OCR Text |
Show Wool Eaters Wool eating by sheep is often only a bad hnbit, which, when started by one or more animals, is imitated imitat-ed by others. In some eases lack of essential mineral elements in the feed may also cause the habit. The practice is observed principally when sheep are confined in close quarters. Lambs begin by gnawing the wool of their mothers, usually on the thighs and abdomen. Older sheep may select one animal and eat all its wool before turning to another. Wool eating may become general in the flock. A few lambs may become be-come anemic, show digestive disturbance, dis-turbance, or even die as the result of the formation of wool balls in a compartment of the stomach and the subsequent plugging of the intestine. in-testine. . Wool eaters and their victims should be removed from the flock. It is important that the animals be turned out for exercise, and that nutritious feed be provided. |