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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 18
Homecoming:
Well, now that you have bought your sheep, what should you do next? You made sure beforehand that your facilities are ready to cope, you have a small holding pen or a well fenced dry lot ready to welcome them home. This subject will be discussed later. Don't forget to ask the seller before you take them home what kind of feed he has been feeding them on, then gradually introduce them to whatever you intend to feed them – never change their feed abruptly, it can cause problems such as digestion, diarrhea, or bloat, and bear in mind sheep should be given their fill of dry hay before being turned out onto a pasture that is more lush that they have been used too.
If they need to be vaccinated a good time to do this is after you unload them. Deworming them is a must. After giving them the deworming medicine keep them in a dry lot or small pen for 24 hours, that gives them chance to pass any eggs, after that time move them onto a clean lot or pasture. Don't forget to treat them again in 14 to 21 days times to kill any worms that hatched from the eggs left after the first deworming .
If you already own some sheep, place the new arrivals in quarantine for 3 weeks, this period gives you time to watch them closely for illnesses that were not apparent during the examination and it also avoids infecting the existing sheep.
Inherited traits:
Genes are inherited. Some traits such as eye color are the result of genetics, but most traits are influenced by both genetics and environment.
You find a particular breed having high probabilities of multiple births, but if the ewes are not fed with the right nutrition their conception rate won't be as high despite their genetic potential. Then, there are breeds known for producing really fine wool, but if the sheep has been sick, its fleece may be poor.
There are many breeds of sheep that only breed during late autumn or early winter. This is because their estrus cycles are controlled by the hours of daylight. On the other hand there are some breeds that are able to breed out of season and various times of the year. These lambs – out of season lambs – can command good prices and is a trait looked for by those who are interested in accelerated lambing.
Multiple births:
Multiple births require greater attention during the lambing season than single births, however the profit can prove to be well worth the effort.
Undesirable traits:
Well, now that you have bought your sheep, what should you do next? You made sure beforehand that your facilities are ready to cope, you have a small holding pen or a well fenced dry lot ready to welcome them home. This subject will be discussed later. Don't forget to ask the seller before you take them home what kind of feed he has been feeding them on, then gradually introduce them to whatever you intend to feed them – never change their feed abruptly, it can cause problems such as digestion, diarrhea, or bloat, and bear in mind sheep should be given their fill of dry hay before being turned out onto a pasture that is more lush that they have been used too.
If they need to be vaccinated a good time to do this is after you unload them. Deworming them is a must. After giving them the deworming medicine keep them in a dry lot or small pen for 24 hours, that gives them chance to pass any eggs, after that time move them onto a clean lot or pasture. Don't forget to treat them again in 14 to 21 days times to kill any worms that hatched from the eggs left after the first deworming .
If you already own some sheep, place the new arrivals in quarantine for 3 weeks, this period gives you time to watch them closely for illnesses that were not apparent during the examination and it also avoids infecting the existing sheep.
Inherited traits:
Genes are inherited. Some traits such as eye color are the result of genetics, but most traits are influenced by both genetics and environment.
You find a particular breed having high probabilities of multiple births, but if the ewes are not fed with the right nutrition their conception rate won't be as high despite their genetic potential. Then, there are breeds known for producing really fine wool, but if the sheep has been sick, its fleece may be poor.
There are many breeds of sheep that only breed during late autumn or early winter. This is because their estrus cycles are controlled by the hours of daylight. On the other hand there are some breeds that are able to breed out of season and various times of the year. These lambs – out of season lambs – can command good prices and is a trait looked for by those who are interested in accelerated lambing.
Multiple births:
Multiple births require greater attention during the lambing season than single births, however the profit can prove to be well worth the effort.
Undesirable traits: