[Blackbelly] Registered Flock of Barbados Blackbelly for Sale
Four adult ewes, two ewe lambs, one ram lamb, and your choice of two adult rams. Two of the ewes are bred to lamb April 1. Flock includes two Anatolian x Pyrenees livestock guardian dogs. Will not split this group up. Serious inquiries only. See photos and details at http://critterhaven.biz/sale/livestock.htm Email me at celk...@critterhaven.biz Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Barbado Blackbelly growth chart
Hi Joanne, I'm not sure what you mean by Barbado Blackbelly. Do you mean Barbados Blackbelly (rams have no horns) or American Blackbelly (rams have horns; nickname in Texas is Barbado)? The growth rate is a little different depending on which breed you are asking about. A sheep's weight depends on several things: what they are eating, what season it is, what sex, if they are pregnant or lactating. So you cannot generalize much. I raise Barbados Blackbelly rams for slaughter. They get no grain; they are grass fed in summer and given alfalfa hay in winter. Weights for my rams are 6 months = 75-80 lb 9 months = 85-95 lb 12 months = 100-135 I don't take weights on my ewes. A mature (2 year) ewe will weigh about 90-100 lb. Hope this helps. Carol At 02:29 PM 12/25/2014, you wrote: Hi Folks, Has anyone compiled a Barbado Blackbelly growth chart? Can anyone tell me what the approximate dressing weight/ live weight ratio is at the 6 months, 1 year etc? Thanks in advance Joanne Carol Elkins Critterhaven--Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] ABB rams
Hey Jan, This is a perfect place to post for sale and wanted announcements. Also, because you are a BBSAI member, you can post an ad on BBSAI's classifieds page at http://www.blackbellysheep.org/classifieds/ Carol At 07:38 AM 8/26/2014, you wrote: Hi all, Im not sure if we can post this kind of message here, so if not, I apologize. I have two very nice, well bred, registered ABB rams that I would like to sell or trade for an unrelated ram (one on one). If anyone is interested please email me privately. Best Wishes, Jann ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Actual Barbados Ram and ewes for sale in California?
Yes, I think you're right. But $200 for a ram isn't bad, even if he's not registerable, if you have a good market for lamb meat. He is a well-built guy and should make good sons. We blackbelly breeders are fortunate that we raise the best tasting meat available. Far superior to any other breed of sheep and better than beef (IMO). There is a good niche market out there if you take the time to develop it. You can get top dollar for your meat if you market it to the people who care about quality--and who can afford to pay for it. Carol At 04:20 PM 2/28/2014, you wrote: It is hard to tell if it is the price for just the ram or for all four. When I first read it I though they were selling just the ram. At 04:20 PM 2/28/2014, you wrote: But for someone who simply wants to enjoy the benefits of raising the most beautiful sheep in the world with superb meat quality, this group would be a steal. I regularly sell my freezer lamb for $350 for a 90-lb ram lamb. $200 for four sheep is a good bargain. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Re ABB Rams fighting video and a reminder to digest users
His link to the video was right under his name. http://youtu.be/fnAw_zVofm8 A reminder: those of you on digest, when you reply to a message, please remember to change the subject lineso that it doesn't read Blackbelly Digest, Vol X, Issue X and VERY IMPORTANTLY, clip out all but a small snippet of the original message. Please do not include the entire content of the digest in your reply. Carol Elkins Listserv Owner At 05:04 PM 1/7/2014, you wrote: Where is the video? I seem to have missed it :-( ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] breeder map
The group's Breeder Map isn't one of those that you can edit yourself. If you see anything that needs to be changed, email me off list. Carol At 10:16 AM 12/24/2013, you wrote: It worked for me but I didn't try to make any changes. Gail On Dec 24, 2013 12:31 AM, Rick Krach rickkr...@hotmail.com wrote: Anyone know why this page no longer works? : Blackbelly Listserv Breeder Map People who subscribe to the free email list are invited to post their contact information on this easy-to-use map of the United State (links to Canadian and other International breeders are also provided). Rick Krach in Auburn, CA ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Apologies: sent to wrong list
Sorry everyone. My previous post and Steve's original post were accidentally sent to the Blackbelly Listserv, which is why you are scratching your heads. Steve recently joined the Consortium of Barbados Blackbelly Breeders and got the two groups' email addresses confused. Please disregard. Carol Hi Steve, When we talked on the phone a couple weeks ago, you mentioned that two of your ewes had failed to conceive during either of the two breedings you've done so far. ... At 09:46 PM 9/6/2013, you wrote: I am currently going through my second lambing. My first go round was not as successful as I had hoped for, but I did learn a lot. This time things are going much better, and I am hoping that my final pregnant ewe will actually lamb in the next few hours. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] SFCP changes
Hi John, Yep, I have a pretty strong opine about the SFCP and it isn't good. But let me ask you this: what advantage has being certified scrapie-free brought you? The only advantage I can see is if you plan to export sheep and the receiving country requires sheep to be certified. To my knowledge, no one in the U.S. exports blackbelly sheep to anywhere other than Canada. Canada requires only that the breeder have his animals scrapie tagged and vet inspected. There has been no reported case of scrapie in hair sheep. Why do you feel that being certified is better than simply complying with the USDA's mandatory scrapie eradication program (getting a premise ID and tagging sheep that leave your farm)? Carol At 03:46 PM 7/27/2013, you wrote: I'm trying to decide what to do now that the Complete Monitored category has been eliminated from the SFCP. Anyone care to opine? John Carlton Double J Farms Spanish Fort, AL doublejfar...@gmail.com ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Naming schemes for lambs
Hi everyone, It's been quiet for quite awhile. Everyone must be either flooded out or drying up in the drought! I was just wondering what kind of naming schemes you might use when naming lambs born in your flock. I generally name my lambs based on maternal bloodline. For example, if the ewe is named Betty, then I would name her lambs Beatrice, Beetlejuice, Bonanza, etc. That is good for 26 maternal lines. Another gal I know names all lambs born in a group by something common, for example flowers (Rose, Petunia, Lilly). That way she knows siblings and perhaps year of birth. What naming schemes can YOU think of? Do you use a scheme when naming lambs in your flock? Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Blackbelly Listserv's relationship to the BBSAI
In case anyone is wondering, the Blackbelly Listserv is not affiliated with the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association Int'l (BBSAI), and subscribers to this list do not have to belong to the BBSAI. However, many BBSAI members subscribe to this list, and animals belonging to BBSAI members form an important subset of the blackbelly sheep population in the U.S., both Barbados Blackbelly (polled rams) and American Blackbelly (horned rams). So sometimes messages concerning the sheep owned by BBSAI members will be posted to this list, and those messages are welcome and appreciated. The BBSAI is the registry for blackbelly sheep and is focused on breed conservation. I am this listserv's creator and I also am secretary of the BBSAI. But I work hard to make sure that there is clear separation between the two and that subscribers to this listserv understand that they do not have to belong to the BBSAI or any other sheep organization in order to enjoy the benefits of this listserv. I just wanted to make sure that newcomers to this list know that anyone who is interested in blackbelly sheep is welcome to belong to this group. It is a great group with seriously knowledgeable people who are more than willing to answer questions and share their expertise. So don't be shy about asking questions. Every question asked helps several hundred people who perhaps were too shy to ask. Carol Elkins Listserv owner ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] 2013 Winter Webinar Series on sheep genetics and breeding
Thought some of you might want to attend or view recordings of these upcoming FREE webinars. They won't be specific to blackbelly sheep, but Susan Schoenian, the Webinar host, raises Katahdin and respects all hair sheep breeds. She is really one of the most expert resources available on hair sheep. I'm looking forward to the first webinar, Genetics 101, iin particular. Carol The University of Maryland Small Ruminant Extension Program will hold a Winter Webinar Series on consecutive Tuesday nights in January and February 2013. The title of this year's winter webinar series is Breeding Better Sheep Goats. The series will focus on how to make genetic improvement in sheep flocks and goat herds, regardless of production emphasis. * January 22 - Genetics 101 * January 29 - Crossbreeding * February 5 - Selection * February 12 - Performance Evaluation * February 19 - Advanced Genetic Improvement All webinars will start at 7 p.m. EST and last for approximately 1 hour. Pre-registration is not necessary. The webinars are open to the first 100 people who log onto (as a guest) https://connect.moo.umd.edu/sschoenhttps://connect.moo.umd.edu/sschoen. After providing a log on name, please indicate where you are from, e.g. John Doe (Harford County) Anyone with a connection to the internet can participate in one or more of the webinars. High speed access is recommended. Interaction is via a chat box. The primary instructor for the webinars will be http://www.sheep101.info/201/about.htmlSusan Schoenian, Extension Sheep Goat Specialist. All of the webinars will be recorded and available for future viewing. The PowerPoint presentations that accompany each webinar may also be downloaded. Anyone who participates in the webinars is asked to subscribe to the webinar listserv. The listserv will be used to communicate with webinar participants, as well as provide information about upcoming webinars (related to sheep and goat production). If you have participated in previous University of Maryland Small Ruminant webinars, you may already be on the listserv. To subscribe to the webinar listserv, send an e-mail to mailto:lists...@listserv.umd.edulists...@listserv.umd.edu. In the body of the message, write subscribe sheepgoatwebinars. Url for webinars: https://connect.moo.umd.edu/sschoen/ Recordings of past webinars: http://www.sheepandgoat.com/recordings.htmlhttp://www.sheepandgoat.com/recordings.html http://www.sheepandgoat.com/programs/13webinarseries.pdfDownload program flyer -- Posted By Susan Schoenian to http://mdsheepgoat.blogspot.com/2012/12/2013-winter-webinar-series.htmlShepherd's Notebook at 12/28/2012 04:32:00 PM ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Last Call for Youth Grant Applications
Listserv subscribers: this email was posted to this group in error. It pertains specifically to BBSAI members. However, this is a good opportunity to mention that the BBSAI offers a $400 grant to 4-H and FFA students to help purchase and show a blackbelly sheep in a local and state fair. You can read more about the grant at http://blackbellysheep.org/youth_grant.htm Students must have a BBSAI member as a mentor. Carol Elkins Listserv Owner At 12:09 PM 9/14/2012, you wrote: Hello everyone, Tomorrow, Sept. 15th is the deadline for the BBSAI Youth Grant Applications. If you have any applications that were turned into you (being the mentor) please email them to me by midnight Sept. 15. Please email them privately to _eubankacres@aol.com_ (mailto:eubankac...@aol.com) Thank you, Joan Eubank Youth Show Committee Chairman ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] domain names for sale
I own two domain names that are due to expire in August and I've decided to sell them. I've hung on to them for several years hoping to develop them but I've not had a chance and it is unlikely that I'll do anything in the future. TropicalSheep.com TropicalLamb.com These domains would be perfect for someone who raises one of the Caribbean hair sheep breeds, such as St. Croix (aka Virgin Island White), St. Elizabeth, St. Thomas, and Barbados Blackbelly. If you know of any breeders who would be interested in purchasing one or both of the domains, please give them my contact information. I'm accepting all offers. Carol Elkins Critterhaven--Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Rejected lambs
There is a photo of Mary's stanchion at http://blackbellysheep.org/articles/pens.htm I built one using her plans and it worked great when I had an unwilling ewe. Carol At 07:29 AM 5/11/2012, you wrote: I have a handbuilt stanchion gate (made from the Midwest Plans blueprints), but you can also get some very nice ones through Sydell or D-S Livestock. If I can find the photo of my handmade stanchion gate, I'll send it to you. Mary Swindell ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Limping ewe
I'd never heard of this term either (thanks for asking, Michael!). I Googled and think it may originate from Lamb Textured Feed. See http://www.showmasterfeeds.com/showmaster/en/products/lamb/show-lamb-textured-feed/index.jsp Carol At 08:36 AM 3/7/2012, you wrote: what is Lamb Text? That is what they call creep feed here - at the feed store that is how you ask for it. It's a mix of pellets and grains. I think it's a bizarre way of naming it - but that is what it is. Natasha ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Limping ewe
It is helpful to everyone to learn the various regional lingo so that we have a broader understanding of the sheep community. When I first started, here in Colorado they refer to sweet feed and COB and I didn't have a clue. Now we know that lamb text isn't literature for baby sheeps. Carol At 10:18 AM 3/7/2012, you wrote: I believe you are correct with the name textured feed. Sorry, I'm new to all this and don't have the lingo figured out. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Giving Birth
Hi Natasha, Blackbelly sheep routinely have twins. Sometimes a first-time ewe will birth a single lamb, but from then on twins are the norm. Some ewes have triplets, but it is not common. The failure of your little ram lamb to impregnate the older ewe lambs could be caused by a number of things. ~He might have been too young and had not developed full fertility. ~He might have been too young and the ewes would not stand for him or he could not reach them ~He might not have been given access to the ewes while they were in heat (generally you need to allow the ram to cover the ewes for at least 35 days, allowing the ewes to cycle twice) ~The ewe lambs might not have been fertile yet; generally they become fertile between 4-6 months but I like to wait until they are 8-9 months old to breed them) As for the other ram who was with the ewes from mid-May until September I have no idea what the problem could be. Depending on where you are, it could have been too hot, causing temporary sterility in the ram. That's all I can think of at the moment. Carol At 05:51 PM 2/23/2012, you wrote: It turned out my ewes never delivered anything when I was expecting them to. Hopefully my little ram lamb was able to get to business when I put him with my older ewe lambs. It would be a disappointing year with no little ones around. My other ram was with the ewes from mid May until September - how is it possible there were no babies? They did have young ones at the time, but I had weaned them already. What could prevent them from becoming pregnant? He produced lovely lambs last spring with these ewes. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Copper/trace minerals. and a poll
Hi Terry, Barb Lee in Oregon is the person you are thinking of and she is no longer raising blackbelly sheep. You should have no trouble searching the archives at http://www.mail-archive.com/blackbelly%40lists.blackbellysheep.info/ The post you are thinking of was written by Barb Lee in 2006. She refers to the book Natural Sheep Care by Australian writer Pat Coleby. The post is at http://www.mail-archive.com/blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info/msg00660.html I summarized it in 2010 and added a couple other good links in that post to other resources about copper deficiency at http://www.mail-archive.com/blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info/msg02833.html Carol At 12:06 AM 1/3/2012, you wrote: I cannot get into any archived posts-- and I need some information that I recall was posted several yaars ago.. A member of this group, added copper to her sheep diet, and the herd health improved- based on a book that was written, I believe, by someone from New Zealand or Australia. Just finding the information source used would be wonderful-- Carol Elkins Critterhaven--Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] hay waste
Hi Liz, Most members don't realize it but this group has a Web site at http://www.blackbellysheep.info/ If you send me the photo, I will post it to the scrapbook. I made my own feeders as well and there are photos of them in the Scrapbook. I'd love to see yours; anything to reduce the wastage. Carol At 07:45 AM 10/24/2011, you wrote: Carol, I made hay feeders for my sheep, and they eat every scrap with no waste. Each feeder feeds 3 sheep. Is there anyway that I can post a picture to this site? ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Hay for the winter
