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Otago Witness, Issue 1031, 2 September 1871, Page 10

Agricultural and Pastoral

PtULES FOR THE CARE OF SHEEP.

We copy the following suggestions about pheep from a circular issued by F. C. D. M'Kay, the General Agent of the American Emigrant Company. The Company have already over 10,000 sheep seal'tered among the fanners 'who purchased land of them, in flocks ranging in size from tifty to two hundred head :—: — 1j Keep sheep dry under foot with litter. This is even more necessary than rooting them. Never let them stand or lie in mud or snow.

2. Take tip lamb bucks early in the summer, and keep them up ttntii December 1 following, when they maybe turned out.

o. Drop or take out the lowest bars ac the sheep eater or leave a yard, thus saving broken limbs.

4. Count every day.

5. Begin graining with the greatest care, and use the smallest quantity at first.

(i. If a ewe loses her lamb, milk her daily for a few days, and mix a little alum with her salt.

7. Let no hogs eat Avith the sheep, by any means, in the spring. 8. Give the lambs a little mill feed in time of weaning. 0. Never frighten sheep if possible to avoid it.

10. Sow rye for weak ones in cold weather, if you can. 11. Separate all weak, or thin, or sick, from those strong, in the fall, and give them special care. 12. If any sheep is hurt, catch it at once and wash the wound, and if it is fly time, apply spirits of turpentine daily, and always wash with something healing. If a limb is broken, bind it with splinters tightly, loosening as the limb swells.

13. Keep a number of good bells on the sheep. 14. Do not let the sheep spoil wool with oh aft' or burrs.

15. Cut tag-locks in early spring. 10. For scours, give pulverised alum in wheat bran ; prevent by taking great care in changing dry for green feed. 17. If one is lame, examine the hoof, clean out between the hoofs, bare the hoof if unsound, and apply tobacco with blue vitriol boiled in a little water.

11. Shear at once any sheep commencing to shed its wool, unless the weather is too severe, and save carefully the pelt of any sheep that dies. 10. Have, at least, some good work Into refer to. This will be money in your pocket.