SHEEP SECTION. 147 



Care and Management of Sheep 



Constant attention is necessary in the care and management of sheep. Th.cy are 

 timid, withotit self-reliance, an easy prey to dogs. The necessity of keeping them in 

 large flocks causes them to be especially liable to contagious and epidemic diseases. 

 This care and attention should be given from the time the Iamb is born. Often a 

 little attention to a young Iamb which is weak will enable it to take on a robust con- 

 stitution and become one of your best sliecii. 



BREEDING AGE. 



The proper breeding age for sheep is two years, and may continue until ten 

 years old. From the age of three to eight years the best lambs will be produced. 



CASTRATION. 



Lambs should be castrated at from I wo to four weeks old. 



COUPLING. 



November is the season for coupling, but if breeding for mutton or wool, it may 

 be later than this, as the Iambs will be ])etter if not dropped until after the time for 

 grass. If the object be to sell lambs, the earlier in the season they are produced the 

 more money thev will bring. 



DOCKING. 



This should be done as soon as they recover from castrating, generally about 

 three or four days afterwards. This should be done with a single stroke of a sharp 

 knife, care being taken to sever the tail at a joint. The skin of the tail should be 

 drawn to the body so that the end will cover the stub. Allow the flock to lie down 

 and keep quiet so that they may lose the least amount of blood possible. 



FEEDING. 



Sheep eat a variety of vegetation other than the true grasses and will pick a 

 living on pastures where other stock would starve. Ihey can be turned into rough 

 pastures and wdiere brush is growing and will enjoy eating the nutritious shrubs, 

 brush and tufts of grass, in this way helping to clean up the land wdiile getting a good 

 living. The feeding of grain and' other feed to sheep should be taken up early 

 enough in the fall so that they will not fall off in flesh before going into winter 

 quarters. A good allowance of corn, oats and bran should be fed, together with 

 plenty of good, clean hay, clover being preferable. There should also be plenty of 

 good, clean water to drink. A trough with medicated salt should be provided so 

 that the sheep may get it at will. 



The general diseases of sheep are as follows : 



Distemper or Epizootic Catarrh, Indigestion, and Paralysis or Stoppage of the 

 Bowels. These are forms of disease that are the most troublesome, and need the 

 most prompt attention. 



GESTATION. 



Ewes carry their lambs on an average of 152 days. This lime may vary a few 

 days. 



LAMBING. 



At lambing time the ewe should be provided with warm quarters so that the 

 lamb may dry off and take the teat as soon as possible. Ewes are very apt to 

 become indifferent to a weak lamb. 



RAMS. 



There should be one ram for each one hundred sheep or less. In the beginning 

 of the season do not let the ram serve more than two or three ewes a day, increas- 

 ing the number as necessity demands. As the season draws to a close, restrict him 

 again, as an exhausted male cannot get strong offspring. 