Ummm, good point, John. My grain mix costs about $0.25/lb, so it would cost less than $4.00/sheep/month to feed 1/2 lb per day. In contrast, my sheep eat (and waste) about 2 bales of alfalfa hay per month (alfalfa is just about the only hay available here and none is available now). So 2 bales at $7.00 each (if I could get it) would be $14/month. So I really need to supplement the hay with as much grain as they can safely eat, not only to reduce their hay consumption and conserve the supply I have but to save money overall. Thanks for helping me see that. I have to feed hay for 6 months and then my pasture is good for the other 6 months. I've been feeding the ewes about 1/4 lb of grain/day year-round (and more when they are gestating or nursing), so I will up that to 1/2 lb. I have never fed my rams grain or corn unless it gets below zero for several nights. I'm going to change that this year. We'll see if it reduces the hay consumption or not. Because I feed free choice, I'm just hoping they don't make pigs of themselves. I wish I could figure out how to prevent so much hay wastage. Carol At 05:04 PM 10/23/2011, you wrote: Carol: I have only used alfalfa pellets (the small ones, Tractor Supply ~$11/40#) as an added treat in a grain mix of corn and oats, or to the 12% All Stock pellets I now feed. When my pastures turn brown, I use Bahia or Bermuda grass hay (that is what is available locally in southwest Alabama) pretty much free choice and put out about 1/4 to 1/2 pound of grain per head per day. Decent local hay is $5-$6/bale and imported alfalfa hay is $14/bale. To carry 15 head over the winter I go through about 45 bales (~50#) of hay. Sheep still have access to the pasture and will nibble around but they really come running when I add a new bale of hay or put out the grain. John Carlton Double J Farms ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Lambs missing
Mary, I've used a game camera to monitor my sheep and my friend has used one to try to determine what predator is killing her chickens. The trick with the camera is to mount it in an area that the predator is guaranteed to pass. That could be hard to do if your sheep are out on pasture at night. The predator has to pass within a certain distance to trigger the camera shutter. And every animal that passes will trigger the shutter, including your sheep. That can quickly wear down the battery. Check http://www.cabelas.com for cameras. For reviews of the available cameras, see http://www.google.com/search?q=game+camera+reviewsie=utf-8oe=utf-8aq=trls=org.mozilla:en-US:officialclient=firefox-a Make sure you purchase one that has infrared capability to take night pictures . Carol At 08:56 AM 8/15/2011, you wrote: Someone suggested a night camera mounted to look on the fence line. Has anyone tried them? They sound expensive. I wonder if the IDNR or some other source makes arrangements to loan or rent them out. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Barn fans
Last week I bought a seriously cheap box fan that is all plastic. I hung it from one of the rafters in the back part of the sheep shed. It helps a little, the sheep aren't afraid of it, and they seem to enjoy the air being stirred around. My shed has no peaked roof so this was the best I could come up with. Note to self: NEVER EVER AGAIN schedule lambing to occur the first week in July. What could I have been thinking 5 months ago? Carol At 05:28 PM 7/3/2011, you wrote: Carol, I remember reading in a veterinary manual, That the heat envelope that develops UNDER sheep needs to be eliminated! This is done by moving air at ground level. If your shed has a peaked roof- exhausting air at the peak, and encouraging air to enter at the ground level maintains cooler temps.I know a horse breeder who has commercial sized standing fans set at their highest reach, to help push air out of the barn- She sets a couple box fans on the opposite end, door drawn down on top of them, to draw in air from the shady side of the building. Commercial fans can be found around here , used, for little money- and can handle the dust associated with animal keeping a bit better than household type fans. Terry W One frustrated person!!! ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] blackbelly economics
Cathy, I don't remember a link for lamp shades but it is an interesting concept. I bought a cow's testicle a long time ago that had been dried into the shape of a balloon and huge by a leather strap. It made a nice container. A ram testicle would make a nice one, too. What price are you getting for your sheep hides? I have a stack of them that I'd like to sell, but I need to recoup my Bucks County tanning fee and postage costs. I don't know what a fair price is to ask for them. I've been doing some research into other products that one could make from slaughtered lamb, and depending on how much time a person has, there are some interesting ideas. I like the idea of not letting anything go to waste. I'd be interested in knowing if anyone has ever made sheep hooves and sheep ears into dog treats; or made rawhide out of the pelt and then made the rawhide into dog treats. I don't have time to dehair and scrap a hide, but it could be an income source for those who do. Maybe something to keep the kids busy and give them some pocket money. I save all the bones from my lamb and put a small bunch into the crockpot with water to make a delicious juice to add to my dogs' kibble. I don't raise horned American Blackbelly, but for those who do, I would think that buttons from the horns would be a good value-add product as well. I remember reading an article about how to make them in either Countryside or Backwoods Home Magazine a couple years ago, but I just searched and can't find a link. Any other ideas? Carol At 02:20 PM 3/5/2011, you wrote: Also, if I remember correctly, Carol had a link for lamp shades that were made of bladders..so this gives you a couple ideas of how to market your sheep. Hope this helps, ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Rejected lamb not eating much
For future information, you can view a good video on tube feeding a lamb here (they use a goat kid, but it is the same principle): http://blackbellysheep.org/how-to-videos.html There are videos for bottle feeding and tube feeding on that page. Also, since we are getting into lambing season, newcomers might want to read these two articles to help get ready: Raising Bumemr Lambs on a Bottle http://critterhaven.biz/info/articles/bummer_lamb.htm FAQ on Breeding and Lambing: http://critterhaven.biz/info/faq.htm#breeding By the way, I could really use some good videos about basic blackbelly sheep care for the online book I'm writing (work in progress at http://www.blackbellysheepbook.com ). Full credit goes to the video creator. We need information specific to blackbelly sheep and this book is designed to provide it. So if any of you who are handy with shooting video (hint, hint, Michael Smith) would like to help out with this community-based effort, please email me. Carol I'm terrified of the idea of tube feeding since I've never done it before but we are willing to give it a try if we have no other choice. Is this the next step and if so does anyone know of a good training video or guide or something? ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Market for dead lambs
I happened across this eBay listing today of a dead lamb (http://cgi.ebay.com/Lamb-taxidermy-carcass-hair-sheep-/170593754957?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0hash=item27b82e1f4d) It received 9 bids and sold for $36.02 The description says that the seller put the 1-day-old dead lamb in the freezer and ships UPS Ground (good luck with that). I certainly never considered that a dead lamb would be of value to someone, but I guess maybe for someone studying lamb anatomy or maybe a taxidermist. Perhaps I won't be so quick to dispose of the occasional dead lamb carcass. Luckily, I don't have one very often. Anyway, thought you might be interested. Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Ewe/Doe Management Webinars
This would probably be a great learning opportunity. Susan raises hair sheep so she isn't wool blind and can address the needs of hair sheep as they differ from wool sheep. A series of weekly webinars has been scheduled to help small ruminant producers manage ewes and does from late gestation through weaning. * Jan 13 - https://www.agnr.umd.edu/seminars/Description.cfm?ID=143Late gestation * Jan 20 - https://www.agnr.umd.edu/seminars/Description.cfm?ID=144Vaccinations * Feb 3 - https://www.agnr.umd.edu/seminars/Description.cfm?ID=145Parturition * Feb 10 - https://www.agnr.umd.edu/seminars/Description.cfm?ID=146Neonatal care * Feb 17 https://www.agnr.umd.edu/seminars/Descriptiion.cfm?ID=147Lactation * Feb 24 - https://www.agnr.umd.edu/seminars/Description.cfm?ID=148Weaning All of the webinars will be held on Thursday evenings, beginning at 7 p.m. They will last for approximately one hour. The primary instructor will be Susan Schoenian, University of Maryland Extension Sheep Goat Specialist. Pre-registration is requested by noon the day of the webinar. You can pre-register online by clicking on the name (above) of the webinar(s) that you wish to participate in. If you have difficulty registering online, contact Pam Thomas at mailto:ptho...@umd.eduptho...@umd.edu to pre-register. Anyone (anywhere) with a computer and access to the internet can participate. High speed internet access is recommended, but not required. Participation is limited to the first 80 people who pre-register. -- Posted By Susan Schoenian to http://mdsheepgoat.blogspot.com/2010/12/2011-ewedoe-management-webinars.htmlShepherd's Notebook at 12/17/2010 09:05:00 AM ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] new 1099 requirements will affect farmers
This may be of interest to those of you who report your farm as an agriculture business at tax time: I don't know how many of you have heard about the new provision that was buried in the Obamacare package that will require all small businesses (including LLCs, sole proprietors, farms, and ranches) who pay more than $600 annually to any goods or service provider to file a 1099 report. Under the new law, we will be required to file a 1099 on the supplies we buy at Staples and the feed store; the computer we buy at Dell; and and any other goods that we purchase from a vendor in excess of $600 annually. You can learn more about the law at http://www.nsba.biz/docs/1099_reporting_requirement_issue_brief.pdf And you can Google [section 9006 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act] The act goes into effect in 2012. This morning, I attended a teleconference hosted by the National Small Business Association and they have provided a place on their Web site where you can send a letter urging your state representative to support a measure that would repeal this expanded 1099 reporting requirement. If you would like to voice your opinion about this new law, you can use the form at http://www.capwiz.com/nsbaonline/issues/alert/?alertid=15510536 Here is what the Sheep Industry Association reported in their newsletter today: Repeal New 1099 Requirements The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) joined 27 other national and state agricultural organizations requesting a repeal of the new IRS Form 1099 information return filing requirements. Farms, ranches and related agribusinesses already are overburdened with tax paperwork and reporting requirements. Under existing law, a Form 1099 must be issued to unincorporated service providers that are paid more than $600 during a tax year. Under new reporting rules set to start in 2012, Form 1099s will be required for payments to incorporated vendors and will be expanded to cover payments made for goods as well as services. Virtually all business-to-business tractions will be covered, creating a new major paperwork burden for the farms, ranches and related agri-businesses. The business of producing food, fiber and fuel is a hands-on venture where productivity and competiveness is compromised by government rules and regulations that turn producers into bookkeepers. Prompt action is needed by Congress to reverse this onerous tax-reporting requirement. Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] (no subject)
I can't provide any info. As I said, I was posting this on behalf of Lin Jacobson. When people send email to the list that uses HTML instead of plain text, it bounces and I have to write them a note explaining how to compose the letter in plain text. Lin's message seemed urgent so I posted it on her behalf. Hopefully, she is reading the messages and will respond (in plain text, because I will not forward any more messages). Carol At 12:12 PM 8/22/2010, you wrote: Carol, What immediately comes to mind is too much protein in the diet, unless there is a disease present. Can we find out what the ewe has been eating?? Sorry to hear that a beloved pet sheep is in trouble. Beth in OR Help! My 7-yr-old ewe has been in the (Vet) Hosp. for a week having her kidneys flushed. Her BUN level has come down substantially but is still way too high. Also her creatinene (sp) level has come down but not enough. I am force feeding her with watered down pelleted feed. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I really, really want to save her. She's our pet. Thank you in advance. Lin Jacobson ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Kelpie herding dog (started) for sale
I've been asked to post to the group the following ad: 1.5 year-old Kelpie bitch, intact and papered. Started (knows basic commands, e.g., come by, away, down) and currently working on blackbelly sheep. $1200. Will consider some blackbelly sheep in partial trade. She is shy around other dogs and would work well in a family with no more than one other dog. Contact Josh Hawk Florence, CO 719-784-3651 jnjh...@hotmail.com ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] free blackbelly ewe in San Antonio
This email was posted yesterday to the San Antonio Craigslist: http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/pet/1807283868.html Free Barbado Sheep (Pets) Date: 2010-06-23, 2:58PM CDT Reply to: comm-prsru-1807283...@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?] I am posting this agaiin , I have a female Barbado sheep I need to find a home for. She is not a pet but has been a lawnmower for me. If you are inteerested please call me at 210-396-1478, if u leave a voice mail I will call u back. She is free I just need someone to get her, Thanks ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Listserv rules reminder
Folks, I need to remind you every once in awhile about the rules for this list. Thankfully this is a great group of folks and I don't have to worry about flaming and rudeness. But I do need to remind you all of a few things: 1. When you reply to a message, trim the original message so that only a sentence or two is included in your reply, enough to let readers know what you are referring to. 2. Digest users, it is even more important that you follow Rule 1 because when you forget to trim, the entire digest is included in your response. Many Listserv subscribers are on dial-up Internet connections, and some pay fees based on how much space their emails take up. Pleases be considerate and trim your messages. 3. Make sure that your message contains a meaningful subject. A lot of people search the archives and can only find information that is contained in the subject line. 4. Digest users, by default the subject line in your reply becomes Blackbelly Digest, Vol X, Issue X. That isn't helpful, so you need to remember to change it. From now on, if digest users fail to trim or change the subject line, I will change your settings so that you receive individual emails instead of the digest. 5. The software that runs this list does not allow HTML text. Every email program has an option to send the message in Plain Text and that is what you need to choose when you post to this group. This is not a Yahoo group and you will never receive spam as a result of being on this list. But the cost of that protection is the inconvenience of having to send in Plain Text. If you need help figuring out how to set your email program, have a look at http://blackbellysheep.info/plain_text_vs_html_text.html The rules for this list are posted on the Listserv's Web site at http://www.blackbellysheep.info/ While you're there, you might want to explore the Breeder Map, Scrapbook, and other stuff on the group's Web site. Thanks for helping to keep this Blackbelly Listserv a useful tool for everyone. Carol Elkins Listserv Owner ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] test message
Thanks, everyone. I apologize for not adding to my test message that no reply was necessary. I appreciate the feedback, though. The listserv software still seems to be working fine, so we are good to go. How is everyone's lambing season coming along? Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Calculating copper in a sheep's diet
Hi All, Remember a couple years ago when Barb Lee was talking about her sheep's copper deficiency and she recommended a book by Australian writer Pat Coleby entitled Natural Sheep Care (http://tinyurl.com/yz4vdqw ). Most of our knee-jerk reactions rejected the idea of giving sheep copper in favor of the more predominant admonition that we should never give copper at all. Well, I ran across an interesting blog that expands on the subject and I thought some of you might be interested. The author writes about the effect of various minerals in treating lameness in her Katahdin flock and hypothesizes that it might be copper that is helping. Read more at http://colliefarm.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/copper-and-limper-sheep-update/#more-1874 and then see her great discussion specifically about copper at http://colliefarm.wordpress.com/2009/12/08/calculating-copper-in-a-sheeps-diet/ Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] feeding bummer lambs hay (was: How often should you check)
