MARKING SHEEP AND LAMBS

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5245, 11 April 1908, Page 6 (Supplement)

MARKING SHEEP AND LAMBS

An American farmer, referring to the. marking of sheep and lambs, writes;—"l (have adopted the following simple method of marking my lambs:—Commencing with this year (11)07), in the spring, alter selecting such lambs ns I want to keep for iny own use, I clip off the tip of the right ear. The second year I clip off the lip of the left ear. The third year cut u slit in the right ear. The fourth year euf a sill in the left car. The fifth year cut two slits in the right cur. The advantage of this is that I can t ell ut a glance the age of any sheep in the flock. Unices It is an extra good one, 1 never keep a sheep that is over five years old. I select and mark as aliovo, the ewe lambs when about three months old. At this age I can judge about what the quality of wool will he, which I always try In have as near uni form us possible. Such wool always commands the best price In the market. And by selecting Mm best ewe lambs from twins from good mothers, the large majority of my bredeing owes produce i wins, and where sheep are well cared for this Is much more profitable than ruining single lambs. At shearing time, If any sheep has not proved a good mother, or a profitable shearer, 1 generally mark such a sheep by clipping off the ends of both ears."