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Rob R
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York
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 Posted: Sun Apr 02, 06 8:19 pm Post subject: |
 
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| Treacodactyl wrote: |
| Do you need to dip lambs at all, especially if kept to 14 months? What about looking after their feet and trimming up their bottoms? Are any breeds much easier to look after and less likely to suffer problems than others? |
You don't need to dip sheep at all these days- compulsory dipping is again no longer in place, though there are calls for it up in Scotland & other areas where sheep scab is becoming a problem.
The only parasites Tahir would need to look out for during these months are blowfly, though a cypermethrin spot-on product would cover them, and Barrier do a good product for the organic sheep keeper. The other main thing is good hygiene- flies won't strike dry wool, so they'll hunt out the wounded or dirty sheep.
Shorter tailed breeds (not that the breeds tail are any shorter, but different breeders will dock tails to a lesser or greater extent, Texels may have just a stump, some of the hill breeds will have a 3/4 tail left intact) are less likely to get struck.
If he can, he should go for a Native British breed, as most British continental breeds have been bred up & fed up much like the commercial pigs- ie they lay down something, quickly, wether it is worthy of the term 'meat' is another matter. Ideally, in terms of taste, a Jacob or Kerry will be about top, but if you are getting someone in, you are more likely to get a commercial cross or pure breed, and the best ones to look for will be the lleyn, suffolk, mule, half bred, etc. The native breeds/crosses produce a better carcass in their native country. |
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Joey
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Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
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Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
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Louisdog
Joined: 22 Mar 2005
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Rob R
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
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Location: York
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mochyn
Joined: 21 Dec 2004
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Louisdog
Joined: 22 Mar 2005
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
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Location: Essex
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mochyn
Joined: 21 Dec 2004
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Location: mid-Wales
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
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Location: Essex
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45420
Location: Essex
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Rob R
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York
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Anna-marie
Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 980
Location: West Wales
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| Posted: Mon Apr 03, 06 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Tahir,
Don't forget that you will need to check that movement forms have been completed for them being transported to you. I assume that you have a CPH number?
If not, contact your local DEFRA office for advice on how to obtain one.
You will also need a medicine chart to record all medications given, including vaccinations, worming, de-lousing, etc.
Their feet need to be checked and trimmed approximately monthly, in order to prevent foot-rot.
The best management system for this is vaccination with foot-vax, trimming, and spraying with a tetramycine spray.
Also, when the sheep arrive, you will have to tag them with an "S" tag.
I know it sounds like a lot of fuss, but your local State Veterinary Service will be able to help.
There are loads of free booklets that are really helpful, and the British Wool Marketing Board hold excellent one-day courses to cover issues such as hoof-trimming, dagging, etc.
I bought five ewes and a ram last year (the first time that I have kept sheep), primarily to spin their coloured fleeces, and I have enjoyed every minute of it.
Most of them answer to their names, and they are all friendly, and like to be stroked.
I now have seven lambs from four of the ewes (with the last one due to lamb any day) and they are delightful.
One of them is piebald, and looks like a friesian calf on a photo that I took of him!!
I think the price that you would expect to pay probably depends on their weight at the time of purchase.
I hope that some of this helps, and that I have not put you off!!
Have fun!!
Anna-marie |
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45420
Location: Essex
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Rob R
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York
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since I helped out on a sheep farm and that was just a bit help of lambing and herding.
and if you want to know more about the efficacy of the footrot vaccine, I'll get in touch with a friend who was involved with the trials for that product.
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