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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 12
It is advisable to purchase your first lot of sheep from a farmer who raises sheep, such a sale is called "private treaty sales". Should you be interested in buying purebred stock, then seek the advice of the breeding association – they can tell you which farms in your area suit your need.
When buying your first sheep, it is safer not to buy at a barn sale, or a livestock auction house because there are too many hazards for the inexperienced to detect when they are running in the ring. Amongst the disadvantages of buying in such facilities is that the animals have come in contact with sheep from several herds, and if there is a disease, a sheep purchased showing good healthy traits can develop the disease when you get it home. Many sheep up for sale in such facilities have been sent there because they have a health problem. It is a good idea, if there are such facilities in your area to go along for the educational experience and chat with the farmers, ask questions such as whose farm the sheep came from.
AGE AND PRICE
The age of sheep is relative to its asking price. Young ewes that have already proved their lambing ability once or twice more often than not cost more, this is because they have proven themselves to be good breeders and have several years left for breeding.
Baby lambs can provide a less expensive investment to start your herd. Farmers that have had orphaned lambs or lambs rejected by their mothers will offer these lambs for sale because they do not have the time to bottle feed and give them the attention a ewe would automatically do which is time consuming. If you have time, then these are worth considering. These babies can be very rewarding and will be very close to you for their life, they will run to greet you whenever you enter the pasture or barn. Feeding such lambs will be covered in a chapter later on.
Commercial sellers will often sell their ewes around the age of 7 or 8 years, these animals are called "cull animals". What this means is that the farmer has removed them from his flock because they aren't performing as well as they used too, this is often on account of health, age or reproductively. However, older sheep that cost less may fit your budget and can get your herd started. These older ewes can in fact be better for you than their previous owner, because they no longer have to compete with younger ewes for feed and by keeping the best of their lambs you can soon build up a nice young flock at a reasonable price.
When determining a fair price for a farmer's "cull" sheep, there are some factors to take into consideration:
1. The quality of its fleece.
2. How many lambs can she be expected to produce.
3. If she is fairly
When buying your first sheep, it is safer not to buy at a barn sale, or a livestock auction house because there are too many hazards for the inexperienced to detect when they are running in the ring. Amongst the disadvantages of buying in such facilities is that the animals have come in contact with sheep from several herds, and if there is a disease, a sheep purchased showing good healthy traits can develop the disease when you get it home. Many sheep up for sale in such facilities have been sent there because they have a health problem. It is a good idea, if there are such facilities in your area to go along for the educational experience and chat with the farmers, ask questions such as whose farm the sheep came from.
AGE AND PRICE
The age of sheep is relative to its asking price. Young ewes that have already proved their lambing ability once or twice more often than not cost more, this is because they have proven themselves to be good breeders and have several years left for breeding.
Baby lambs can provide a less expensive investment to start your herd. Farmers that have had orphaned lambs or lambs rejected by their mothers will offer these lambs for sale because they do not have the time to bottle feed and give them the attention a ewe would automatically do which is time consuming. If you have time, then these are worth considering. These babies can be very rewarding and will be very close to you for their life, they will run to greet you whenever you enter the pasture or barn. Feeding such lambs will be covered in a chapter later on.
Commercial sellers will often sell their ewes around the age of 7 or 8 years, these animals are called "cull animals". What this means is that the farmer has removed them from his flock because they aren't performing as well as they used too, this is often on account of health, age or reproductively. However, older sheep that cost less may fit your budget and can get your herd started. These older ewes can in fact be better for you than their previous owner, because they no longer have to compete with younger ewes for feed and by keeping the best of their lambs you can soon build up a nice young flock at a reasonable price.
When determining a fair price for a farmer's "cull" sheep, there are some factors to take into consideration:
1. The quality of its fleece.
2. How many lambs can she be expected to produce.
3. If she is fairly