ON THE LAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 167, 14 July 1916, Page 9

ON THE LAND.

Agricultural, Pastoral and Dairy Interests.

(By "HIPI KUIA.")

THE LAMBING. ■» HOW TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE.

, As it is now five years since I have had a chat with readers oil the question of looking after the ewes when lambing, I begin to think the time has come when a further talk may be appreciated, more especially as abnormal changes have taken place during the past two years. Boys have grown up and taken the places of their older brothers on the farm, many of whom have gone to the front. Possibly a great number more of our manhood will he called on to follow, in order to fill the places of those who have so nobly fallen, or will fall, in the desperate struggle now in progress for our preservation and freedom. Under present conditions anything like pessimism should not be heard. Still, as it is impossible to foretell how long the war may last, and what demands may be made in the future, therefore I would impress on girls on the farm the advisability of learning, as much a 6 possible .of outside work among the live stock practically, and by reading the Farm and Live Stock pages of the "Farmer." With regard to women taking the place of men on the farm, I noticed in a Home paper, where a commission, taking evidence in the South of England, asked a farmer, whether a woman coiildtakc the place of a shepherd. He replied: "No woman could shepherd his sheep." In some measure the farmer was correct —that is, if it was a stud flock, seeing that 6Uch shepherd is usually more than shepherd; he is an expert, and, in fact, the breeder leaves the management in the hands of his shepherd, admitting that he (tlie shepherd) is more skilful than himself. But with ordinary flocks there is no reason why women cannot look alter sheep as well as a man. and better than some who consider themselves shepherds. Also, allow mc to say that no man can be a good shepherd unless a lover of sheep, which most women are, and of animals generally. Besides, it is no new thing for girls on the farm to look after the sheep in Mew Zealand, so as to allow their fathers and brothers to get on with other work. I remember several instances ou the Cheviot Hills, on the Scottish borders, of daughters of shepherds .who had a double "kerscl," that is, two flocks, taking charge of one flock, and the father the other. This was not a common occurrence, and only happened when there were no boys available in the family, and saved the shepherd having a stranger in the house. Of course, when anything serious occurred the "old man" was nt hand to direct and assist. So lam fully convinced that if the bulk of our manhood have to face the foe we will find women in plenty, both willing and capable of looking after the flocks, and in a great measure the herds of the Dominion. There arc shecpowners, some of whom •have been very successful-' in the DoDominion as farmers,, who .wjH tell_you* "'that it docs not pay to employ men to do nothing else than look after the sheep, and, as to taking extra •■prccau ; . tions at lambing, there is nothing in it." More especially is this so as the men employed take little or no interest in the well-doing of the flocks in their . charge. Just so, but in .many, cases this lack of interest by the employee is due mainly tp the owner, in that if he does employ it is at the lowest rate of wages, and the accommodation provided is often of the meanest, so that, under such coni ditions, it is only to be expected that it 13 only the most inferior class of men who would accept such situations, and J that with the avowed intention of rcn: dering as little work or care as possible. But if the employer treats his shepherd or other men decently, as a rule they will do the best they can for his interests. Although there is not the same "esprit de corps" in New Zealand, perhaps, as is to be found (or used to be) in the Old Land, where shepherds inmany cases have grown up on the farm, so that they consider they have a vital interest in the well-doings of tbe animals under their care, still there are a large number of New Zealanders almost ready to risk their lives in order to rescue animals from hardship. However, it is more with regard to small farmers who act as their own shepherds, and those that have lately acquired a flock of sheep, to whom the following hints may prove of service. Previous to lambing, the most convenient and best-sheltered paddock on the farm should be reserved and set apart for the purpose. If there is not sufficient natural or artificial shelter, as there seldom is where the land has been cultivated, temporary breakwinds should be erected in parious parts of the field. There are various ways by which such structures can be erected cheaply, as has often been explained in the "'Farmer." The materials required arc: Scrub, straw, or any bulky debris that can be packed between two lines of were-nctting or hurdles, set up in the form of a fence, the lines being about a foot apart at the ground, and better if allowed to widen out at the top. If erected zigzag they will give shelter from whichever direction the storm may come; but the main part should face the way of the prevailing wind in the district. Clean straw or hay has a great advantage over other material, as it affords the ewe a nourishing dry bite, which will hearten her up at this critical time, especially as the grass will be soft and mushy. If the best Tesiilts are to be obtained, a pen, or pens, are necessary in various parts of the paddock if extensive in OTder to deal with the unnatural mother that neglects to look after her lamb, also when fostering a lamb on to a strange mother. It should have been mentioned, in the first place, that it facilitates looking after the ewes if for the time of lambing they are concentrated as much as possible. In the Homeland it was customary on in-t>ye farms when the rams were put with the eyes their briskets were well raddled and the raddle renewed every day, and if it was found they were working hard this was done twice a day. At the end of every week the ewes, that showed by the raddle on their rump that they had been served were dotted with some permanent mixture, generally oil or grease and raddle. Water was used when raddling the brisket of the Tarn. so. aa to more- readily mark the ..«*, licit-**, was only d-ane i or three we_ks,, er lour at moat, aa by that time the bulk of tbe ewes had been served. It will be understood that each week tho clot was placed on a different part, so when lambing came it was a

