Management Tips
Driving
The most common human error found when sheep are being moved is that sheep are required to walk faster than their normal rate. This is true, irrespective of whether the person is on foot, horse-back or in a motorized vehicle.Catching
Satisfactory results are obtained when the animal to be caught is in a group located in a corner and looking away from you. Sheep can be caught and held satisfactorily by grasping the wool or skin under the lower jaw, lifting the head upward. Another effective way is to grasp the skin in either rear flank and lift upwards, thereby immobilizing the rear leg. To insure continued control, the head should be grasped as previously described. Never catch a sheep by the ear or wool for permanent damage may occur. Once caught, the animal can be moved by grasping the wool and skin below the jaw, serving to restrain and guide the sheep, while the other hand is placed on the dock. Pressure applied on the dock encourages the sheep to move forward.
Setting up
Many of the routine management practices performed require the sheep to be resting on the rump. One can tip a sheep from standing position by reached over the animal and grasping the rear flank. While lifting the rear flank and pulling toward the hander, the head must be bent away from the handler, and toward the flank, approaching an 180 degree change in position of head. The sheep is rolled down instead of being lifted up and placed on the rump. Sheep can be thrown by reaching under and grasping the opposite rear leg near the ankle. The leg is then pulled toward the handler while the body is being pushed away. For a sheep to rest comfortably while positioned on the rump, the animal should be off balance. Always grasp the animal near the body, for this lessens the leverage the sheep has on the handler. Do not allow a sheep to rest on his back, for in this position bloating, strangulation and death may occur.
Identity
Individual identity may be either an ear coding or ear tag. Ear tags should be placed between the ribs or cartilages which are parallel with the long axis of the ears. Metal ear tags made of steel , aluminum and brass are available that self-piercing or require that a hole be punched in the ear prior to their insertion. Much care should be taken in placing a tag in the ear. Since the skin is broken, irritation will result and infection can occur. The tag should be so positioned as to allow for growth in the young lambs. As a rule, one half of the tag should be available for growth.
Tags should be inserted so that no pressure on the ear occurs, and can be at the top or bottom of the ear. There is a tendency for the plastic tag to slip around the ear.
Ear coding
Castration and docking
For castrating or docking, the lamb should be held by all 4 legs, with the rump resting on a board. Instruments more frequently used to castrate or dock are emasculator, elastorator, knife, electric docking knife and hot chisel. When done at the same time, castration should be completed before the lamb is docked.
Sheep are docked for reasons of sanitation. The proper length to leave the tail when docking depends on the purpose and condition for which the lamb is intended. A tail length of one-and-a-half inches is desirable when the sheep will carry a full fleece (12 months growth), for this tail length is sufficient to keep the wool away when body wastes are being expelled. A shorter dock is desirable in show sheep when fleece length will be shorter and if the rump is appear square and more nearly level. Docking too close should be discouraged.
Docking is done when the lamb is 2 days to 3 weeks old. The action of the emasculator is too cut, crush and leave a serrated edge which results in little loss of blood. The elastrator is basically bloodless, in that a doughnut-shaped rubber ring encircles the tail and stops circulation in the tail. With this method, danger of tetanus exists, for there is decaying tissue present. As far as the tails of the lambs are concerned it has been found the putting a rubber ring on the tail immediately after birth, is usually the best method of removing the tail. If done immediately, the use of disinfectant is not necessary. After a day or so dock the tail 3cm below the ring, allowing the blood to flow out and not accumulate and cause an extra weight on the little stump. The stump usually dries very quickly and will drop off within no time.
Another good practice to follow is to cut on the lamb side of the ring 4 – 5 days after application, but this procedure is labour-consuming. Do not use elastrator on older lambs. The use of the elastrator is not recommended from late spring to early fall because of the fly strike in the decaying tissue. When using a knife for docking, the lamb is left standing and clamped between the lower legs with the tail at arm's length. The knife is placed under the tail with the cutting edge up. Hold the tail down with one hand and cut upward with the other hand. Excessive bleeding can occur when the knife is used for docking.
The electric knife and hot chisel employ the same principle in docking; that is, to cut the tail and sear the wound, which stops bleeding.
After docking it is advisable to put some type of wound dressing on the lamb and if danger of fly strike exists, then some oil base insect repellent should be applied. Should bleeding not stop after docking, a string or small cord can be tied around the stub. After an hour or so, cut the string to relieve pressure but do not remove, for bleeding could start again.
Castration of the ram lambs is the earliest form of selection and can be done at the time of docking, except for those showing promise as future breeding rams. The knife offers the best results. The lower one-third of the scrotum is cut off, exposing the testicles. A thin layer of transparent tissue covers the testicle and should be cut before grasping a testicle between the thumb and index finger. Often the testicle will be drawn toward the body and some pressure applied to the wool-free area in the rear flank will force the testicle outward. After grasping the dressing and insect repellent used in docking are useful when castrating. The elastrator and Burdizzo clamp are bloodless ways of castration but are not fool-proof. When applying the elastratorring, care should be taken to fit the ring near the body and position both testicles in the scrotum. Release the pressure on the applicator and check for testicle position, for one or both can slip past the closing ring. If both are in place, carefully remove the applicator and recheck.