Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/809070
58 | SignatureMT Ur? Quibusapiet acerori doloritate corerna tempore moluptist optaecte quia vernam consequi dolor adi omnimus as doluptae consequamus. and a few, well-timed, gentle pulls on its legs, a 10-pound lamb lay spuering on the straw. Still half-encased in birthing material, the newborn ewe lamb laid virtually motionless as she struggled to take her first breath of outside air. And Old #361 got to work clean- ing her up with a sandpaper-like tongue. Scenarios like this are played out thousands of times each year across Central Montana as ranchers and sheep work together in the labor intensive, life and death process that comprises lambing season. Aer feeding, monitoring and protecting flocks Since lambs derive their early nutrition through nursing, they crave attention and voraciously nibble and suckle the fingers of those who spend time with them. After struggling to find it's sea-legs, a newborn lamb finds out where it's food comes from. As part of the process, ranchers will strip wax plugs from the ewe's teats prior to the lamb nursing, to enable colostrum to flow freely to hungry lambs. Experienced ewes are handled easily by ranchers who understand the process and expertly herd them towards food, water, shelter and "The Night Man" who delivers lambs, takes care of ewes and generally solves sheep related problems throughout the wee hours of the night.