Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-04-23
DOCKING THOSE EARLY LAMBS.

| Lambs should always be dOcked tC
save worm trouble around the rumps
respectfully on account of collecting
manure and other foreign matter al
the base of the tail. Flies are the
cause of such worm trouble and when
la lamb does become so infected the
only thing to do is to clean him up
with pair Of shears as best you can
and use chloroform on the worms
A few applications Of this drug will
do away with worms, Docking% lis
the best way to avoid such troubles.
This should be done when the lamb
is from seven, days to three weeks
old, depending on the size and vigor
Of the lamb. Either Of the following
ways is a satisfactory way to dock
young lambs.
The first is the best in most ways,
as it requires but one man to per-
form the operation. Catch the lamb
and stick his head between your legs.
Let him stand on the ground. With
the left hand find the second joint
in the tail from the body. Grasp the
tail firmly. Place a sharp knife un-
der the lambs tail and pull up. cut
ting off quickly and clean. The skin
is thus left in best. shape for rapid
healing. In case Of severe bleeding
take string which has first been
placed in dip to render it sanitary
and tie. the lambs tail near the cut
end. Do not leave the strino on
longer than ten hours or it will cause
swelling and great discomfort to the
lamb. At the end of few hours it
has usually done its duty and may
be removed.
/ A splendid grain ration for lambs
is a mixture in the following proper
tons: Is pounds of oats, three pounds
of bran, one pound of corn, one pound
Of oil meal. Some men object to feed
jng lambs anything but oats. There
are good reasons for this. Many lambs
getting all the milk they want will
scour badly if bran and oil meal. or
either one, is fed in addition. There
is no grain ration that is better for
growing lambs than oats alone. If a
man intends fattening the lambs and
selling them right off the mothers at
four, or so, months of age, it would
be well to add gradually increas-
ing percentage Of corn until the last
few weeks the lambs are getting
practically nothing but corn as a grain
ration. Corn should be used very
sparingly, however, in rations for
lambs which are to be used later for
breeding purposes. Growth Is the
main thing, and nothing beats mothers
milk, oats, corn silage and alfalfa for
such purpose. AS fattening ration
for lambs corn, alfalfa, and corn silage
are good; oil meal may be added in
small amounts with good results. A
good rule to follow is to let them have
all they want. Lambs will often weigh
rs pounds at rs days of age when so
fed Such weight, of course, cannot
be obtained on lambs of poor breeding.
An average of pound day for the
first ten weeks has often been obtain
ed with good grade stuff Breeding,
feed and care are the secrets of such
success.
Use turpentine and lard after dock
ing and castrating, or coal oil and
lard, If the turpentine is not on hand.
1t stops bleeding and swelling.
Delaware County Sheep Growers
Association has made arrangements
to purchase wool sacks and twine need
ed for Delaware County. All farm
ers who will have wool to sell should
notify the Secretary Joe Hermann of
Manchester or the County Agent. State
the number of sacks needed. This in
formation is desired at once.
County Agent.