AMONG THE LAMBS

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 6455, 12 November 1927, Page 12

AMONG THE LAMBS

METHODS OF MARKING. . CLEAN YARDS', AND TOOLS. Correct methods, of . marking the lambs reduce the expenses and miniriiise the loss following the procedure. It is wise at all, times to do this important work properly. The usual practice is to mark them when from a month to six weeks old After this, when they are in good lusty condition, there is a greater loss of blood and growth is more or less checked. At all limes care must be taken to have the lambs when marked dropped on clean ground, and all the tools used should be sterilised properly in slomo antiseptic solution. On no account should the lambs be drafted from the ewes before marking or the ewes kept in a yard and the marked lambs drtopped In among them. It is necessary to have a secure yard' largo enough to hold the whole dock. If there is an existing fence it can be used to form one side, and it will also act as a wing leading up to tho entrance gate. Without this a wing of wire netting or hessian must be erected to prevent the lambs breaking away. For catching the lambs, erect an oblong lamb-proof pen, three panels or more long, by Mio wide, at the far end from the entrance gate. Provide o. small gate at the end of it count out each pen of ewes after the lambs in it have been marked. The advantage of this is that tho lambs are quickly moth ered, kept clean, and soon after the marking is finished every cwo will have found her own lamb. It is by smell that a. ewe first recognises her own progeny, hence the importance of keeping the lambs as clean as possible. To facilitate holding the lambs sttadily, a Gin. plank should bo nailed on the middle panel of the catching pen. It is better than the top . of a rail.

Always endeavour to select a fine day with no wind to mark lambs. A calm, sunny day after a frost Is one of the best. The flock should be yarded and the work started not later than 10 o’clock. This enables

the marking to be completed by noion or soon after so that the lambs have the . benefit of the afternoon sun to recover. All ram lambs not properly castrated should not be tailed, otherwise they will be a menace to the flock and later have a depreciating effect in the value of the weaners they are found in. As soon as fit to be killed they should be sold to the butcher or used for home consumption. When tailing, so as to know how many o£ each sex there are, the tails of each should be put in separate heaps. The procedure enables the owner to know how many ewe lambs ho will have to pick from to replace those culled each year. When the sheep are yarded, to facilitate filling tho catching pen, there should be a short wing extended into the yard. After a few pens have gone through, the others in the yard are attracted by tho bleating of those already dealt with. They will instinctively draw up to the catching pen. and are easily yarded. By handling tho flock in this mannei j the work is done with the minimum; amount of knocking about. \ Tho lambs to be operated ouj should be carefully handled, us their’ joints are tender and easily wrenched. There is a right and a wrong way of catching and holding a lamb. Tho proper method is to put both hands under the brisket and lift the youngster up to the operator’s breast. With the lamb in his arms breast high, the holder grasps the loft hind leg first and then the right. By

opening bis fingers lie secures the Pore logs and sets (he lamb's rump on the board. Held in this manner, the four legs are in a line with the body. By turning the knuckles of each and firmly towards each other n» violent straining-is possible and (ho lamb is in position for castrating and tailing.