THE EWES IN SPRING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 181, 2 August 1929, Page 17

THE EWES IN SPRING.

CAREFUL WATCHING NECESSARY. POINTS ON" DOCKIJTG-. (By SUPER,) Although August nominally heralds spring in New Zealand, the fact remains that some of our most boisterous weather is generally experienced during that month as shepherds on hill country know to their cost. August is the month, more than any other in the year, during which the ewe flock needs close and constant attention in botn good and bad weather. In log country, ewes heavy in lamb, seeking shelter from the stormy weather, become cast, and, unable to rise, will die unless help is very quickly available. Even on cleared" country the percentage of cast ewes during August is especially heavy, more so, of course, in our northern districts where lambing is further advanced. Many small farmers make a practice of going round their ewes twice daily during August, and where this is possible, it is a good plan. On the big station, of course, such a course is not feasible, but the daily round should be made unless the weather is exceptionally rough, in which case the ewes are probably better left alone. The reason for this course is that in very bad weather the ewes find the best shelter available and get warm. If disturbed they become cold, so that it is better to let well alone. This, of course, does not apply to the showery weather of which August gives us so many samples, but only to a real storm. Quiet Dog Invaluable. A quiet dog which will work a single ewe is most valuable during this difficult period; a noisy dog should never be allowed near the flock at this time of the year. Often during the riding-round period a shepherd wishes to catch a ewe to attend to some trouble, such as bearings, but unless he has a dog, finds it almost impossible. Some dogs become very expert at working a single ewe into a position where she can be caught by the shepherd, but the tendency to rush in and bite must be very quickly and effectively cheeked.

It is a very useful thing, to have one or two small paddocks with good feed available, shut up during this period. A shepherd often finds a very sick looking ewe among the flock. If left out in the station paddocks such a ewe will probably die. There are nearly always a few ewes which go steadily down in condition before lambing, and, although we do not actually know the cause, it is probable that a phosphate or lime deficiency is responsible. If a farmer has one or two small paddocks near the homestead specially limed and treated with superphosphate he can bring any of these sickly ewes .close handy where they" can be kept under observation. Often they look so far gone that such a practice does not seem worth while, but they soon pick up when given the run of a specially good paddock, and very often are saved. Attentions such as these are more feasible on the small sheep farm than on the big station of course, although the practice would pay there too.

Quietness is the great e&sential during the pre-lambing period, and the more quietly a shepherd can get about the flock, the better will be the results. A good pair of field glasses is valuable at this time, as it is often possible to see the whole of an opposite face without riding across and thus disturbing the ewes. The Docking Period. With the docking period once again in sight', a few points about the work at this time will not be out of place. The farmer who has yards conveniently arranged close to his principal ewe paddocks is fortunate, for he will save the breaks and mismothering that are so often caused through the ewes and lambs being driven some distance to the docking yards. The writer known of one big station on which there are eight large ewe paddocks all running up to main ridges. On the tops of these ridges are three sets of permanent yards in which all essential work can ! be carried out without the ewes and lambs having to be driven at all. Docking, foot-rotting and the picking of "fats" are all carried out in these yards, and a great' deal of labour is thus saved. Most farms are poorly equipped with permanent yards, and greater consideration on this point is desirable. If permanent yards are not available for the docking, an attempt should be made to fix up temporary yards in each paddock. Two or three rolls of netting, a few posts put in more or less permanently, and a quantity of stakes are all that are necessary. The netting and the stakes can be taken from paddock to 1 paddock by packhorses, and the yards run up while the ewes and lambs are being mustered. It is when ewes and lambs have to be taken through narrow gateways and driven some distance that docking difficulties occur. End the Day Early. Docking comes at a time when there is no great' rush of work on hand, so it is advisable to do it carefully and not make the days too long. Ewes must have some time to find their lambs before dark, and if the docking is not finished until late in the afternoon there is bound to : be mismothering, lost lambs and pecuniary loss. It is a good plan to hold the ewes and lambs in the yard some time after the docking is finished, and then let them out into the paddocks, still holding them loosely so that they cannot rush off without their lambs, If they are held thus for an hour or so they will settle down to the job of finding tlieir lambs, and there will not be the regrettable and expensive mismotherings that sometimes occur at this period. To carry on until darkness falls is false economy at docking time. Some farmers use disinfectants when docking, but others use nothing at all. Flies are not had at -this period of the year, but the use of something such as Stockholm tar has much to recommend it. It takes little time, and costs very little to give each lamb a dab of Stockholm tar, and it certainly gives protection against flies and infection. The docking period is an anxious one for every farmer, for on his percentage and on the success of the mothering-up after the docking & great deal of the profits of the season depends.