Lambs will begin to nibble at hay and grain by the time they are a week old, some sooner. Although they won't consume significant amounts of feed until three weeks of age, the small amounts are very important for establishing rumen function and the habit of eating. So yes, a little grass is good for your little guy. Carol At 09:43 PM 1/22/2010, Peg wrote: Still, I want to get him back with his buddies as soon as possible. Should I be trying to feed him a little grass besides the milk? Any other re-introduction tips? ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Livestock guard dog
Curtis, in addition to the excellent advice you will get from this group, I can highly recommend the Yahoo group at http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/workingLGDs/ I started reading the WorkingLGD group before I purchased my dogs and it really helped to prepare me. Even so, I will still unprepared for some of the challenges I faced with the new dogs. All dogs come with challenges, and the pup you are considering is still a puppy--and will be until he is 2 years old. So be prepared for puppy challenges. Carol At 03:20 PM 1/19/2010, you wrote: The dog is an energetic and playful (owner's words, not mine) dog that has no flock experience. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] reminder re responding to digest messages
Folks, please remember that when you respond to a message, especially if it is a message in the daily digest, you need to do the following: 1. Make sure that the subject line applies to your message and does NOT say Blackbelly Digest No. X The reason is because people search the archives, and only the subject titles are searchable. If you don't make your subject line specific to your message, then the information can't be found in a search. 2. Trim your messages so that only a line or two of the original message is copied. This keeps message length to a minimum. People on slower dial-up accounts will appreciate this. I know how easy it is to forget to do these two things. Usually I don't intervene, but there has been a lot of forgetting recently so I thought a reminder would be helpful. Carol Elkins Listserv Owner ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] NASS Releases New Census of Agriculture Profiles
NASS Releases New Census of Agriculture Profiles The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) today released county-level demographic profiles of U.S. farm and ranch operators. These profiles summarize data from the 2007 Census of Agriculture. Up to seven profiles have been prepared for each county in the United States. Data are available for the following groups: women principal operators, Spanish, Hispanic or Latino operators, American Indian or Alaska Native operators, Asian operators, Black or African American operators, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander operators and white operators. In addition to race, ethnicity and gender information, the profiles include county-level counts of farms and farm operators, as well as economic data such as total value of sales and government payments. County-level profiles of all farms and ranches have been produced for 2007 and earlier censuses, but this marks the first time the profiles summarize information by race, ethnicity and gender. To access the profiles and for more information about the census, visit http://www.agcensus.usda.gov . ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] blackbellyfarm.com domain name for sale
I am selling the blackbellyfarm.com domain name for $50. If you are interested in permanently owning this domain name for your farm, please contact me off list. Carol Elkins celk...@critterhaven.biz ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] NAIS update
This arrived from the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, the most active and influential anti-NAIS organization in the U.S., I believe: Congress Trims NAIS Funding! Thank you to everyone who took the time to call their Congressmen and the Conference Committee members to urge that they stop funding the National Animal Identification System. The Appropriations Conference Committee has issued its report, and included $5.3 million in funding for NAIS for Fiscal Year 2010. USDA had requested $14.76 million, so this is almost a 2/3 cut! Although this is only a partial victory, it is a very significant step. USDA won't have the funds available to continue providing grant money to the States and private organizations to promote NAIS, removing one of the main tools they have been using to implement NAIS. And remember that USDA had been getting $33 million each year before the grassroots community began speaking against NAIS -- we've made a lot of progress! So what will USDA do with this funding? FARFA, together with other organizations, recently sent a letter to Under-Secretaries Ferrell and Wright to urge them to halt the program and focus on better alternatives for animal health and food safety. You can read the letter at http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/files/Ltr_Ferrell_Wright_090924.pdf ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Time magazine story about sustainable agriculture
Time Magazine's cover story entitled Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food is a good read at http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1917458-2,00.html and you might want to point your lamb clients to it, as well. It will help you justify the cost of your all-natural, grass-fed lamb. Simple marketing strategy is to send the link to all the people who have inquired about your lamb, and those who have bought from you in the past. Let's them know you are thinking of them and thought they might be interested. The article is very supportive of sustainable farming. The American Sheep Industry hates this article, which is a good reason to read it. Anything the ASI hates surely must be good for blackbelly breeders. Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Baa Baa Blood Test? Rare Sheep Could Be Key to Better Diagnostic Tests in Developing World, Says Stanford Study
Here's an interesting article about the discovery of using blood from hair sheep to diagnose infection diseases. Microbiology labs have been using wooled sheep blood and horse blood to do the tests, but in developing countries, the costs of obtaining blood from these animals is very high because the costs of keeping these animals is high. A scientist from Stanford learned how hair sheep are so easy and inexpensive to keep and verified that their blood is a suitable replacement for horse and wooled sheep blood. The original peer-reviewed article can be read at http://tinyurl.com/mx273s And then read what happens when the media get ahold of something and rewrite it for a non-scientific audience at http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/baa-baa-blood-test-rare,881737.shtml It's still an interesting article, but those of us who raise hair sheep will find its obvious errors frustrating to read. On one hand, it is good news that science is learning how valuable hair sheep are. On the other hand, I'm bothered by such statements as But no one had tested whether their [the hair sheep] blood was equivalent to horse or sheep blood. As if hair sheep aren't really sheep. And in the title, calling hair sheep rare overlooks the fact that hair sheep account for about 10% of the world's sheep population. I wouldn't call that rare. We have a long way to go in educating the public about our sheep. And the media aren't helping...much. Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] The going price for blackbelly sheep
Stewart, you have not identified which breed of blackbelly sheep you raise. As I indicated, there are two breeds--American Blackbelly (rams have horns) and Barbados Blackbelly (rams do not have horns). Also, please do me a favor: when you respond to a message you received in digest form, please change the subject line of your message so that it doesn't read Re: [Blackbelly] Blackbelly Digest, Vol 5, Issue 91 and please delete all of the content of the digest message you're using to reply to except a sentence or two from the original message. Thanks for your help! Carol At 08:31 PM 5/31/2009, you wrote: Carol, i have non-registered blackbelly sheep located in south Mississippi. (Carriere, MS) thanks, s2 ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] The going price for blackbelly sheep
At 07:46 AM 5/31/2009, you wrote: what is the going price for blackbelly sheep? I read ads placed on Craigslist.com from all over the U.S. In general, unregistered blackbelly and barbado sheep seem to go for around $65 to $75. Based on asking prices posted to the BBSAI Classifieds page, registered or registerable American Blackbelly sheep range from $100 to $125. Rams with trophy-class racks go for $300+ Based on prices discussed in the Barbados Blackbelly Consortium, breeding stock sold outside the Consortium goes for $150 to $300. Slaughter lambs tend to be very regional in price. I have no trouble selling my lambs for $1.75/lb live weight. I usually grow a slaughter lamb to 80-90 lb, thus the lamb sells for $140 to $157.50. To answer your question in more detail, we need to know which breed of sheep you are interested in (American Blackbelly or Barbados Blackbelly) and where you are located. Carol Carol Elkins Critterhaven--Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] band saw for meat
Hi Julian, Absolutely brilliant! Let me ask another question, though. Do you freeze or partially freeze the carcass before you saw it? If not, do meat and bone chips fly all around the room when you saw? Also, if I've already cut the legs and rib cage off the carcass and have them lying flat on a table, do you think I can hold the leg with one hand while I saw steaks with the other or am I liable to lose a hand that way? I need to be able to do this without requiring a second person to hold anything. What works for you? Carol At 10:28 AM 5/25/2009, you wrote: I've got one word for you... Sawzall! They work great for cutting up meat and bone. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] tanning
Like Rick, Buck's County does my hides as well. Overall, I like the job they do. However, they sometimes trim the mane hair, which for some is an important feature for the hide. If it is important to you, I recommend you instruct Buck's to not trim the mane. Carol At 09:18 PM 4/2/2009, you wrote: I always get my hides done at Buck's County Fur in PA. Do you have yours done there, too? If not, where, and what is the cost? -- Rick Krach ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Horns etc
At 10:21 AM 3/7/2009, you wrote: I'm hoping someone can explain the whole sheep history to us since I'm really confused. For a good history of Barbados Blackbelly (BB) and American Blackbelly (AB), please see the article at http://www.blackbellysheep.org/articles/history.pdf The article was written in 2004, at the height of the crisis when we learned there were fewer than a half dozen breeding BB rams in the U.S. and fewer than 100 BB sheep total. The crisis resulted from the name Barbados Blackbelly being applied to any sheep that had a similar phenotype, including what we now call American Blackbelly and barbado. Although the AB and barbado have a lot of BB blood in them, their horns and other less evident characteristics resulted from crossing BB sheep with Mouflon and Rambouillet. There are thousands of AB and barbado sheep in the U.S., and their abundant population masked the demise of the Barbados Blackbelly. That same year, the BBSAI established a breed standard for the AB and gave it its own name that represented the purely American origin of this magnificent sheep. No longer a poor cousin to the BB breed, American Blackbelly breeders could finally take pride in the improvements they'd been working to develop and could control future development of their own breed standard. Educating people about the difference in the two breeds remains one of the BBSAI's top priorities. People must be able to purchase sheep of either breed and know for certain that the breeder is selling them the kind of sheep they want. This is difficult with ewe sheep because they generally are polled in both breeds. But there are far too many AB breeders who persist in calling their horned sheep Barbados Blackbelly or Blackbelly Barbados, or simply Barbados. Unsuspecting breeders wanting polled genetics and purchase ewes or immature ram lambs can suffer a devastating setback in their breeding plan as they slowly realize they've contaminated their bloodlines with horned genetics. Equally devastating to AB breeders is to purchase sheep with BB's polled genetics, resulting in stunted horn growth and unsightly scurs. The BBSAI's efforts to educate people and to register only quality sheep of both breeds is really beginning to make a difference. New breeders are able to purchase registered sheep with confidence that they are getting the breed they want. The BBSAI closed the BB registry a couple of years ago to ensure that only sheep from registered parents would be registered themselves. We have a long way to go, but members of the Blackbelly Listserv have helped SO much by helping educate the people around them. I am always tickled pink when I see someone outside this list or the BBSAI refer to their horned sheep as American Blackbelly. The message is finally getting out there. Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Horns etc
This listserv does not handle photos or any other attachments to emails. However, there is a really good scrapbook at the listserv's Web site at http://www.blackbellysheep.info/ That's also where the archives are and the breeder map. This listserv is for ALL blackbelly breeders, regardless of breed (or lack thereof). It has no connection to the BBSAI or any other registry. Matter of fact, most of the people on this list are not members of any registry. They are just blackbelly folk. This list has been active since 2000 and has the greatest bunch of sheep people I have the privilege to know. It has people who ask questions (SO important to a list like this one), and helpful people who give advice (they are marvelous). It would be really interesting to know how the BB sheep got to Hawaii, Barbara. If you have time, perhaps you could dig up the local history and share it with us. Carol At 11:09 AM 3/7/2009, you wrote: I know you don't like to post photos but a photo of a typical BB and a typical AB would help. Here are typical Kathadin at: ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] polled ram available in Louisiana
The following person is selling a polled blackbelly ram. Because this ram was sired by a horned ram, he would have to undergo some fairly extensive progeny testing to ensure he was capable of reliably siring polled ram lambs. The progeny testing would also be required for registering this ram with the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association Int'l. If you are interested in trying to work with this ram to establish a new polled BB bloodline, please contact the following person directly: Donna Cloud Sparks Administrative Executive Assistant Louisiana State University Office of Academic Affairs 146 Thomas Boyd Hall Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 225.578.5198 (Office) 225.578.5980 (Fax) dspa...@lsu.edu ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Sick Ewe
Cecil, how many digestive enzyme tablets and how often do you dose the ewe with this formula? Carol At 08:51 PM 2/21/2009, you wrote: I have had 4 that have had this and saved them all with Human digestive enzymes tablets (ground up), 1oz of Honey, 1oz of waffle syrup, and 3oz of propylene glycol through a stomach tube and then wash the propylene on through the tube with about 1 pint of water. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] pumping water using air
I ran across a really neat thing today. It is a pump that uses air to pump water from a well. No moveable parts. It requires an air compressor, but I would think that in areas where no electricity is available, you could use solar, windmill, or wind-turbine power to power the compressor. The pumps are reasonably priced, although I would imagine shipping charges could be a bit high because it is an Australian company that makes the pump. Here is the company's Web site: http://www.brumbypumps.com/ Here is a video showing one person's set-up and running of the pump in Equador. http://www.naturalnews.com/025635.html If anyone purchases one of these (or has one already), let us know if you like it. Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Fwd: [Shepherd's Notebook] Homemade cures for goats and sheep
Many sheep and goat owners are seeking more natural and less expensive methods to treat their livestock. http://www.motesclearcreekfarms.com/index.aspClear Creek Farms has published a list of http://www.motesclearcreekfarms.com/asp/articles/Homemade-Cures-Recipes.aspHomemade Cures (Recipes) for goats on their web site. For example, a Nutri-drench type supplement can be made from 1 part corn oil (not canola or vegetable oil), 1 part molasses, and 1 part corn syrup. There is no guarantee that homemade cures will work or be as effective as traditional drug-based therapies. The advice of a large animal veterinarian or experienced producer should be sought when livestock are not responding to treatment. -- Posted By Susan Schoenian to http://mdsheepgoat.blogspot.com/2009/01/homemade-cures-for-goats-and-sheep.htmlShepherd's Notebook at 1/23/2009 10:07:00 AM ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Fwd: Stop NAIS Ranked #17 -- We Need Your Help!
