[Ag-eq] sheep questions

Zach Mason zmason.northwindsfarm at gmail.com
Sat Sep 5 20:22:50 UTC 2015 

You might like to look at this resource for dairy sheep. 
http://www.milkingsheep.com/dairy-sheep-breeds/ 
I notice they recommend the Finnsheep, which while prolific, in the only
research I know of that measured milk production in non-dairy breeds of
sheep, did not produce a lot of milk. Most sheep dairies I've visited in the
U.S. that don't have access to East Friesian or Lacaune genetics use
Dorset's or Icelandics. 

There was also a research study that looked at creating a haired dairy breed
by crossing Katahdins and East Friesians.
http://mysare.sare.org/mySARE/ProjectReport.aspx?do=viewRept&pn=FS98-073&y=1
998&t=0


-----Original Message-----
From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nella Foster via
Ag-eq
Sent: Saturday, September 05, 2015 3:10 PM
To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
Cc: nfoster at extremezone.com
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] sheep questions

Tracy:

I wish I had some of your apples.

The apple chips sound good.

Hair sheep are raised for meat.  They shed their coats so you don't have to
sheer them.  The hair is more straight and not as dense as wool.  They still
feel very soft.

Nella


Quoting Tracy Carcione via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:

> What's a hair sheep?  Are they sheared for, um, hair?  Or are they 
> meant to be eaten?
>
> I am overrun with apples.  I'm spending hours on the weekend, 
> processing them for storage.  Eek!  But I'll be glad of it later on.
> I made apple chips, and they're great, and not too hard to make, so 
> I'm making more.
>
> I should be putting in my fall garden, but haven't done it yet.
> Tracy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nella 
> Foster via Ag-eq
> Sent: Saturday, September 05, 2015 1:47 PM
> To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
> Cc: nfoster at extremezone.com
> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] sheep questions
>
> Jody:
>
> People here are selling the 2 and 3 day old bull calves for $150 and 
> up.  I really don't want to bottle feed.  When I was a kid people 
> almost gave the little Jersey bulls away, but now beef is really high 
> and all cattle are expensive.
>
> I have Barnyard in Your Backyard and frequently look up things in it.  
> It is a great book for beginners.  I don't think there is asection on 
> pigs, but maybe I over looked it since I don't like pigs!
>
> I like the idea of dairy sheep, but am finding out that they are 
> pretty rare around here.
>
> What is everyone up to?
>
> How are the gardens?
>
> Nella
>
>
>
> Quoting Jody Ianuzzi via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:
>
> > Hi Nella,
> >
> > We have a dairy farm near us and they don't have much use for bull 
> > calves. My neighbor buys them when they were two days old for $20 
> > and bottlefeed them and raises them until they are six months old 
> > and then she sells them for quite a bit. You might consider doing 
> > something like that. Did you ever read the book barnyard in your 
> > backyard? It is available from Bard when they are back online. They 
> > have a big section on cattle and sheep ducks chickens and pigs too.
> >
> > JODY 🐺
> > thunderwalker321 at gmail.com
> >
> > "There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes."
> > DOCTOR WHO (Tom Baker)
> >
> >
> >
> > > On Sep 5, 2015, at 8:54 AM, Nella Foster via Ag-eq 
> > > <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > good morning all:
> > >
> > > A while back I asked about cows; I'm still interested in getting a 
> > > cow, but cattel are very expensive right now and I don't know that 
> > > I want to invest
> > that
> > > much.  There is way to much grass in my pasture for my horse and 
> > > goats, so
> > I
> > > want some other breed of animal to help keep it grazed down.  From 
> > > reading
> > and
> > > talking with farmers it seems that cattle and sheep graze more 
> > > than
> goats.
> > > Goats are browsers and eat a little of everything.  My horse has a 
> > > jaw
> > injury
> > > and I have to supplement his diet with horse feeds.  He doesn't 
> > > graze as
> > much
> > > as other horses.  So anyway, now I've been researching sheep.  I 
> > > like how
> > their
> > > poop isn't as messy and they are an easier size to handle than cattle.
> > >
> > > What breeds of sheep do people have?
> > >
> > > How hard are they to care for?
> > >
> > > I've read that sheep can only have small amounts of copper in 
> > > their diets,
> > while
> > > horses and goats need more.  What do you all know about this?
> > >
> > > I want all the animals to be able to run together on the pasture.  
> > > I do
> > seperate
> > > when feeding grains.  I wouldn't want to harm the sheep by them 
> > > accidently getting food that is for the other animals.
> > >
> > > Do people keep sheep and goats together?
> > >
> > > My horse is very friendly and loves the goats, so i don't think he 
> > > will
> > mind
> > > sheep.  He also protects the goats from dogs and such.
> > >
> > > It seems that most people here keep hair sheep, which you don't 
> > > have to
> > sheer.
> > > They sound easier to me and I don't know if there is a market for 
> > > wool
> > here,
> > > especially for just a few, which is all I would have.  There is a 
> > > market
> > for
> > > the meat.
> > >
> > > Maybe Zac will know which breeds are used for dairy.  I like the 
> > > idea of
> > dairy
> > > sheep since I already have the dairy goats.
> > >
> > > Do you have to sheer dairy sheep or are they the hair kind?
> > >
> > > So I guess I just need to know everything about sheep!
> > >
> > > I look forward to hearing what everyone has to say.
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> > >
> > > Nella
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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