Shabbat 52: Animals Going Out on Shabbat

Some of what the rabbis discuss in today's daf:

• whether a cow can go out on Shabbat with a strap over its horns ornamentally or functionally
• Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei said before Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi that the horse, the mule, the camel and the donkey may go out with a bit 
• is the bit or the yoke a burden?
• Are rules different for the red heifer because it is so valuable?
• Can animals go out with bits and reins wrapped around their necks as ornaments?
• Can rings of animals, of utensils, or rings of anything other than people actually become ritually impure?
• a prod could become impure because it is used by people who can contract ritual impurity
• rings might be made of different materials
• Animal rings might be turned into belt buckles or rings for people
• The comparison is made between these rings and a needle with an eye vs a needle with no eye
• That metaphor is extended to include a rusty needle which affects the sewing and its status 

Before our daf ends, we are introduced to a new Mishna.  It teaches that a donkey may go out on Shabbat with a saddle-cloth to protect it from the cold when it is tied to the animal.  Rams may go out with levuvim, ewes may go out shechuzot, kevulot and kevunot, which will be explain the Gemara.  Female goats may go out with the udders bound.  

Rabbi Yosei prohibits all of these on the grounds that they are burdens except for ewes that are kevunot.  Rabbi Yehuda says that goats may go out with their udders bound to dry their milk and stop their lactation to facilitate conception.  It would be a permanent knot  so that it would not fall in public.  If their udders are bound to conserve milk they would be bound loosely.