Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1912 — Care of Flock at Lambing Time [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Care of Flock at Lambing Time

By H. E. ALLEN,

Pardee Pair crafty School of Agricaitnfe,

Perdue University Agricultural Extension

Ample preparations for the lambing season should be made before the lambs begin to come. This is the most critical period in flock management and the thoughtful shepherd will not allow it to come upon him unprepared. ' vVlie Lambing Pens. The ewe barn must be dry, comfortable and amply ventilated. It should be provided with lambing pens or arrangements made whereby, lamh)ing pens consisting of hurdles fitay be quickly and conveniently supplied. The shepherd should provide * himself with some small panels or hurdles made of light wood 36 inches high and 48 Inches long. Two of these should be hinged together so that they may be closed together and laid away and readily set up when needed. A panel of woven wire fence 3 feet high and 16 feet long will serve the purpose advantageously. With these, small pens may be quickly made In the corner or along the sides of the ewe barn. The observant shepherd can usually foretell the birth of a lamb, and it is wise to place the ewe by herself in one of these pens before the event occurs in order to prevent other members of the flock from disturbing the ewe and to give her and her lamb a chance to become acquainted. If this precaution is taken ewes are less liable to disown their lambs. Thin, too, it adds materially to the convenience in case the ewe or may need special attention. Assistance, in Lambing. If the pregnant ewe has been rightly treated there will be small chance

of her having difficulty in delivering her lkmb. The shepherd will probably have no occasion to interfere oi help, yet he should be ever watchful, and ready to assist in case it is necessary. Sometimes the lamb will come rear end first, or it may be large oi have its head turned back, or in case of twins their legs may be so tangled as to cause difficulty. In any of these cases^thoroughly cleanse and disinfect the hands and arm and lend the assistance necessary. Being on hand and giving help at the proper time is sure to result in a larger percent oi strong healthy lambs* The Weak or Chilled Lamb. Occasionally a lamb is born weah or Is chlHed before the shepherd finds it. In these cases many may be saved by giving them prompt attention. The chilled lamb may be warmed by giving It a hot bath in a tub of warm wa ter and then drying it quickly with a soft woolen cloth. Then it should b« helped to sucl(. The weak lamb can often be saved, too, by helping it tc get Its first fill of milk. , Adopted Lambs. If a ewe loses her lamb she should be Required to mother a lamb of another ewe that has twins or is unable to supply her lamb with enough milk Many ewes can be Induced to adopt a lamb if time and patience is exercised Remove the skin from her own dead lamb and place it on the lamb to be adopted by her. Since she knows bet lamb by the odor and not by sight tbis method will be effective in man? cases. ) The old skin may be removed in a day or. two.

A Pregnant Ewe in Strong, Vigorous Condition.