Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-08-24

have lately engaged in the sheep
business. Have seven head of yearling
ewes and three lambs, and will soon
get two ewes and three lambs more,
the latter registered Shropshires. The
ones l now have are infested with
ticks. Can l exterminate the ticks,
and how? Will the ticks get a
start IL the pasture and trouble in after
years If turn to pasture before l get,
rid OF them? These are the first sheep
l ever owned. and / will be pleased to
have you give an article telling how to
run my flock to a success. The seven
ewes now have are grade Shropshires,
as are their lambs. / want to accumu-
late flock of 80 to 100 head, finally all
to be pure-bloods. How can l manage
them to secure the most profit" Max
ing inquiries to get right start is an
earnest that you love sheep and a guar
antee of success. To get rid of ticks
when you sheer the ewes in the spring,
dip both ewes and lambs in any of the
dips on the market. It pays we'll to
dip all sheep, both spring and fall
Ticks will not infest pasture field.
They are unlike the scab insect about
that, and several species of the inter-
nal parasites. You have selected your
breed; now use none but pure-bred
Shropshire rams, and change every
season for rams not of family relation
ship. / think sheep more sensitive to
bad effects of inbreeding than any
other domestic animals. l saw flock
that had been bred in-and-in for four
'easons and about half of the last crop
II lambs were idiots. Observe these
ales few years and all Of your flock
VIII be strong and vigorous pure
bloods. You have sheep Of English
blood and for best success you should
give them English care. II you do not
they will deteriorate. This care
means good pasturage in summer, and
cultivated succulence, like rape, for
droughty weather in late summer and
tall. There is no doubt but that rape
IS a valuable addition to fodder paints
sor sheep in this country. For winter
feed clover hay is best: but as sheep
like variety, some other kind Of hay,
corn fodder and straw may be alterna-
ted with it. Some kind of succulent
feed in winter is almost a necessity for
the English breeds; and it is better
for all other breeds than dry feeds
alone. For succulence, either corn
silage, beats or turnips will answer;
but preferably all three, for variety A
very little grain of any kind is fed in
winter. Sheep should have access to
salt every day in the year. Salt is
great worm preventative, and goes far
as remedy. Never pasture sheep on
low wet ground, nor where they can
get stagnant water to drink. Their
drinking water to be pure, and so stu
ated that they can get it without wet
ting their feet. They are about as
afraid Of this as they are of a dog.
Who ever saw sheep wade into water
to drink, as other animals do? Wet
feet tends to cause hoof-ail in sheep
and they know it instinctively and
avoid stepping into water when posi-
Bile. Sheep of English blood should be
housed from very cold weather and
from all severe storms. Their wool
is not greasy to aid in shedding rain,
their fleece vets through easily. and
with this wet, they must feel like
man with wet overcoat on. Male
lambs are to be castrated when two or
three days of age. They feel it less
then than later. A few days after this
their tails can be amputated II both
are done at the same time the shock
is greater Now that you are COM
mencing the business, trust you will
resolve to have your flock tame and do
Gle. Have them as the Holy Writ
says: MY sheep know my voice and
they follow me-" Nothing is said in
the Bible about driving sheep; yet in
this country, as in no other, it is nearly
all drive, drive" 1t is the nature of
sheep to follow. Driving worries them,
and worried sheep lose flesh. The
greatest proof Of person being a quail
flied shepherd is. that his sheep heed
his voice and follow him. This is cas-
lily accomplished. Bring up a cosset
lamb or two; or teach two or three to
drink milk when running with their
DAMS