Stop NAIS Idea Still In the Running at Change.Org But it needs more votes to win! Good news: Protect Our Food Supply - Stop NAIS! is currently ranked #17 on Change.org, out of the almost 90 ideas that made it to the second round, and from over 7,000 original submissions Bad news: Only the top 10 entries in the Change.org contest win and have their ideas presented at the National Press Club on January 16th and advocacy campaigns organized to promote them. Good news: The competition is not over yet! You can still vote at http://www.change.org/ideas/view/stop_nais All the voting totals were re-set to zero for the second round, so even if you voted for it in the first round, you can now go vote again. The second round of voting will run until 5 pm EST on Thursday, January 15. Take Action Step 1: If you are not already signed up for the site, register at: https://www.change.org/admin/sign_up Step 2: Go to http://www.change.org/ideas/view/stop_nais Be sure to click the box labeled Vote! to the left of Protect Our Food Supply -- Stop NAIS! Simply leaving a comment does not count as a vote. After you click the Vote box, it will change color and show Voted. If it does not do that, shift your mouse a bit and click again, because it sometimes take several tries. Remember that all of the ideas are competing against each other for one of the Top 10 slots! Sincerely, Judith McGeary Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance www.FarmAndRanchFreedom.org Phone: 512-243-9404 Toll-free: 866-687-6452 ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Ewe Tunes
Here's a fun way to waste a half hour of your time. http://www.icebreaker.com/site/campaigns/ewetunes/ewetunes.html Hint: The first time, just click the Play button in the lower left corner. Then, once you get the gist, you can create a tune of your own. Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] New Breeder Introduction
Welcome to the party, Shawna! This is a great group of folks and they are always eager to help. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Doesn't matter how newbie the question is, there are friendly people who are always eager to share their experience. The list has been really quiet lately, so it would be a great time to start a discussion by asking a couple of questions. I'm glad to see you purchased the wether as I suggested. Your ram will be much happier having the wether as a buddy. When I first started raising sheep, I kept my ram with a companion wether until I had two rams. Then I put the wether in with the ewes. The girls looked to him for leadership and stability and he enjoyed having his private harem. When I weaned the lambs, I would put the wether in with the lambs, and he helped them a lot by providing adult supervision. I wean differently these days (ram lambs go to the ram pen; ewe lambs stay on their dams until the dams wean 'em), so when the wether looked like he was ready to die from old age, I butchered him and didn't replace him with another wether. The girls miss having a guy sheep around. Carol At 10:22 AM 9/2/2008, you wrote: I look forward to talking with you all, and if anyone has some tips or information to share, please feel free. I have four ewes, an unrelated ram, and a wether. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] added value for sheep entrepreneurs
Some of you arts-and-crafts type people might think about ways to use the parts and pieces of your sheep that are usually disposed of (or fed to the dogs) after slaughter. Here is a novel way of selling sheep stomachs: http://www.julialohmann.co.uk/pi_ruminantbloom.php?image_id=6 Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] free small ruminant conference in Alabama
Here's something interesting for those of you in the southeast: Normal, AL, June 3, 2008--- Dairy and meat g oat and sheep producers are invited to attend the Annual Conference on Small Ruminants on August 22-23 at the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana, Alabama. Participants will have a chance to hear experts from across the South, including Fort Valley State University Extension Animal Scientist Specialist Dr. Will Getz; Dr. Richard Browning, associate professor at Tennessee State University; Dr. Terry A. Gipson, interim goat Extension leader, Langston University; Dr. James Morgan, president of the board, National Sheep Improvement Program; and Dr. Maria Leite-Browning, Extension animal scientist, Alabama AM University. This conference is designed to educate sheep and goat producers on genetic and reproductive management issues that can affect small ruminant herd productivity and profitability in the Southeast. There is no fee for the conference; however, participants are responsible for their meals and lodging expenses. Please visit http://www.aces.edu/urban for additional conference information or contact Dr. Maria Leite-Browning at 256-372-4954. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Help.
Hi Oneta, All messages posted to the Blackbelly listserv have been archived, all the way back to 2000 when the list was first created. However, the resources used to archive the posts are less than reliable. Therefore, you may need to check two different sources: This list would be the first place to look. Occasionally it stops archiving, but eventually it seems to recover all on its own: http://www.mail-archive.com/blackbelly%40lists.blackbellysheep.info/http://www.mail-archive.com/blackbelly%40lists.blackbellysheep.info/ This archive (provided by the service that runs the Blackbelly Listserv) uses really poor archiving technology and its search results are often not accurate. You will need your Blackbelly Listserv email address and password to log on: http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/private.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info/http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/private.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info Carol Elkins List Owner At 08:03 PM 6/22/2008, you wrote: I went to the list trying to find some information I had read earlier and what I have saved as the list is from 2005. Does anyone have the link for the new stuff, like in the last month or so. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] fly season approaches
Cecil, I'm ramping up for fly season again and retrieved an email you posted last July regarding two fly-prevention techniques. I have a couple questions: 1. Re your mix of permethrin and mineral oil--I checked Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_oil) to learn more about mineral oil, and it is listed as an effective insecticide, a good laxitive, and (when scented) is sold as baby oil. Whether or not I want my sheep smelling like babies' butts, I was wondering if having an oil streak on their back would cause them to be greasy or taint the meat in any way. 2. Did you develop your own version of scarlet oil spray using eucalyptus oil and citronella? If so, did it work and did the sheep object to smelling not-like-sheep? I am considering purchasing a cow rub (http://www.phwhite.com/) and was wondering which solution you think would be the best to use with it. Carol At 07:59 PM 7/24/2007, you wrote: Carol: I use permethrin and add 1 oz to 1 qt of mineral oil and out it down their backs. I just drill a small hole in the bottle cap and give them a line down their backs. ...I gave the little guy a line of scarlet spray down his back and also my 2 dogs that were being eaten up by flies. This is 5 days later and I have no fly problem on these animals. ... Scarlet oil has a lot of eucalyptus oil in it. I have ordered eucalyptus oil and citronella and I am going to try to make a spray for them. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] OSU Sheep Team Newsletter
{Here is a really great free sheep newsletter put
out by the Ohio State University Extension. I
contains more useful info about sheep and pasture
than I've seen in a long time. Readers can
subscribe electronically to this newsletter by
sending an e-mail message addressed to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] A successful
subscription message will receive a reply.--Carol}
___
OSU Sheep Team Newsletter
May, 2008
The OSU Sheep Team Newsletter is a quarterly
newsletter produced electronically by the OSU
Sheep Team, comprised of OSU/OARDC faculty and
staff, Extension Agents, and industry representatives.
In This Issue...
A) ONE ACTIVITY IN MAY THAT CAN IMPROVE YOUR PASTURE YIELD
B) OVERVIEW OF SHEEP TEAM TRIP TO VIRGINIA/WEST VIRGINIA
C) SUDANGRASS, COULD IT WORK FOR YOU
D) BLACK VULTURE CONTROL: PART 1 THE INDEMNITY PROCESS
E) NOR-98 LIKE SCRAPIE FOUND IN THE UNITED STATES
F) OHIO SHEEP DAY
G) DIRECTIONS TO OHIO SHEEP DAY
H) INTERESTED IN HAVING YOUR LAMBS SCANNED?
A) ONE ACTIVITY IN MAY THAT CAN IMPROVE YOUR PASTURE YIELD
Jeff McCutcheon, Extension Educator, Knox County
After the dry growing season last year many sheep
producers are asking what they could do to
improve pasture yields. Other than improving
soil fertility there is one thing you can do
during the month of May that will improve
yields. In fact most experienced graziers I know
get pretty fanatical about this task. The task
is simple; remove the reproductive tillers before
they produce seed. In other words do not let your pasture plants have sex.
The reason you do not want to see reproductive
tillers is because letting the grass plants
produce seed will decrease yield. Reproductive
tillers reduce yields in two ways. First,
reproductive tillers elongate above the other
tillers on the plant and shade out the vegetative
tillers. This competition for sunlight means
that the vegetative tillers are growing
less. Less sunlight reaching the crowns of the
grass plants also means that fewer vegetative
buds on the crown will develop into
tillers. Yield in pastures is heavily influenced
by the density of the pasture. More tillers are better than more height.
The second way reproductive tillers reduce yield,
is by producing hormones as the seeds mature that
retard or inhibit the development of other
vegetative tillers. The grass plant will not
produce more vegetative growth until the seeds
completely mature or the reproductive tiller is
removed. Remember, the plant's priority is to
put its resources into the development of a
mature seed, not to grow high quality vegetative material.
When should you remove the reproductive
tillers? To keep our pastures vegetative,
reproductive tillers should be removed between
boot and flowering. During spring we have
warming temperatures with increasingly longer
days and shorter nights. Each grass plant has
multiple tillers. Initially in the spring all
the tillers produce vegetative growth. For each
grass there is a range of light to dark time
where those tillers induced to flowering when
they were developed last fall, switch from
vegetative growth to reproductive growth. The
tiller elongates and stem formation begins. The
tiller now shifts its resources to seed
development and further leaf production on the
tiller stops. The seed head develops and is
pushed up and out of the tiller. Boot stage is
when the seed head is just about ready to emerge
from the last elongated node area and is still
wrapped in a leaf sheath. After the seed head
emerges from the leaf sheath the reproduction
continues with flowering, seed development, seed growth and seed maturation.
