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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 19
Wool on a sheep's leg is not to be desired, because it makes shearing more time consuming, this also applies to wool on the face. Tests have shown that ewes with little or no wool on their face will raise more and heavier lambs than sheep that have wool on their face. Added to this is the fact that these sheep do not suffer from wool blindness, neither do they collect burrs that cause eye problems. However, if you happen to live in a cold climate and plan to leave your sheep out of doors in the very cold months of January, or February, these traits are to your advantage as they assist the sheep to keep its body temperature.
Another undesirable trait is that of skin folds. They produce a higher grease weight of fleece and for hand-spinners this excessively greasy fleece is harder to wash. Folds are a nuisance at shearing time, and the animal is more prone to cuts that can, if not properly cared for, become affected by flies. A recent study found that sheep with folds have a lesser fertility rate than those without.
Starting off in a small way gives you the opportunity to gain experience at low-cost. Should you happen to start with more sheep that your pastures can support, you have the opportunity to select your best ones, keep the best ewe lambs and sell the remainder.
It is not unknown that a commercial sized flock has grown out of a homestead flock. A flock that began with one or two ewes has been known to grow into twenty or thirty, at which time the homesteader has to look for additional grazing pastures or lease a field from a neighbor. A commercial flock – that is one with 1,000 to 1,500 ewes - needs two full-time shepherds and their dogs.
Management of your flock can be either, sustainable, intensive or extensive, with the high input being the intensive system and the low input being the extensive system.
METHODS OF MANAGEMENT
Intensive system of management:
The high input system currently found in the west requires a great deal of labor and cash for such things as fertilizers, pesticides, harvested feeds, veterinary services, machinery, and specialized buildings. Farmers who go in for high-input hope to produce enough sheep to cover those costs and make a profit regardless of the dictates of the market. However, for the inexperienced farmer the bills can outweigh the profitability of the herd, and close attention to expenditure is a must otherwise nothing much is gained and the risk of loss is on the horizon.
Extensive system of management:
The low input system places far less emphasis on the volume of production and more on profitability.
Sustainable system of management:
Another undesirable trait is that of skin folds. They produce a higher grease weight of fleece and for hand-spinners this excessively greasy fleece is harder to wash. Folds are a nuisance at shearing time, and the animal is more prone to cuts that can, if not properly cared for, become affected by flies. A recent study found that sheep with folds have a lesser fertility rate than those without.
Starting off in a small way gives you the opportunity to gain experience at low-cost. Should you happen to start with more sheep that your pastures can support, you have the opportunity to select your best ones, keep the best ewe lambs and sell the remainder.
It is not unknown that a commercial sized flock has grown out of a homestead flock. A flock that began with one or two ewes has been known to grow into twenty or thirty, at which time the homesteader has to look for additional grazing pastures or lease a field from a neighbor. A commercial flock – that is one with 1,000 to 1,500 ewes - needs two full-time shepherds and their dogs.
Management of your flock can be either, sustainable, intensive or extensive, with the high input being the intensive system and the low input being the extensive system.
METHODS OF MANAGEMENT
Intensive system of management:
The high input system currently found in the west requires a great deal of labor and cash for such things as fertilizers, pesticides, harvested feeds, veterinary services, machinery, and specialized buildings. Farmers who go in for high-input hope to produce enough sheep to cover those costs and make a profit regardless of the dictates of the market. However, for the inexperienced farmer the bills can outweigh the profitability of the herd, and close attention to expenditure is a must otherwise nothing much is gained and the risk of loss is on the horizon.
Extensive system of management:
The low input system places far less emphasis on the volume of production and more on profitability.
Sustainable system of management: