1906.] Suggestions as to Dipping of Sheep. 



679 



out with a hard broom. This would prevent manure and dirt 

 being carried into the bath by the sheep or draining back with 

 the surplus dip after dipping. The catching pen should be 

 made with a slight slope away from the dipping tank. 



Mixing of Dips. — It is not an uncommon practice to use a 

 mixture of two or more dips, usually a non-poisonous and a 

 poisonous one. The practice is not one, to be recommended, but 

 if it is done it is necessary that at least one of the ingredients 

 should be of full strength. For example, it would not be satis- 

 factory to use half strength of an arsenic dip mixed with half 

 strength of a carbolic dip. One or other should be of full 

 strength. It is, however, desirable that the dips should be 

 made in the proportions recommended by the Board, or if 

 manufactured dips are used that the solutions should be made 

 up according to the instructions issued by the seller. 



Time of Immersion. — -The period of immersion should not be 

 less than half a minute. There is frequently a tendency to 

 hurry the sheep through the bath, especially when they are 

 known not to be affected with scab. It must be remembered, 

 however, that, apart from this disease, dipping is very valuable 

 on account of its destructive effect on other parasites, and this 

 is materially increased by longer immersion. The number of 

 insects and their eggs liberated and washed out of the fleece 

 by dipping for a sufficient time is remarkable. 



The head and neck of the sheep should receive special care, 

 on account of the number of ticks and keds usually found on 

 those parts. A little extra time in the bath will facilitate the 

 dip penetrating to the skin, and also assist in the removal and 

 destruction of parasites and their ova. 



Trimming the Wool. — Before and at the time of shearing it is 

 customary to remove the dirty wool from the hind parts of the 

 sheep. This should be removed from the farm as soon as 

 possible, or should be at once buried or burned. Piles of these 

 portions of wool, frequently containing maggots, may sometimes 

 be seen round the catching pens. The destruction of this material, 

 either by burning or burying, appears essential to the protection 

 of the flock, particularly in the event of scab being present. 



Period of Dipping. — The value of dipping is fully recognised 

 by first-class sheep farmers. Some dip the in-lamb ewes from 