Unlike vegetative tillers that have the growing
point near the soil surface, the growing point in
a reproductive tiller is generally found just
below the last completed node. This growing point
is vulnerable to grazing or clipping. If the
growing point is removed then re-growth will come
from the development of new tillers.
One caution, there can be more than one
reproductive tiller on a plant. Even though our
cool season grasses produce seed heads in the
spring, those tillers were actually developed
during the preceding fall. Cool season grasses
require a period of cold temperature with long
nights to develop flower buds on the crown of the
plant. Once reproductive growth is initiated in
the spring, one reproductive tiller will
dominate.If reproductive tillers are removed
and light conditions are still right to initiate
reproductive growth another tiller initiated last
fall will start reproductive growth. I have seen
orchardgrass three inches tall with a flowering seed head.
Because of this some sheep producers may want to
wait until most of the reproductive tillers have
developed seed heads before clipping later in the
grazing season. You could wait but you will lose
yield. Two of my colleagues have said that
[Blackbelly] Replying to digest posts
Hi everyone, When people search the archives looking for information about the cost of feed and general nutrition, NO ONE will be able to find this information because the subject line of this recent thread has never been changed from the digest titled Re: [Blackbelly] Subject: Re: Blackbelly Digest, Vol 4, Issue 51 - Feed Quality. When someone responds to a message in the digest, it is really important to change the subject line so that it refers just to the message being replied to. And rather than including the entire digest in the reply, users need to quote just the relevant part of the message and delete all the rest. These two things will help make this listserv useful to everyone. Thanks for your cooperation. Carol Elkins Listserv owner ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Registered BB ram for sale
John, your message was just fine. As I said in my email last night, this listserv is a great place to post buy/sell messages. Please post your response to Mary Swindell so that everyone knows the sire and dam of your ram. I think he is out of Zeke, one of my rams. At 05:16 AM 4/16/2008, you wrote: My apologies to the group if listing for sale items are improper. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Another Listserv member in the newspaper
Texas rural newspaper Country World featured Blackbelly Listserv member Brent Neighbors in its March 3, 2008, edition. Here is the link: http://www.countryworldnews.com/news/2008/3-March/0327Sheep.php Brent raises American Blackbelly and Painted Desert sheep. Way to go, Brent! ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Don't you wish YOUR newspaper ran a story like this...
From today's Lexington HeraldLeader newspaper in
Kentucky (http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/348438.html):
The new taste of Kentucky lamb
Farmers who raise hair sheep tout its milder flavor
By Sharon Thompson
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
It's likely that lamb is a meat that you love, or that you never touch.
For some, lamb is the traditional entree for
Easter Sunday. But if you shy away from cooking
lamb because it's something your family never
cooked, then take a look at the new American lamb for this year's holiday meal.
Many Kentucky sheep producers are raising hair
sheep along with, or instead of, the traditional
English breeds, and many consumers are raving about the milder flavor.
Traditional, or English, breeds of lamb have
large bodies that produce large cuts of meat.
The hair sheep, from Caribbean and African
breeds, have smaller bodies that produce smaller
cuts of meat and have a different and more subtle
flavor, LaRue County sheep producer Gil Myers said.
Hair sheep breeds do not produce wool, which
saves producers the cost of shearing, Myers said.
Two breeds, Katahdin and Barbado, are generally well-adapted to Kentucky.
Kay Coyd, secretary of the Kentucky Sheep and
Wool Producers Association, has a small flock of
Katahdin sheep, which she raises as breeding stock.
It's a hair sheep that was developed in Maine by
a breeder who wanted to get the quality and
growth rate and frame size of woolly breeds and
not have to shear them, Coyd said. He used some
hair sheep from the Caribbean, which are
originally from Africa, and cross-bred them with
different breeds of woolly sheep.
One selling point is that the meat of hair sheep,
particularly Katahdin, tends to have a milder
taste. There's no hard-core scientific research
that shows that, but it's a matter of opinion
that it's milder in flavor, Coyd said.
Hair sheep have less lanolin than wool lambs,
causing the taste of the meat to be slightly different.
Ray Bowman, executive director of the Kentucky
Sheep and Goat Development Office in Frankfort,
said even though Kentucky is a major
cattle-producing state, the lamb and goat
population is strong. The estimated sheep
population is 37,000 and holding steady.
In 2007, there were 83,000 farms in Kentucky,
and 1,400 of them were raising sheep, he said.
Bowman said the biggest impediment for lamb
growers is processing, although a processing
plant is in the works at Paint Lick. Bluegrass
Lamb Goat, an organization of farmers, is
working to have the processing plant in operation
soon, which will make fresh lamb more readily available to consumers.
Nothing beats the taste and flavor of fresh
lamb, Myers said. Since it is a locally
produced product, consumers can be confident that it is a wholesome product.
Lamb chops and roasted leg of lamb are
traditional Easter dishes, but for St. Patrick's
Day, lamb is used to make shepherd's pie.
Conor McCarthy, chef at Wilson's of Keene, said
shepherd's pie dates to the 1700s. It was a way
to use up leftover lamb, and mashed potatoes were a convenient pie crust.
Most commonly today, he said, ground lamb or
beef is used to prepare the pie, and the added
ingredients can be basically whatever you have available.
Reach Sharon Thompson at (859) 231-3321 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 3321.
{From Carol: f you think your sheep-selling
business could profit from an article like this,
why not ask your local newspaper to write one?
They all like to use local human-interest stories with a positive beat to them.}
___
This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list
Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Learn how to sell value-added products in this free Webinar
Participate in an eXtension Webinar (From today's issue of Wild and Wooly, the ezine of the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension) Are you considering adding a value-added product to your agricultural business? Want to learn what makes one value-added product a cash generator and another product a money pit? Join eXtension's Entrepreneurs and Their Communities team for an online workshop on Wednesday, March 26 from 1:30-2:30 (EST). Ginger S. Myers, Ag Marketing Specialist with the University of Maryland Cooperation Extension. is the featured speaker. The title of her presentation is Marketing Value-added Products: Where do I sell all this stuff? No pre-registration is required and there is no fee to participate. About 10 minutes prior to the start time simply go the Adobe Connect Pro meeting room at http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/ecophttp://connect.extension.iastate.edu/ecop/. You will be presented with a login screen that has an Enter as Guest option. Enter your first name, last name and state, then click Enter Room to join the conference. To hear the audio of the workshop and participate in the QA portion of the workshop we will be using a built-in teleconferencing capability of Adobe's Connect Pro conferencing software. Once you log into the meeting you will be presented with the option to enter your call-back number, your phone will automatically be called. After entering your number you will be automatically called and joined into the audio portion of the Web conference on your phone. The session will be recorded and posted to the internet. Newcomers to online learning are welcome! We're all learning this together. For more information, contact Cindy Mason at 301-432-2767 x301 or mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED][EMAIL PROTECTED] Carol's Note: Also take a moment to have a look at the new Extension Web site launched Feb 21 at http://www.extension.org ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] OT: sheep games
It's Friday and here are some time wasters to keep you going until quitting time: http://www.funny-games.biz/littleshepheard.html Herding these idiotic sheep is just about as frustrating as trying to herd blackbllies. http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/BBC Sleep Home Page Test your reflexes to see how quickly you can tranquilize the escaping sheep http://www.2flashgames.com/f/f-184.htm Shoot those pesky wolves that try to eat your sheep and guard them with your life. http://www.novelgames.com/flashgames/game.php?id=53 Simple strategy game but a challenge nevertheless. How to move a sheep, a wolf, and some cabbage across the river without the worlf eating the sheep or the sheep eating the cabbage. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] laws in British Columbia end family livestock farming
Helmut Lang sent me this link regarding how the British Columbia government in Canada now requires ALL livestock to be inspected prior to butcher, even livestock grown by family farmers for their own consumption. This could be the path that the USDA takes as well. Watch out. Watch the video. http://chbcnews.ca/index.php?name=Newsfile=articlesid=15601 Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Feeding Trivia
Barb, what adjustment, if any, have you made to your nutritional formulas to account for the weight-at-age factor? In other words, a 100-lb pregnant blackbelly will most likely be around 1.5 to 2 years old. A 100-lb wooled sheep is generally a 5-6 month lamb. The nutritional needs and capacities of a lamb will be different, I would think, than a pregnant adult ewe. Whether feeding lambs, chicks, or teenagers, they all seem to everything in sight. Perhaps the reason why a blackbelly can eat only 75% of the food consumed by a wooled sheep is simply that blackbelly sheep are 25%-50% smaller than wooled sheep at ANY age of their lives. It would be interesting to look at what percentage of total body weight a sheep's consumption is. I'd be willing to bet that the blackbelly consumes a similar percentage of food relative to its weight than a wooled sheep does, irrespective of age. Can you extract that data from your research? Carol At 10:55 AM 1/14/2008, you wrote: ...the sheep seem to be only capable of ingesting about 75% of the dry matter recommended on the NRC tables at any stage of life. I find on a daily basis that the animals typically eat far less than the NRC dry matter intake. (Please note that based on calculations of about 24% dry matter in my medium quality - no legumes -spring grass, a 100 pound, pregnant blackbelly would have to ingest close to 29 pounds of fresh grass per day to meet NRC nutritional recommendations.) ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Euthanizing (was: problem with ram horns)
Howdy Cecil, The Raw Feeding group on Yahoo has 10,015 members that would disagree with your vet. If you want to learn more, I recommend you subscribe to this group (they have 2000 to 4000 messages a month, so set email to digest). Their address is http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfeeding/ Check out the information available in the group's Files area. Carol At 06:01 PM 12/19/2007, you wrote: Carol wrote about using raw meat for domestic animals. Since I have a veterinarian close, I mentioned this to him. He said that under no circumstances would he feed raw meat to any of his animals. Cooked is fine, but raw has just too many problems that can be cured by cooking. Tha analogy he used is How many 15 year old coyotes have you seen? ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Euthanizing (was: problem with ram horns)
We all have sheep who, for one reason or another, need to be euthanized. In most cases, it is old age or health issues such as the recent post about horn growth endangering the animal's quality of life. I've eaten blackbelly ram as old as 2.5 years, and although the meat tasted marvelous, the connecting tissue was very tough, making the overall eating experience not much fun at all. So now when I must euthanize an old sheep, I try to find a buyer for the meat at the local raw pet food Yahoo groups. They are always eager to get any meat as long as it costs less than about $1.00 per pound. They are happy with 5-lb chunks and nothing has to resemble a professional cut. I butcher on farm, which allows me to keep most of that $1.00/lb, but it would still be worth these people's time if they wanted the meat cut and wrapped at the butcher shop. I just wouldn't get much profit. But if it is a choice between almost giving a carcass away versus having to dig a really big hole to bury it in, I opt for selling the meat at whatever cost. I also target the raw pet food market for cull sheep and (unfortunately) ram lambs that I simply do not have enough pasture to raise to butchering weight. To find raw pet food Yahoo groups in your vicinity, go to http://groups.yahoo.com and search for carnivore+food or carnivore+raw or similar terms. Add your state name to the search string to narrow the results to your region. One of these days, I hope to be able to switch my own pets to a totally raw diet, but it would need to include more than just lamb; I'd need to mix in chicken and whatever other meats I could get for cheap. Right now, I don't have time to scavenge for pet food. But there sure are a lot of people out there who are willing to find the time. Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] problem with ram horns
I am not a horned breeder, so I can't answer Jennifer's questions. Can someone else help out here? Carol At 06:53 PM 12/16/2007, you wrote: Hi, I am the head of hoofstock at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. I have a 3 year old hand raised blackbelly ram that has started having issues with 1 horn. It is a very nice spiral but it is too close to his face. At first it didn't look like a problem as it grew, but now it has grown too close to his eye and face. Can it be trained away after it has gotten like this? The spot is halfway down the spiral, so trimming it would be tricky. How close to the end is the blood supply? He is also a typical handraised ram in a close area so it is always a fight to do anything with him. Thanks in advance Jennifer Koehler ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] $6785 missing hyphen
I saw the following headline on a craigslist.org ad this morning: BARBADO RAMS, 2YR. OLD, 10 MO. OLD, 4 MO. OLD, 1 EWE 2 YR. - $7080 -- I thought, Wow, that's a lot of money for four sheep! How's this guy getting those kind of prices for his sheep? So I opened the ad and read the following text: -- Reply to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED],%202yr.old,%2010%20mo.%20old,%20%3b%20or%204%20mo.%20old,%201%20ewe%202%20yr.%20-%20$7080[EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2007-12-03, 7:22AM CST Older large tan/black/white Ram-corralled $80.00, 10 mo.- same color $75.00, 4 mo. black--$70.00, ewe 70.00 call Martin 512-784-6982 (near Bergs. Internatn'l airport) Pictures taken with serious inquiries, thanx. -- The guy forgot to put a hyphen in $70-80. I bet he doesn't get very many interested buyers! Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] herding dog health
