Most of the time when you get a flock health emergency, the vet and local livestock supply stores are closed for the weekend, and sheep farm and ranch specialties dealers are days away by mail.

Wise flockmasters should therefore have certain supplies on hand at all times to cover the most common problems that cause the greatest losses each year.

But what to stock in your sheep first aid kit?

Here are some lists to get you started. The first “Absolute Essentials contains the items recommended as especially urgent. The second list is good to have—sometimes also urgent—but not as “usual.” I am greatly indebted to sheep vet extraordinaire Don Bailey, DVM for assembling the essential data for this first aid kit.

Absolute Essentials Kit

Drugs, Chemicals & Nutrients

Essential Hardware

“Nice To Have On Hand” Kit

Drugs, Chemicals & Nutrients

“Nice-To-Have” Hardware

___	Hand-held milking device (EZ-Milker®—nearly a necessity in saving lambs, colostrum, time and frustration. Gently milks out sore udders.)
___	Livestock thermometer
___	Scalpel, blades & surgical scissors for navel and eyelids work
___	Nylon rope—2.5 feet (for difficult deliveries)
___	Knife
___	Marker paint and number set
___	Balling gun (giving oblets)
___	Drenching dose syringe (2 and 4 oz.)
___	Sheep shears or electric clippers
___	Soap
___	Ear tags
___	Hoof trimmers
___	Oxygen tank with valve & tube
___	Pocket Flock Book

For the small items, a large fishing tackle box or workman’s tool box make it easier to keep everything neat and clean.

Flockmaster’s Essential Flock Health Library

One more item that ought to be on hand in every sheep operation is a set of good sheep veterinary books. These can seem expensive, but each book should last a lifetime. Plus with the first lamb each reference saves, it has paid for itself. The video won’t last as long and can’t be taken to the barn or field. Here is a list of those items that have proved most worthwhile, and are available from advertisers in and the Bookstore:

Books

___	The Veterinary Book For Sheep Farmers by David Henderson, DVM. (Nearly 700pp of quick, easy to understand sheep health lore)
___	Managing Your Ewe (Laura Lawson’s easily-understood book has helped many thousands of sheep growers avoid flock problems for decades)
___	Storey’s Guide To Raising Sheep (Has guided hundreds of thousands of new sheep raisers for over 30 years)
___	Storey’s Barn Guide To Sheep (shows pictures of actual procedures)
___	Lamb Problems (Laura Lawson’s book on easy recognition and treatment of over 150 lamb troubles)
___	Merck Veterinary Manual (Contains concise info on all aspects of animal and bird ailments—especially recommended for advanced sheep growers who also keep other livestock and pets, about 2700pp)
___	Gates’ Practical Guide To Sheep Disease Management (By the folks at Pipestone Vet Clinic—a handy little sheep vet book with some remedies and info not found elsewhere)
___	BACK ISSUES OF (Don’t throw these away. It is surprising how often you will find tricks and secrets not in any vet manual that will save you thousands of dollars in lost livestock or ease those aching muscles with news ways of doing things. Keep in a safe place with easy access and re-read as opportunity arises.)

Video

___	Lambing Time Management (Three video tapes available from several advertisers in that show actual hands-on methods of dealing with lamb and ewe medical problems, especially those at yeaning [lamb birth].)