simple matter to draft.off the ewes that were due to lamb first, and remove them into the lambing field, which was provided with shelter breake, as previously described. But further, at' night such ewes were put into the, at that season of the year, vacant cattle sheds, the cattle having gone to market, and in these sheds a range of pens were temporarily erected, into which the ewe was put when about to lamb. The shepherd or his assistant watched all night, and it was not only with stud sheep that all these precautions were taken, but with ordinary farm flocks, chiefly half and three-quarter bred Border Leicester and Cheviot. The same trouble was not taken with the Cheviot on the hills, one reason being that they did not start lambing until later in the spring. Under the kindly sky we enjoy there is not the same need for such elaborate precautions, and I have only mentioned the foregoing to act a≤ an inducement to shepherds to better understand the'advantage of concentrating the- lambing ewes. If distributed over a large area, it is hardly possible to see every sheep every day, and to make certain they should be seen at least twice a day. Just a word as to mode of inspecting, or, as usually termed, "looking through the ewes." and too often farmers who act as their own shepherds are the grenteet transgressors, in that having various other things to attend to, they jump on a horse and gallop about among the ewes, and at times, worse still, attended with one or two yelping dogs. Now, it ie impossible to thoroughly inspect and see if any ewe wants assistance; besides, what little good may be done is nullified by the nervous state raised in the flock by such a disturbance. Unless, where the paddocks are of large area, the best method is to walk, or if you-must ride, as most colonials think a necessity, then take a quiet hbrec that will stand anywhere. A dog is at times required, but he must be quiet and steady—that is. all three—man, horse and dog—require to be quiet and steady. When the sheep are concentrated, a horse is not needed, but there is one adjunct that is very helpful, that is the shepherd's crook, one form being a lengthy pole or staff, to which is attached an .iron crook fitted to hold the shoep by the hind legs. On the Borders, they use a long walking stick, with an enlarged headpiece or handle, with which the sheep arc caught round the neck. These arc both very handy, as although it mny be that the ewe requires aid, she is able to run. which 'means ehe has to be rounded up with others in order to get hold of her. whereas, by having a crook, it is possible to sneak up and get hold before she gets away. There are so many, phases of lambing troubles that it is impossible to refer to all, but the following arc the most common complications to be met with. The normal position of the lamb, when making ite exit, ie with the toes of the forelegs and nose first. When euch :s the case there is seldom need to give assistance, unless the lamb is abnormally large, more especially the head. Never hasten to assist, always give nature a fair chance first. When tho lamb .js, correctly—and only the size of the lamb* is the trouble"—put thc--e*e lying on her right side, then keeping..the left hand, on her side in order to prevent .her from getting up. With the right hand gently pull one foot of the lamb and then .the other, until fully extended. Then waif until she begins to strain, then pull-on the legs steadily with the right while with the left hand assist in getting the head clear. Never drag at the lamb unless the ewe is assisting by straining, and when pulling let it be rather downwards, that is towards the fept of the ewe. Sometimes the hind legs appear Jiret, but that is ■ nothing serious, the only thing is that in such a case she must be delivered quickly, as the lamb is liable to get drowned or smothered if left in labour for long. It is when all four legs, the back, or only one leg is presented, that there ie really irouble. In such a case the lamb must be pushed back, until it is .possible to turn it into the natural position, it being preferable to get the front legs. But it needs experience to be successful .in such cases. There may be extreme case 3, when the lamb has to be removed m sections in order to save t>hc ewe, for which no rule can be laid down; only commonsense and some experience will teach. When conditions are right the ewe will get up at once and clean the lamb, and in a few. minutes it will be on ite feet and sucking. The percentage can be greatly increased by giving a ewe that has a dead l.'inib another whose mother may have died, or one of triplets, or even twins, when-a mother does not appear to have much milk. When a ewe has been assisted in delivering a dead lamb, and a spare iamb ia at hand, keep the ewe down until the Five lamb can be well nibbed over witli the dead one. Then remove the dead animal, leaving the live one at her side. When the ewe is let up she will usually take to it as if it were her own. ■ This cannot always be done, as a live lamb is not often handy. .Re we must iput the ewe with the dead lamb in the pen until a lamb can be got. If the skin of the dead lamb has dried meantime the simplest way is to skin it and draw or fasten the skin on the live Jamb, when the ewe will usually accept it ac hers. Sometimes the ewe strongly objects, but confinement for a day or two and holding her while the lamb sucks will make her accept the duties of motherhood.