Describes method of classifying ewes into groups according to fullness of muscling and amount of fat cover and how to adjust feed regimine according to the condition score and stage of the production cycle.
Sheep and goats can be effective tools to complement herbicides for control of leafy spurge. In addition, their control efforts can generate an economic return from land that other livestock won't graze.
In spite of price volatility, it is important that we know our costs and determine how we can cut costs, improve management, and improve productivity, so our operation remains profitable.
Article helps the shepherd identify and evaluate resources that are available on the farm and to match these assets to an appropriate production system.
FlockFiler is a computer database for keeping health, management, and breeding records of sheep. For Windows and Macintosh, FlockFiler is suitable for any shepherd and for flocks of any size.
Keeps records on entire flock of sheep. Allows producer to keep track of ewes in relation to other ewes in flock. Printouts show entire history of ewes, including lambs produced.
This paper summarizes some of the management guidelines and other factors which may improve the likelihood of a donkey becoming a successful livestock guard animal.
Proper management of the flock at key times of the production cycle can reduce young lamb mortality. A realistic goal of 10% lamb mortality is attainable by most producers.
Cattle, horses, sheep and pigs are common livestock species in Colorado. Accidents caused by livestock every year account for a significant number of the deaths and injuries to people.
Separation at weaning can be stressful for both lambs and the ewe. Management goals should be to keep this stress as low as possible, thereby reducing incidence of disease and health problems in ewes and lambs and allowing the lambs to grow at a normal rate.
NSIP offers a computerized genetic performance evaluation program,designed to help identify high-producing replacements, cull poor-producing animals, and assess overall management strengths and weaknesses.
Ewe lambs born in March and April are excellent candidates to be used as replacement ewes in spring-lambing flocks. With proper feeding and breeding management, spring-born ewe lambs should be in production by the time they are 12 to 14 months of age.
SFIP is a home testing genetic improvement program designed to assist Ontario purebred and commercial sheep producers in the evaluation of potential breeding stock and to provide a measure of the comparative productivity of ewes in the flock. Enrollment information and data available.
Classic reference containing information about how to build an efficient sheep system. Provides detailed layouts so the shepherd can construct his/her own equipment.
Some people are interested in taming older sheep, some people are interested in the halter training. There are some points common to both activities. Brief summary of the process that we used at Fibre Works Farm over a three week period this summer.
The purpose of this factsheet is to aid producers and livestock evaluators in distinguishing between losses caused by predators and non-predator causes. If predation is the cause of death then it is particularly important to identify the species responsible so additional control measures can be implemented to minimize future losses. Heavy emphasis is placed on distinguishing between coyote predation and dog predation, since they collectively account for almost all predator related losses in Ontario flocks.
List of resources for small flock owners located in Central Maine; and for people thinking of becoming small flock owners anywhere in the US. Has links including everything from mills for processing fiber, to books and periodicals, to husbandry tips.
Information about Border Collies and herding. Contains articles on general information, activities, veterinary information, breeding, culture, books and magazines, and products.
A number of the procedures necessary to sheep and goat production are stressful, but benefit the animals overall. Alternative methods of restraint, castration, tail-docking, and fostering are available and should be compared to determine relative stressfulness.
With the cessation of pasture growth, more inputs of labor, management and harvested feedstuffs are required for the ewe flock. Actually, the winter period and nutrient needs of the flock may be as much a function of when a producer lambs as what the weather is.
