SHEEP RAISING FOR BEGINNERS. 
17 
TREATMENT OF EWES AFTER LAMBING. 
The shepherd should watch the ewe's udder closely to see that it is 
in good condition, for good lambs can not be raised from ewes not 
milking freely. Ewes that have lambed should be kept in lambing 
pens from one to three days and then turned in a pen by themselves 
where they can be given special feed and care. After lambing they 
should be fed lightly at first, being put on full feed about the third 
or fourth day. At this time it is economy to feed heavily enough to 
produce a large flow of milk for the lambs. Heavy-milking ewes can 
make good use of from 1 to 2 pounds of grain per day. Experi- 
ments conducted at the Wisconsin experiment station showed that 
when ewes were on good pasture there was no extra gain made by 
the lambs when the ewes were fed grain. 
THE FLOCK IN SUMMER. 
SHEARING. 
Shearing is generally done in late spring or earl}^ summer, after 
lambing. It should be done on a warm day, so that the ewes may 
not become chilled. Formerly shearing was done mostly by the use 
of hand shears, but in most flocks of large size power shearing ma- 
chines are now used. For small flocks under 50 head hand-power 
machines are the most economical. The machines are more rapid, 
smoother work is done, and the ewes are injured less. It is easier to 
learn to use them, and more wool is obtained than where hand shears 
are used. 
The tags or dung locks should be removed from the fleece, and then 
it should be rolled up, not too tightly, skin side out, and tied with 
paper twine. Wool buyers prefer this method of tying to that done 
with w^ool boxes. 
If the lambing is late the ewes may be sheared before lambing, but 
great care must be used in handling them. It is better to do the 
shearing after lambing. In either case it should be done before hot 
weather sets in. 
DIPPING. 
Sheep are dipped to free them from ticks, lice, and other skin 
parasites. A convenient time for dipping is shortly after shearing 
in the spring. Less dip per animal is needed and the weather is 
usually more favorable at this time than at any other season. The 
dipping should be done in the morning of a clear, quiet, warm day, 
so that the sheep will be dry by night and will not catch cold. 
Every member of the flock should be dipped, and it is well to spray 
the inside of the sheep barn with dip at this time. Any standard 
dip solution can be successfully used, if the manufacturer's direc- 
tions are followed. To insure the eradication of sheep ticks the 
