14 BULLETIN 20, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
CATCHING, 
Formerly the shepherd’s crook was used largely for catching 
sheep, as it is still used in England and Scotland and in the West. 
The crook is used to catch the sheep by the hind leg. Sheep should 
be confined to close quarters when they are to be caught or handled. 
They can best be caught around the neck, by the flank, or by a hind 
leg immediately above the gambrel jomt. After being caught the 
sheep can be easily led by placing one hand beneath the lower jaw 
and the other to the rear of the buttock. A little pressure upon the 
dock will usually persuade the most stubborn sheep to lead readily. 
Sheep should never be caught or led by the wool. Doing this causes 
a bruise that requires weeks in healing, and there is no necessity 
for it. 
SETTING A SHEEP UPON ITS RUMP. 
There are a number of ways of setting a sheep on itsrump. Quite 
commonly they are lifted by main strength and placed in this 
position. This is difficult for the operator where the sheep is a 
large one, and it necessitates more or less rough handling of the sheep. 
A far simpler and easier method is as follows: Taking a stand upon 
the left side of the sheep, the left arm is placed around the neck. 
With the right hand grasp the right hind leg just above the fetlock. 
Pull the hind leg in under the sheep and lift backwards with the 
left arm. In this way the sheep is set back upon its rump in the 
easiest possible way. When through with the sheep shove it for- 
ward upon its front feet and it can readily rise without needless 
struggling. 
LOADING. 
Sheep can be lifted into a wagon handily in the following way: 
One person stands on each side of the sheep. The right hand of one 
grasps the left hand of the other between the fore legs of the sheep. 
The other hands are grasped in a similar manner beneath the hind 
flanks. In this way the sheep can be lifted quickly and with little 
effort. A loading chute made of inclined planks with cleats across 
them to prevent the sheep from slipping is a convenience in loading 
large numbers. Sheep should never have their legs tied in trans- 
portation. A special sheep rack or wagon should be used when many 
are to be hauled, while if only two or three are being transported 
they can be tied in the wagon or crated. (See Plate III, fig. 1, and 
text fig. 1). When shipped a long distance in a crate special arrange- 
ments must be made for feeding. If a gunny sack is tacked loosely 
over the front end of the crate sufficient hay can usually be placed 
between the sack and the crate. A receptacle for water and grain 
should also be fastened in the front end of the crate. 
