[Ag-eq] Nella's Sheep Questios

[nfoster at extremezone.com]

Jewel:

I have seen the back sides of sheep and that is why I'm leaning towards the hair
breeds instead of the wool breeds.

Do you sell sheep wool?

Can you find people to sheer your sheep?

Goat and sheep poo is not as messy as cow poo when on the ground, that is what I
meant by less messy.

Maybe I'm confused but I thought that I read sheep can be sensitive to copper in
large amounts.  I thought the reports were saying that sheep need smaller
amounts of copper than goats and horses.  A couple of farmers have told me the
same thing.  One man said to much copper could kill a sheep, so I will research
it again.

I keep baking soda, a salt block and a mineral block out for my goats and horse.
 I have seen loose minerals for specific species and ones that list several
livestock species.  The horse and goats have happily live together for years,
I've also had goats and mules together and it was very successful.  They seem
to have similar dietary needs and everyone has stayed very healthy.  I worry if
I introduce a cow or a couple of sheep, I will do something wrong and somebody
will get sick.

I like to do lots of research before trying a new project.  I don't want my
animals suffering because of my ignorance.  My other big concern about
introducing sheep is bringing in diseases that could harm the goats.  I have a
CAE and CL free herd and would like to keep it that way.  Sheep can carry those
diseases, but cattle cannot.  I have beautiful healthy goats, that are good
milkers, so do not want to put them at risk.

I really appreciate everyone's advice.  I love how this group shares with one
another.  To bad we can't get more blind people interested in horses and
agriculture.

Nella



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

> This is the 4th time that I have started this letter re Nella's queries about
> sheep, .  For some
> reason, the computer keeps
>
> shutting down and I lose what I have written, so, here goes:
> My dearest Nella!  you said that sheep poop is a lot less * messy than that
> of cattle!  Dear--o dear
> oh  dear!  It is,
>
> obvious:  well, obvious to me anyway:   that you have never run your hands
> over a sheep's backside!
> * MESSY doesn't even
>
> come close to it!
> It is true that there are sheep that have been, selectively, bred to be
> worm-resistant and to have
> bare backsides, but such
>
> divine animals may command a premium price. but they are worth the extra
> dollars because you will
> save on the cost of
>
> drenching [de-worming] and crutching [clipping wool off mucky backsides], so
> if you are able to, get
> them, however, if you
>
> cant't, we will take them out of the picture.
> With your normal, common or garden run-of-the-mill baa lamb, the excrement
> will get caught in the
> wool, and will, in time,
>
> and not a very long time at that,  and will, build up into lumps of shit the
> size of a cricket ball,
>
> or if you are not familiar with a cricket ball, say an obese tennis ball!!
> We, here in New Zealand call these balls DAGS, and that gave rise to a,
> perhaps, unique Kiwi
> expression, not heard often
>
> now, but still remembered by the old-timers, such as your present
> correspondent:  ergo:  "Rattle
> your dags!"  which means
>
> "get a  wriggle on/hurry up!" and comes from the fact that these dags, when
> dry, will rattle like
> castanets when the sheep
>
> are running.  Kiwi lambs, usually have their tails removed when they are a
> few weeks old.
> I have, personally, been responsible for introducing the instruction "rattle
> your dags!" to a number
> of Americans who have
>
> added it to their family lexicon!
> and now, pressing on to the grazing habits of sheep/goats.
> These 2 species make an ideal grazing combination as the goats prefer to eat
> the weeds and rougher
> types of grass that are
>
> unpalatable to sheep while they, the sheep thrive on clover which the goats
> avoid.
> I think, though I may be wrong, that you have copper requirements all
> arsie-boo!  Sheep and cattle
> require copper, while
>
> goats can do without, though a very small amount won't harm them!
> American goatkeepers usually have a bin of baking soda, and one of loose
> minerals to which the goats
> have free access!
>
>        Jewel
>
>
>
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