Task 12. Read the text and fill in the table that follows it.

Horses are tough creatures, but like any animal they can fall ill or be injured. A healthy pony or horse is alert, bright eyed and takes a keen interest in all that goes on around it. Ribs and hip bones should not be prominent, and the quarters should be well-rounded. The base of the ears should be warm to the touch.

Signs of illness vary, but there are some general symptoms which can give warning of trouble to come. A field-kept pony which stays for a long time in one place, a horse which goes off its food, a willing horse which suddenly becomes “nappy” — all these sings are indications that something is wrong. Other symptoms include: discharge from the eyes or nostrils; stum­bling for no apparent reason; restlessness; dullness of eye or general lack of interest; sweating; kicking orbiting at the flank; lameness; diarrhea; apparent difficulty in breathing; coughing.

It is essential, therefore, to have a reliable vet, and to call him without hesitation. Nevertheless, all horse owners should have a practical knowledge of first aid, and a first aid kit is an essential part of any stable. A typical basic kit should contain: gamgee tissue, roll of cotton wool, antiseptic, meth­ylated spirit, glycerin, Stockholm tar, petroleum jelly, sponge, worm paste, round-ended surgical scissors, thermometer, as­sorted bandages, sulphonamide powder and specific for colic.

Lameness is the commonest form of disability in the horse. Treating most forms of it is usually best left to an expert.

Wounds and injuries are another common problem. First bring the bleeding under control applying a pressure ban­dage. Clip the hair from the skin around the wound and clean it thoroughly. Then coat with an anti-biotic powder and dress.

Like humans, horses can easily catch skin diseases, par­ticularly in unhygienic conditions. Skin diseases include lice, ringworm, sweet itch, mud fever, pustular dermatitis, and nettle rash.

Teeth and stomach cab both give the horse problems. Both demand serious attention.

Signs of a healthy horse
Signs of an ill horse
Contents of a first a) medication, b) tools and other thing
Most common problems
Treating wounds

UNIT 27

SHEEP

9.1. DOMESTIC SHEEP

9.2. HEALTH AND SHEEP

Task 1 Read the following words paying attention to the pronun­ciation.

quadrupedal [kwc'drupidl], genus ['^i:nas], ovine ['auvain], organism ['o:ganizam], civilization [,sivlai'zei|n], be associated [a'saujieitid], pastoral ['pa:stral], imagery ['imi^ari], unique [ju'niik], horizontal ['hcri'zcntl], peripheral [pa'rifral], vision ['vi3n], homeopathy Lhaumi'opaGi], herbalism ['h3:balizm], measure ['me3a], guardian ['gadian].

Task 2 Read the text and sum it up in writing. Make up ques­tions to the text.

Domestic sheep

Domestic sheep (Ovis aries) are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals kept as livestock. Domestic sheep are the most nu­merous species in their genus.

Being one of the earliest animals domesticated for agri­cultural purposes, sheep are primarily valued for their fleece and meat. Sheep is typically harvested by shearing. A sheep's wool is widely used. Ovine meat is called lamb when from younger animals and mutton when from older ones. They con­tinue to be important for wool and meat today, and are also occasionally raised for pelts, as dairy animals or as model organisms for science.

Sheep husbandry is practiced throughout the inhabited world, and has played a pivotal role in many civilizations.

The domestic sheep is a multi-purpose animal and there are more than 200 breeds now. In the modern era, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are most closely associ­ated with sheep production.

As livestock, sheep are mostoften associated with pasto­ral, Arcadian imagery. Domestic sheep are relatively small ruminants, typically with horns forming a lateral spiral and crimped hair called wool. A few primitive breeds of sheep retain some of the characteristics of their wild cousins, such as short tails. Depending on breed, domestic sheep may have no horns at all or horns in both sexes or in males only.

Another trait unique to sheep is their wide variation in colour. Colours of domestic sheep range from pure white to dark chocolate brown and even spotted or piebald. Selection for easily dyeable white fleeces began early in sheep domesti­cation, and as white wool is a dominant trait it spreads quickly. However, coloured sheep appear in many modern breeds.

Depending on breed, sheep show a range of heights and weights. Ewes typically weigh between 45-100 kg, with the larger rams between 45-160 kg. Mature sheep have 32 teeth.

The average life expectancy of a sheep is 10 to 12 years, though some sheep may live as long as 20 years.

Sheep have good hearing, and are sensitive to noise. Sheep have horizontal slit-shaped pupils, possessing excellent pe­ripheral vision; sheep can see behind themselves without turn­ing their heads. Sheep also have an excellent sense of smell.