it is several weeks before 

 the wound heals. In the meantime, a part of the contents of the 

 paunch may run out into the wool and cause an offensive odox which 

 attracts the flies that cause maggots. Kleinheinz ^ says that freshly 

 drawn cow's milk will cure all but the very worst cases of bloat. He 

 emphasizes the need of having the animal heat in the milk in order 

 to have it absorb a maximum amount of gas. One-half pint should 

 be given and if the bloating does not begin to go down in a few 

 minutes, another dose should be given. A man once told the writer 

 that he had reduced bloat in western lambs by putting a whole egg 

 in the mouth of the animal and forcing him to crush and swallow it. 

 Probably the egg, like the milk, absorbs the gas. 



Another method of reducing bloat which has been employed with 

 success is to put a round stick about three-fourths of an inch in 

 diameter in the mouth just as one would place a bridle bit, except 

 that the stick is drawn up close to the corners of the mouth. A 

 heavy string, a small rope, or a light strap can be used for a head 

 stall to attach to the stick in order to hold it in place. The stick, by 

 keeping the mouth open and the jaws working, assists in expelling 

 the gas. 



Sometimes the gas can be expelled by pressing in on the sides of 

 the sheep. This should be done, no matter what other method is 

 employed, except in cases where the amount of bloating is so great 

 that pressure may cause suffocation or the walls of the paunch to 

 burst. 



The Kentucky Station tried a two per cent solution of formalin 

 as a method of reducing bloat in cows. A quart of the solution was 

 given to the cow and a stick placed in her mouth. In a short time 

 after the formalin was given all signs of bloat had disappeared. It 



° "Sheep Management and Breeds of Sheep." 



