Don't Give Up the Sheep

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A better way to treat bloat if the time is available is to use a three-foot length of half-inch garden hose with the edges smoothed to prevent cuts. The hose can be lubricated and slipped down the sheep's, throat into the rumen, permitting the sheep to swallow it as it goes If the bloat is caused by blockage of the esophagus, the hose will shove the obstruction aside and the gas may escape with some speed through the hose (and the wise shepherd stands to one side). If nothing comes out, suck gently on the free end of the hose to draw a sample of the stomach contents into the hose. Place a thumb over cite free end and withdraw the hose and sample. If there is a sudsy liquid in the hose, frothy bloat is the problem, and bloat treatment liquid is needed. Mix some bloat remedy according to directions on the bottle, reinsert the hose, and pour in an appropriate amount. Before pouring in the remedy you might blow into the hose. If the sheep cough you are in its lung, so try again. The hose can be turned gently to mix in the remedy and help break up the foam. If you have no frothbloat remedy, a few tablespoons of vegetable oil and about a quart of warm water may help. Mineral oil can be used, but it does not have the antifoam properties of vegetable oils.

BREEDING

Breeding time on a sheep farm is almost as much fun as lambing time because things really are happening. The rams start pacing along fences and may get into some head-butting matches as their hormone levels climb with the season. Placed with some ewes, a good ram will rush about sniffing rear ends and curling back his upper lip after the investigation, not unlike a wine lover evaluating the nuances of odor of a fine bottle. He will lift one front leg against the side of ewe he favors and talk to her in throaty, gargling sounds with his tongue hanging out. He will make attempts to mount his favorite and failing that will try another and another. It is really quite a show.

Ewes who are not in heat will act irate and rush away from the ram. Those that are in heat are quite the opposite. They will face the ram, and if there is a crowd of them they all stand around him in a little group. When the ram moves they follow him everywhere. They respond to his attentions with lots of body language and stand solidly for him when he tries to mount them.

Pity the ewes who are in heat when there is no ram around. They stop eating, stand about aimlessly, and stare hopefully in the direction of a distant ram, calling out with loud baas. For lack of a rain to follow, ewes in heat will commonly follow the shepherd (of either sex), a barn cat, or anything else that is handy. A ewe lamb who comes into heat without a ram around can show really strange symptoms.

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