I think herding dogs are an integral part of flock management, so I certainly don't object to this thread. But note that it would be inappropriate to have this conversation if it were about a non-sheep-related dog breed. The sick baby goat thread last month caused me to pause, but goats are so much like blackbelly sheep I hoped we'd learn something useful from it. This group has become an extended family for many of us. We've learned to trust each other and can count on getting good help when we ask for it, not only for sheep but for other things. I appreciate everyone's concern and willingness to help keep this group focused on sheep management. You are a really great bunch of people! Carol At 04:43 AM 12/6/2007, you wrote: I don't think Carol would be upset with us for trying to save an animal that helps take care of our sheep. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Sheep sing Jingle Bells
These are a hoot, particularly the sheep singing Land of Hope and Glory. Sadly, my blackbelly can't carry a tune. Posted By Susan Schoenian to http://mdsheepgoat.blogspot.com/2007/11/sheep-sing-jingle-bells.html%22Shepherd's Notebook at 11/27/2007 10:50:00 AM http://www.golakes.co.uk/img/xmassheep_sheep2.jpg Singing sheep (image from www.golakes.co.uk) The http://www.golakes.co.uk/default.aspLake District in Cumbria is one of England's most popular destinations due to its outstanding scenery of lakes and mountains which is home to thousands of sheep. It is also home to a flock of singing sheep. Originally, the Baarmy sheep recorded a classic English song, Land of Hope and Glory to support England's World Cup team. Due to the singing sheep's popularity, they released several more songs, including Jingle Bells, which has become a popular download on the Cumbria web site. You can watch videos of the Baarmy sheep songs or download them as ringtones or MP3 files. The video of the World Cup song shows sheep playing football (American soccer). http://www.golakes.co.uk/xmasbaarmysheep/Christmas Baarmy Sheep http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJIEBLSFVI8Watch the Christmas video on YouTube http://www.golakes.co.uk/worldcupsheep/World Cup Sheep ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] seeking opinions about Animal Welfare Institute
I recently was approached by an organization called Animal Welfare Institute and I would like to ask if any of you know, or have experience with, this organization. Their Web site is at http://www.awionline.org/farm/fivefreedoms.htm. I'm particularly interested in one of their new programs called Animal Welfare Approved. Simply, the program promotes family farmers who treat their animals with high welfare standards and allows those farmers to label their products with a seal. This enables consumers, grocers, chefs, and other food buyers to differentiates the family farms that treat their animals humanely from agribusinesses that subject animals to cruel and unnatural conditions. To me, this is a good thing. I am so opposed to agribusiness and its treatment of animals that I can't see straight. I WANT to buy meat from farmers who provide their animals a humane life and a humane death. It is what I do on my farm. I'd like to be involved in programs that promote local farmers and sustainable farming practices. But before I get involved with this organization, I want to learn more about what company it keeps. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy has endorsed them, and Niman Ranch, a farm that I respect, participates in the program. From what I've learned, the organization has nothing to do with PETA or other animal rights organizations. What do YOU know about the organization? I have read the group's standards for sheep farmers at http://www.awionline.org/farm/standards/sheep.htm With only one exception, I see these as standards that all of us should employ on our farms. The exception is the recommended weaning age of 4 months (I believe this is too long and endangers the ewe). They also have a policy against docking tails. Blackbelly farmers have no need to dock tails, so we would have no problem meeting this standard, unlike 98% of the other sheep breeds in the U.S. The rest of the standards I already meet and I suspect most of you do, too. Unlike other programs I've looked into, there is no charge for bearing the Animal Welfare Approved seal. That tells me that they are more interested in animals than they are in the income generated by their interest in animals. Of course, they'd like you to join the association, but I can't find anywhere that says it's mandatory. The association is over 55 years old and they are respected in the non-profit world. I don't agree with some of its politics and activities--it is an activist organization and seeks legislative solutions to issues that I believe are best left to farmers. I don't want the government telling me how to farm. But that is why I am interested in this Animal Welfare Approved seal. It is a way for those of us who can meet certain standards concerning how we treat our sheep to visually demonstrate that to our customers. It is voluntary; it doesn't try to mandate what anyone other than a voluntary participant does. I compare it to the Certified Naturally Grown movement that formed in opposition to the USDA's Organic program. I would be interested in hearing your opinions or any information you may have about this group. Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Dying Lambs
Cecil, what is hetastarch? Carol At 05:21 PM 10/22/2007, you wrote: I called my vet and he administered a 3cc dose of hetastarch and gave her a liter of saline solution for dehydration. In about an hour after another dose of hetastarch, she began to show signs of life. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Fwd: Urgent Alert on the Farm Bill - Please Call Now!
NAIS in the Farm Bill Take Action Now! URGENT ALERT: Call the Senate Agriculture Committee IMMEDIATELY The Senate Agriculture Committee has just released the draft language of the Farm Bill, which will be discussed by the Committee tomorrow. The bad news is that the Livestock Title includes NAIS! Senator Harkin has included a provision that defines NAIS and addresses confidentiality of the information collected under it. This section implies approval of the USDA's program, without addressing the many problems with NAIS, including the USDA's misleading and coercive tactics. Take Action Call Senators Harkin and Chambliss, and your Senators. Ask to speak to the staffer who handles agricultural issues. If you are transferred to voice mail, leave a message with your name, phone number, and the reason you are calling. Be sure to mention that you are a constituent. MESSAGE: I want section 10305 taken out of the Farm Bill. I do not want NAIS included in the Farm Bill in any manner at all. While we appreciate Senator Harkin trying to protect people's privacy, the provision does more harm than good. The Senate should not imply approval for any form of federally planned or funded NAIS. People to Contact: Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of Agriculture Committee, (D-IA) 202-224-3254 Senator Saxby Chambliss, Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee, (R-GA) 202-224-3521 Your Senators: Go to www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm or call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 or toll free at 877-851-6437. Be sure to call both of the Senators for your state. More information on Section 10305 and NAIS is at the end of this alert. Additional Contacts If you have extra time after calling your Senators, Senator Harkin, and Senator Chambliss, call the other Committee members, listed below. And pass this on to your friends and relatives in those states! Other Members of the Committee: Patrick Leahy (D-VT) 202-224-4242 Kent Conrad (D-ND) 202-224-2043 Max Baucus (D-MT) 202-224-2651 Blanch Lincoln (D-AR) 202-224-4843 Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) 202-224-4822 Ben Nelson (D-NE) 202-224-6551 Ken Salazar (D-CO) 202-224-5852 Sherrod Brown (D-OH) 202-224-2315 Robert Casey (D-PA) 202-224-6324 Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) 202-224-3244 Richard Lugar (R-IN) 202-224-4814 Thad Cochran (R-MS) 202-224-5054 Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 202-224-2541 Pat Roberts (R-KS) 202-224-4774 Lindsey Graham (R-SC) 202-224-5972 Norm Coleman (R-MN) 202-224-5641 Mike Crapo (R-ID) 202-224-6142 John Thune (R-SD) 202-224-2321 Charles Grassley (R-IA) 202-224-3744 More Information and Talking Points on NAIS For more information on NAIS, go to www.farmandranchfreedom.org. The Top 10 Myths is good reading for newcomers to this issue. Talking Points: Please do not put any provision for NAIS in the Farm Bill. It is not right to insert a section to address confidentiality of information collected under NAIS, without addressing the myriad abuses that USDA has committed under the program. NAIS will hurt our economy: There still is no cost-benefit analysis of NAIS. USDA has only recently requested one from Kansas State University. The study is unlikely to be a thorough or unbiased study, given that Kansas State has just established a federally-funded Animal Identification Center. Costs of the program include the cost of the tags, hardware, software, time and labor Many small farmer and ranchers cannot afford these costs Service providers (veterinarians, feed stores, auction houses, meat processors, etc.) will be harmed when the farmers and ranchers go out of business. Remaining farmers will pass the costs on to consumers, adding to inflation The USDA has provided no scientific proof to show that NAIS will improve disease control: It does not address the cause, treatment, or transmission of disease, in domestic or wild animals. It does not significantly improve on current methods for identification and tracking of disease. NAIS is not necessary for the market. Age- and source-verification is already available through the USDA's Process Verified Program NAIS will not improve food safety: USDA itself has stated that this is not a food safety program Contamination of food with e. coli and other bacteria occurs at the slaughterhouse or afterwards, while NAIS will stop before that point. NAIS will not protect against terrorism: The microchips chosen by the state can be cloned, destroyed, or infected with computer viruses, and reprogrammed. Any terrorist or thief can use this. The database of information, created by the state agency and available to USDA, will provide a target for hackers. NAIS infringes on people's constitutional rights, including due process, privacy, and religious freedom. More Information on the Farm Bill Provision Section 10305 of the draft Farm Bill provides: Sec. 10305: Protection of Information in the Animal Identification System: The Animal Health Protection Act (7 USC
[Blackbelly] Kentucky gal needs blackbelly lamb for her wedding
Can anyone help this gal? I would hate it if she had to switch to wooled lamb at the last minute. Anyone close to her, please email her personally if you have lamb available. Subject: Website Request for Information about Critterhaven Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 15:34:49 -0700 (PDT) FirstName: Kirsty LastName: Buick Address: 2775 Russell Cave Rd City: Lexington RegionState: KY ZIP: 40511 Country: USA Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ContactMe: Please contact me Comment: Hi there, I am a lamb lover, and am having a wedding early sept that I would love to get some lamb for. I am needing a bunch of chops, some stew/kabob meat, Leg of lamb, ground lamb, in fact, pretty much a whole lamb. Is there any way you can help me? I am in the sate of Kentucky, so, if you are not able to help, do you know anyone that will close to Kentucky? I hope you can help, Kind regards Kirsty Buick --- ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Updates
At 10:32 PM 7/25/2007, you wrote: Question for Carol: Did you ever try your recipe for fly spray using Avon skin so soft bath oil, Eucalyptus oil, and white vinegar? It has been saved on my e-mail all this time and I had forgotten about it. Nope, totally slipped my mind, too! Thank you for reminding me. For everyone else's benefit, here is the recipe again: Custom-blended fly spray: 4 16-ounce bottles Avon Skin So Soft bath oil 40 cc (about 5 tablespoons) pure eucalyptus oil enough white vinegar to make up one gallon Find pure eucalyptus oil. Don't get the fake stuff. A small bottle will run about $4. This spray stays put, leaving a thin harmless film where the commercial stuff evaporates or sweats off. It smells good, too, and is economical. Unlike similar concoctions, it does not attract yellow jackets. I'll get online and see if I can find inexpensive sources for the eucalyptus oil and Skin So Soft. Cecil, you mentioned having recently purchased eucalyptus oil. Did you get it online and, if so, could you share the URL? Carol ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Updates
Cecil, when you get the spray application perfected, please let me know. Although not impossible to apply using a squeeze bottle, it would be much easier to run my gals through a chute and spray the stuff on them. Thanks for a solution, though. I'll start with your idea and see how it works. Carol At 07:59 PM 7/24/2007, you wrote: Carol: I use permethrin and add 1 oz to 1 qt of mineral oil and out it down their backs. I just drill a small hole in the bottle cap and give them a line down their backs. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] more helpful DIY sheep projects
The Listserv's scrapbook has a series of photos of good do-it-yourself building projects for sheep equipment. Take a look at http://www.blackbellysheep.info/scrapbook/pages/feed_bunks.htm and then click the right arrow to move to the next photo. Also, I have some pics of the lamb jug/sorting chute setup that I built in my small pole barn at http://www.critterhaven.biz/info/articles/barn_setup.pdf In addition, the photo shows the turquoise PVC waste pipe that I use for feeding grain. The design for the pens was adapted from an article that Mary Swindell wrote for the BBSAI newsletter at http://www.blackbellysheep.org/articles.html It has some great photos of the various ways she uses the panels. I built a PVC feeder for minerals using the description at http://www.boergoats.com/clean/articleads.php?art=29 It works really well and has cut the cost of minerals a lot because, unlike the mineral blocks that the sheep eat like candy, the loose mineral is just mineral and they eat it only when they need it. Here are some links to other building and equipment plans available on the Internet: University of KentuckyBiosystems and Agricultural Engineering http://www.bae.uky.edu/ext/PlansList/ Iowa State UniversityMidwest Plan Service http://www.public.iastate.edu/~mwps_dis/mwps_web/frame_p.html NRAES (Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service) http://www.nraes.org/publications.html North Dakota State University http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/sheep.htm Canada Plan Service http://www.cps.gov.on.ca/english/planmenu.htm Carol At 10:34 AM 7/24/2007, you wrote: They stick their heads under the rail to eat grain, and the rail is effective for keeping their feet out of the tray. In the morning, all the hay that's been pulled out and uneaten is in the tray and unsoiled. I just put it back in the manger. I am just thrilled with it as there's been scarcely a speck of wasted hay on the floor. I think it probably cost under $50 to build. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] oops!
