BB's are very hardy sheep. I have to feed alfalfa, because in the desert there is no pasture. I feed quality alfalfa and when available, cotton seed. Nothing else. My sheep are fat, healthy and prolific. When turned out, they eat tumbleweeds, agave, dry palm leaves and cactus without hesitation.
I have one adult ram (Ghost), 11 adult ewe's and 3 young rams from Oct. lambing. They are kept in a 20 X 20 pen, except when they are sent out to weed the property. But that is rare, being we are in a drought here in AZ. I have never wormed or vaccinated any of my animals. I have had lambing problems with only one ewe. She always twins and only accepts the later twin. She is only kept, because she is the kids' pet. They lamb on their own, rebreed when they are ready. I have never pulled a lamb. I wouldn't have them if I had to worry about them being sick, wormy, suffered from lambing issues or mastitis. I think they are wonderful. Bobbie http://www.rams-head-ranch.net =============================================== This message is from the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep mailing list (http://www.awrittenword.com/listserv/index.html). To respond to this message, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe or change your membership options, go to http://lists.coyotenet.net/mailman/listinfo/blackbelly To search the archives, go to http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