Sorry folks, I did not mean to send that last message explaining how to change an email address to the entire group. But, it was good information nevertheless!! And my apologies especially to Mike for blasting his email addresses all across the Internet. Carol Elkins Listserv owner ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] gizmo that repels aggressive rams (and dogs)
Fellow list member John Taylor just emailed me about this gizmo and I wanted to share the info with you. John gives a link, but I found it on Amazon for $7 less. Carol, I was given this hand held device that's the size of a garage door opener by a friend of mine to keep aggressive dogs from my family I when we go on our walks. One day I happened to have it with me while checking on my sheep's water source when my middle ram, he's the aggressive one of the bunch, made like he was going to charge me. Normally I back out of the fenced area slowly and all is well. This time I thought I'd give this little device a click. When I did he the others took a run away from me at least 20 to 30 yards. Needless to say now when I go in the sheep pen I have no problems with that ram and if he does begin to move towards me in an aggressive manner I push the button off he goes! Just thought I'd share this with you, it's better than a spray bottle filled half half with vinegar water! Sincerely, John Taylor http://www.kiienterprises.com/dazer/http://www.kiienterprises.com/dazer/ ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] Sneaky NAIS amendment to Farm Bill
If you have a moment, copy and paste the following text and send it to your congressmen. This version was sent by Nathan Griffith, editor of Sheep! Magazine, and he asks that we get the word out because they are voting on it this morning. You can quickly write your congressmen by going to http://www.congress.org. That Web site makes it very easy (look for the create your own message button at the bottom of the list of topics). Dear Congressman enter name, I have voted for you and encouraged others to do so for over a decade. Now I'm asking a favor. Yesterday members of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry received a misleading letter from the Meat and Poultry Promotion Coalition that claims to represent the interests of a vast majority of the livestock, poultry, and meat producers in the U.S. They're fraudulently urging congressmen, on behalf of producers, to vote against H.R. 2135. They're also trying to embed Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) with National Animal Identification (NAIS) to destroy competition and transparency. I want Section 121 struck from the Farm Bill discussion draft. That fraudulent letter was an brazen attempt to mislead. The letter was signed by (1) Tyson Foods, Inc., (2) Cargill, (3) Swift Co., and (4) National Beef--the four largest U.S. meatpackers that now control over 80 percent of the steer and heifer slaughter in the U.S. The American Meat Institute and the National Meat Association are their trade associations. These entities are NOT producers, they are meat packers and meat processors--they don't represent the interests of the livestock farmers and ranchers that H.R. 2135 seeks to protect. Please ask those subcommittee members to strike Section 121 from the Farm Bill discussion draft. It's an attempt to sneak a draft level National Animal Identification (NAIS) into the Farm Bill. The draft level NAIS is half-baked--it still has NOT EVEN ONE protection written into it to protect growers from undue liability and abuse of the database. As it now stands, NAIS only takes away rural people's rights and fattens bureaucratic control over them, under the phony pretext of food farm safety. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) is good for transparency, and consumer choice, but the draft-level NAIS is good for nothing but bureacrat power grabs and grower harassment. H.R. 2135 is a measure to level the economic playing field between producers and packers and processors. Support it if you will, but strike this awful Section 121 amendment from the Farm Bill discussion draft. Yours, Your name, address, and phone number ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] Please make your subject lines meaningful and delete irrelevant content
Hi folks, Sorry to annoy you with an administrative message, but every once in awhile I need to remind you about some list etiquette issues. There has been a recent rash of emails posted with subject lines that read Blackbelly Digest, Vol X, Issue XX. This happens when a digest subscriber clicks Reply and fails to change the subject line to reflect the specific message he is replying to. These messages also unfortunately often contain the entire contents of the digest version (all the emails exchanged for that day). Many Blackbelly Listserv subscribers use the archives to search past posts for related information or to learn if their question has already been answered. When searching the archives, only the messages' Subject lines are searched, not the body text. Therefore, messages with Blackbelly Digest, Vol X, Issue XX in the subject line will be skipped during the search. For some, this could be a life or death situation for a sheep in trouble. Digest users, please copy ONLY A SNIPPET of the message you want to reply to, and delete the rest of the digest's text. Remember to change the subject line. Thank you for helping to ensure that the Blackbelly Listserv remains a quality resource for all subscribers. Carol Elkins List Owner ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] OSU Web site recognizes American Blackbelly
I can't be sure because the photos were provided by the BBSAI, but I believe the ram belongs to Gerald Krause in White Lake, WI. Carol At 01:42 PM 5/10/2007, you wrote: What a wonderfully detailed page! Who is the magnificent Ram pictured on the AB page? -Renee ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] OT: Regulations on Black Faced Sheep into Wyoming
The following news item appeared in last week's ASI newsletter. Here are a couple of questions that blackbelly breeders should be thinking about: 1) Yes, sheep breeders know that black faced sheep are usually Hampshires and Suffolk, but this is a very ambiguous definition. What about Dorper? What about crossbreds? And it might not be too much of a stretch for a smokey-faced blackbelly to be identified by some ignorant inspector as a black faced sheep. 2) List member Mark Wintermute has predicted for a long time that the USDA will eventually discriminate against any sheep that do not have at least one arginine (R) amino acid at codon 171. Now here is Wyoming with regulations that restrict importation of black-faced sheep to only those having an (R) at codon 171. How long before other states follow suit? And then how long before that restriction generalizes to sheep other than black-faced sheep? Genetic selection for a single trait such as scrapie resistance will have serious deleterious effects on all breeds of sheep. If blackbelly breeders are forced to use scrapie resistance as a breeding criteria, it may be years before we realize what else is lost to the gene pool. begin quote Regulations on Black Faced Sheep into Wyoming The Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB) adopted new import rules on March 31, 2007, that require all black-faced ovine being imported into Wyoming for reproductive purposes to be genetically tested for scrapie susceptibility. If the animal is found to be susceptible to scrapie, it will not be allowed into the state. Sheep 14 months of age or older that test negative for scrapie will be permitted, and if the animal is under 14 months of age, it may be imported under quarantine to be tested for scrapie, using the third eyelid test, upon reaching 14 months of age. If it tests positive, it must be ear-tagged and sent to slaughter. This new regulation led to some question as to what genetic test will be required. At this time, one strain of scrapie appears to be predominant in the U.S. sheep population and susceptibility to that strain is largely determined by the amino acids found at codon 171. Therefore, the genetic testing of codon 171 will be used when determining scrapie susceptibility. Sheep testing with at least one arginine (R) at codon 171 will be considered resistant. All others will be considered susceptible. Wyoming is following the philosophy that it will take aggressive actions on the part of the industry to eradicate scrapie from the U.S. flock by 2010, commented Bryce Reece, state executive for the Wyoming Wool Growers Association. A full copy of the WLSB import rules can be found at http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=5200350s=110153162http://wlsb.state.wy.us/Memo/07ImpotationBlackFaceSheepJT026.pdf end quote Regards, Carol Carol Elkins Critterhaven--Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz T-shirts, mugs, caps, and more at the Barbados Blackbelly Online Store http://www.cafepress.com/blackbellysheep ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] ewe with swollen uterus and problems standing
I'm forwarding this from Jim Fallis regarding his ewe: Well Sad end to the latest saga at the Fallis Barbado Farm We were not able to save the ewe that was down. The twins were born over the weekend. We had no idea she actually had tripplets. We discovered her down Tuesday. By that time the dead fetus had began to decay and swell. We attempted to extract, but just not enough room and the ewe was too infected by the poision of the decaying fetus. I had the vet put her down and get her out of her misery. Now I have 2 bottle babies on my hands. They will be loved and cared for very well. Thanks to all for your interest and mostly your concern and caring. Jim Fallis Palmer, Texas ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] ewe with swollen uterus and problems standing
{This message is from Jim Fallis who is having some problems with his
message being posted (HTML text issue).}
I have a ewe that just gave birth to twins. She has always been a
great mother. She is around nine (9) years old.
She and the twins were doing great until I noticed this afternoon she
is not wanting to stand. She can hardly move her back legs. Her
uterous is still swollen. She appears to be in no pain
Any recommendations?
Jim Fallis
Palmer, Texas
___
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[blackbelly] today's update on starved sheep
Here is an update I received today from Cindy Stamer, sister to one of the two vets who were called in to help treat the Craig County blackbellies that were found starving. If you can help, this would be a good thing to do. There are contact numbers at the end of the article, and you can call the Kelley family (the folks who are caring for the sheep) at 918-244-5888, or write them at 26644 South 4360 Road, Vinita, OK 74301. There also is a good article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=070225_Ne_A1_Anima30146 __ The following is a rough update based on notes from discussions I had recently with folks in Vinita. I understand the Oklahoma Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the appeal later this month. By then, I am told the county expects that it will have been required to expend more than $100,000 to care for and maintain the neglected animals, as the court ordered the county would keep the animals in its custody, but refused to enforce the provision of the new Oklahoma animal cruelty law that would have required Mr. Bell to post bond to cover the costs of maintaining the animals pending the appeal as a condition of his appeal. See the following: Craig County, Oklahoma officials need donations to pay costs of caring for 1250 Barbado sheep, 300 cows and 12 horses seized by the Craig County Sheriff's Department in connection with the largest criminal animal abuse investigation in U.S. history. Craig County Sheriff Jimmy Sooter says there is no money in the county's budget to pay the more than $50,000 of expenses the county has incurred for care of the animals since his department seized the animals last month, or additional costs that will be required to maintain them while the Oklahoma courts decide the animals' fate. Our biggest problem right now is money. There is no money budgeted for a situation like this. We are in need of donations for food and grain and hay to feed these animals, says Sooter. Craig County officials seized the animals between January 17 and January 23 after sheriff deputies found the animals among 800 other dead or dying sheep on four separate properties of owner David Bradley Bell. Bell and his wife Tanya, presently are facing multiple animal neglect and cruelty charges, according to Craig County Assistant District Attorney Jim Ely. Deputies discovered hundreds of dead, dying and starving animals while investigating reports of neglected animals on Bell properties. Craig County Sheriff Deputy Robin Livingston says graphic pictures posted on the websites of the U.S. Humane Society at http://multimedia.hsus.org/images/oklahoma-cruelty.html and at www.tulsaworld.com/deadsheep provide only a limited glimpse into the horrible conditions sheriff department deputies found. Livingston said they could see clearly see hundreds of dead and dying animals as they drove onto the property. Deputies discovered stacks of dead and dying sheep strewn across the pastures, on a porch, stacked on top of each other in feed troughs and in a barn. It looked like a battlefield. There were dead animals everywhere, she said. Human society officials and local veterinarians called in to help investigate the case and care for the animals say that although cold may have hastened the death of many of these animals, but that the advanced decomposition of many of the carcasses establishes that neglect and abuse as the primary cause. According to Livingston, it was immediately apparent to sheriff deputies that the animals that weren't already dead needed help. As we got out of the vehicles, sheep surrounded us and began nibbling on our fingertips. These animals don't usually seek out people. Sheep also huddled around the exhaust pipe of my unit to drink the condensation. They needed any water they could get, she explained. The deputies' inspection of the property revealed even more gruesome sights. We observed dogs eating baby lambs being birthed from dying mothers too weak to stand as they were being born, said Livingston. Dead animals were laying down and the other animals just kept laying on top of them. We removed the animals because they were so many dead bodies, the others just kept dying. County officials quickly reacted to rescue and get care for the remaining animals. The massive number of animals and their compromised condition presents significant challenges, according to Dr. John Marcotte, a prominent Vinita-based veterinarian specializing in the treatment of horses and other livestock. Marcotte and his associate veterinarian, Justin Roscoe, have treated the ailing animals since Craig County officials asked them to help assess and treat them on January 13th. Most of these animals are not ready to just be turned out into the field to tend to themselves, Marcotte said. Most of the animals remain sick and underweight, but are recovering with the care
Re: [blackbelly] Weigh Sling for adult sheep
Mary, thanks for the link. That would be a great price, but there is no photo of this sling available on Mid-States' Web site. Is your sling adjustable at all? Here is a link to one at Jeffers. How does Mid-States' sling differ from Jeffers' sling? http://www.jefferslivestock.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=2mscssid=1V25R1KE376G9G7U7NNHCT02QU79D0AC Carol At 09:18 AM 1/30/2007, you wrote: Carol, Mid-States Livestock Supply (out of Hutchinson, Kansas) has a very nice adult sheep weigh sling for just $16.00. I think their web site is www.midstateswoolgrowers.com or something like that. ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] Fears over new tagging rules in Europe
European Union rules to force the introduction of Electronic Identification of sheep in the UK could cost slaughterhouses £0.6 million. It is also estimated that it will cost livestock markets between £0.51 million and £1.22 million. Now there are fears that these costs will be passed back down to producers, and Welsh lamb producers believe it could force them out of business. You can read the rest of this story at http://www.meatnews.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=ArticleartNum=13720 Events in Europe usually migrate to the U.S. Carol ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] today's update on starved sheep
Copied from http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=070123_Ne_A1_Anima27014 Animals taken from rancher in sheep case By ROD WALTON World Staff Writer 1/23/2007 Online: http://www.tulsaworld.com/deadsheepWatch a slideshow of photos taken at the property. Editor's note: The images are graphic. VINITA -- Craig County authorities have seized the remaining animals owned by a Bluejacket rancher accused of allowing hundreds of sheep to starve to death, Undersheriff B.J. Floyd said Monday. Deputies, animal-rights activists and community volunteers worked over the weekend to move a total of 1,250 Barbados adult sheep and 30 of their lambs, 300 head of cattle, 12 horses and one dog from the properties of Bradley Bell, the undersheriff added. Investigators estimated that they found about 400 dead sheep last week on Bell's property. Authorities believed many of them starved to death. The surviving animals appeared to have been hungry, reports say. We're taking everything, Floyd said. The cows were so weak we had to load them in trailers by hand. All of the animals were taken to a farm west of Vinita, authorities said. They are being fed and vaccinated throughout this week, reports show. Bell, 46, was arrested last week. Officials said he could be charged with animal cruelty. He is free on $5,000 bail. Another person in the investigation might be arrested this week, Floyd said. We're real careful in how we're doing it, he said. We're still investigating. Bell's attorney, Jot Hartley, could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon. He previously said that Bell insisted that he had fed and cared for the sheep, which he had bought and moved from southern Texas in the past year. Bell will be vindicated in court, Hartley predicted. He said autopsies would reveal that the dead sheep had food in them. The scene of sheep carcasses stacked atop each other in Bell's barn has attracted attention from across the country, authorities said. The Humane Society of the United States even sent a disaster-response team to Bluejacket to help with the recovery, reports say. The story has particularly disturbed ranchers who raise Barbados sheep, an Illinois-based representative of one breeders group said Monday. Mary Swindell, the secretary-treasurer of the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association International, said ranchers from across the country were getting in touch with her to talk about the Oklahoma case. Swindell also helps run Bellwether Farm in Cobden, Ill. The immediate reaction from people in the know was disgust and anger that someone could (allegedly) allow their stock to come to this kind of end, Swindell said. She concurred with Hartley's earlier assessment that some Barbados sheep undergo serious stress when they are moved. However, Swindell said the number of deaths in Bell's flock was unusually high. She also downplayed the theory that Oklahoma's recent icy weather may have contributed to the animals' demise. In fact, Swindell added, ranchers raise Barbados sheep from southern Texas to Canada. They don't have very much trouble with the cold, she said. This breed is known as one of the heartiest sheep breeds. Oklahomans also have responded by donating money toward the animals' food and medication costs. Floyd estimated that the Craig County Sheriff's Office has received all kinds of donations, including about $1,600 on Monday alone. The Oklahoma Alliance for Animals also has solicited donations to help care for the sheep. Those contributions so far have totaled more than $4,800 since last week, OAA Executive Director Laurie Searcy Mayes said. I think it's awesome, Mayes replied. People are just really compassionate and hate to think this was even possible. Floyd added that authorities are amazed at how well the surviving sheep are doing. They were grazing on hay and munching on medicated alfalfa pellets by Monday. All of them are content, the undersheriff noted. It's unreal the difference it's made. -- ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] update on starving sheep
Friday's issue of Tulsa World contained the following update about the starving Barbado. They have a link to photos and warn that the photos are very graphic. I don't have the courage to look at them. The article also includes a way to send contributions to the Craig County Sheriff Office to help with the costs of caring for the sheep. Here's the link to the online article (http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=070119_Ne_A1_Owner1767). I've copied it below as well. Owner did not starve sheep, attorney says By ROD WALTON World Staff Writer 1/19/2007 Slideshow: Watch a slideshow of photos taken at the property. Editor's note: The images are graphic. www.tulsaworld.com/deadsheep VINITA -- The surviving sheep in a Bluejacket rancher's herd were eating and drinking Thursday, one day after investigators found them among dozens of carcasses of sheep that allegedly starved to death. The rancher's attorney, however, argued Thursday that David Bradley Bell did not starve his sheep and that his losses were not unexpected for a type of animal moved from south Texas in the last year. He strenuously refutes any allegation that he wasn't feeding the animals or not taking care of them, Vinita attorney Jot Hartley said. It's no advantage to Mr. Bell having a single animal die. He paid for those animals. Bell, 46, faces potential animal cruelty and neglect counts in Craig County, according to reports. He was jailed Wednesday and later released on $5,000 bail. Craig County Sheriff's deputies and state investigators who served a search warrant at one of his properties Wednesday made a gruesome discovery -- stacks of dead sheep in barns, on a porch and strewn across a pasture. Some carcasses were decomposed enough to have been dead several weeks, authorities said. This problem had been going on a long time, said local veterinarian Justin Roscoe. Our biggest concern now is we're taking care of the animals. The Barbado sheep were receiving hay and water Thursday, and many appeared to be eating fine, the veterinarian said. Other animals, however, had died since the Wednesday discovery. We're still trying to assess how many we have, Roscoe added. Craig County Assistant District Attorney Jim Ely said he could not file charges against Bell until the Sheriff Office's final report was sent his way. If charged and convicted of animal cruelty or other counts, Bell could be sentenced up to five years in prison and/or fined $5,000. It's going to take a while, Ely said of the criminal investigation. I'm anticipating filing charges. Bell was unavailable for comment. His attorney, however, noted that his client, who moved to the Bluejacket area from west Texas several years ago, was a highly respected rancher in the county. Hartley also defended Bell's care of the animals, arguing that the family had just fed the sheep that morning. Autopsies will show they had food in them, the defense attorney said. I challenge the authorities to do that. Should the case go to trial, Hartley added, he could call other ranchers who experienced similar death rates among their herds in the first year in a new climate. He noted that Bell had to deal with a 15-inch snow in December and the recent ice storm. I don't know if they'll lock up every sheep producer in Craig County, but if they put them under the same microscope as Mr. Bell, they may have a full jail, Hartley said. Undersheriff B.J. Floyd, however, noted that authorities received numerous complaints from Bell's neighbors about skinny cattle or sheep during the past year. They investigated several of the cattle complaints but found nothing to charge Bell with, he added. The neighbors later complained that Bell's sheep were trespassing over to their properties and eating their wheat fields, Floyd said. A month-long investigation culminated in Wednesday's visit to the farm. The undersheriff said he was as surprised as anyone about the discovery. He considers Bell a law-abiding citizen who is well-liked in much of the community. Investigators also served a search warrant Thursday at the property where Bell lives, just south of the previous site. The sheep found there were healthy, Floyd said. They're a good family, the undersheriff said. It's not like they are thugs. Yet seeing the dozens of carcasses is hard to grasp, he admitted. Even the vet commented that he'd never seen anything that bad, Floyd said. A national relief team for the U.S. Humane Society traveled to Vinita to help investigators and veterinarians care for the animals, authorities said. The Sheriff's Office and Oklahoma Alliance for Animals also were raising funds to help pay for the herd's upkeep. Alliance Executive Director Laurie Searcy Mayes said local animal-rights activists were outraged by the number of dead, dying and sickly sheep found on Bell's property. I'm not aware of anything of this magnitude, she said. This is the most horrendous thing
Re: [blackbelly] a newbie breeder
Cathy, thanks so much for your post. You've made some very astute observations, and it's good to see you are doing such a great job as a new shepherd. Thanks in particular for sharing the weight information. Just think what One Nut might have weighed with full equipment! Where in your Nevada WalMart store did you find the cracked corn? Do you purchase in bulk? It never occurred to me to look in WalMart (I tend to boycott the place), but now you have my curiosity up. Carol On 1/22/2007 3:47:37 PM, J.C. ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote: I am a newbie ABB breeder having acquired my flock spring of 2006. I have been reading the BB digest all these months and appreciate all the ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] Starved sheep found on Craig County farm; owner charge
[] Saw this story on a Web site belonging to KTEN, a television station in Oklahoma. (http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=5954522) Any of you know or live close to this jerk? Starved sheep found on Craig County farm; owner charged [] BLUEJACKET, Okla. The owner of a flock of starving sheep has been jailed on animal cruelty complaints after the corpses of dozens of the sheep were found on his Craig County farm today. Craig County authorities had been investigating properties owned by 46-year-old David Bradley Bell for about a month and moved in with a search warrant this morning. They found hundreds of dead or dying Barbado sheep, some piled several deep in a feeder pen inside a barn, others strewn about a pasture. Authorities say some of the animals had been dead a short time, while bones protruded from worn-away hide on other corpses. Investigators from the state Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners found no feed or water on the farm, so Bluejacket Volunteer Fire Department members cut holes in nearby ponds. Authorities say Bell told them he could not afford to feed the sheep. ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] New draft of National Animal ID System
Last November, the USDA released its latest NAIS document in draft form at http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/naislibrary/userguide.shtml . I encourage you to also read some insightful comments made at http://www.libertyark.net/articles/response2.htm and at http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/latest-Nov-06 You can comment via e-mail through January 22nd. I encourage all of you to do so. This may be your last chance to voice your opinion. The outcry from the public has done some good and caused the USDA to back off a bit. But time to comment is running out. Here is some information copied from a recent Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance email that will make it easier for you to write that letter. Now that the new Congress has been seated, there is a new opportunity to fight the National Animal Identification System. Many of the incumbents and the newcomers remain unaware of the issues surrounding the NAIS. Now is a great time to educate them, before the crunch of the new session begins in January! We must put a human face on this issue. The legislators need to understand how the NAIS will affect real people within their states and districts. They also need to understand how the USDA and state agriculture departments have been abusing the current so-called voluntary programs. Below is a sample letter that provides a framework for you to write your own letter. Be sure to personalize this letter with your own story. Have you been signed up for premises registration without your consent? Told you had to sign up to go to a show or enroll in some farm program? Tell your legislator what is happening in their state! To find out who your U.S. Representative and Senators are, go to www.congress.org/congressorg/home/ and enter your zip code in the box on the left-hand side. Send your letter to your Representative and to both Senators from your state. Please also send copies to the chair and ranking minority members of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees. If sending by mail, just address it to Chairman or Minority Leader and send to the addresses below. If faxing or emailing, specify the Members' name: Representative Collin Peterson, Representative Bob Goodlatte, Senator Tom Harkin, or Senator Saxby Chambliss. Agriculture Committee contact information: House Agriculture Committee (majority) House Committee on Agriculture 1301 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-2171 Fax: 202-225-0917 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] House Agriculture Committee (minority) Committee on Agriculture 1305 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-0317 Senate Agriculture Committee (majority and minority - please specify in envelope address) Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition Forestry Room SR-328A Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC. 20510-6000 Phone: 202-224-2035 Sample letter Dear Representative (or Senator) __: I am a _ (farmer, consumer, horse owner, etc. Tell them just a couple of sentences about yourself). I am writing to ask you to stop the US Department of Agriculture from continuing to implement the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Agriculture Secretary Johanns recently described the NAIS as one of the largest systemic changes ever faced by the livestock industry. But the Senate has held only one hearing, in 2004, on the topic, and the House of Representatives has yet to hold a single hearing. At the Senate hearing, many questions were raised about both the principle and feasibility of the program, yet the USDA has failed to address many of the concerns raised by the Senators. Despite the lack of Congressional oversight and unanswered questions, USDA has spent over $84 million implementing this program, which will have a significant impact on millions of Americans as well as our food supply. To add insult to injury, the Congress has yet to pass any legislation specifically authorizing NAIS. And the USDA has not issued nor does it plan to issue any regulations on the program. The USDA's plan for NAIS would require the following: 1. Premises Registration: Every person who owns or manages locations where livestock and poultry are handled will have to register in a government database, or a private database that the government can access. This includes people who own even one horse, chicken, goat, sheep, cow, pig, deer, or elk. 2. Animal Identification: Every animal will be assigned a unique 15-digit number by the government when they are moved from their herd of origin or are commingled with other animals. Each animal will need to be permanently identified. For several species, the proposal is to require radio frequency identification tags or microchips, rather than the less expensive, traditional forms of physical tagging. While the USDA claims that poultry and swine will get group numbers, most small farmers and companion-animal owners do not keep
Re: [blackbelly] Farm Logo
You can see pics of her blackbelly designs on my Web site at http://www.critterhaven.biz/links/index.htm#supplies She doesn't have a Web site, but if you click one of the designs, it will launch your email program so that you can write her. Carol At 11:54 AM 1/3/2007, you wrote: Recently we had logos embroidered on shirts for our ranch Foley Peak and my brothers ranch Storey Ohana Ranch by Judy [EMAIL PROTECTED] Judy is a Blackbelly sheep owner and How about some pictures?? Does she have a website?? Sounds fun! Carol Elkins Critterhaven--Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz T-shirts, mugs, caps, and more at the Barbados Blackbelly Online Store http://www.cafepress.com/blackbellysheep ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] penink drawings from photos
Blackbelly folks, I'm writing to introduce you to an artist I've just discovered who can very inexpensively make a beautiful pen and ink drawing out of any photo you give her. Ann-Cathrine Loo lives in the U.K., but all she needs is your photograph and an email address to create exquisite drawings and paintings of your sheep, family, and any other artwork you may need. I wanted a simple line drawing to put on my farm sign, so I emailed her the photo of Zane, the ram most of you have seen on various Web sites I manage. You can see a small version of the result, plus a link to her Web site, at http://www.critterhaven.biz/links/index.htm (halfway down the page; the last item under Supplies and Services). Within a day of receiving the project description she emailed me the completed electronic file in various formats so that I could use the image on the farm sign, stationary, biz cards, and other marketing materials. I would LOVE to see what she could do with a beautiful horned American Blackbelly ram! Any of you wanting artwork of your critters might want to contact her and get a bid. Have a look at her portfolio; it's awesome. Although some of her work just isn't my style, all of the samples of animals that she's done are really great. She doesn't specialize in doing animal portraits like a lot of artists you'll see ads for in sheep and other animal magazines; but I'm really pleased with her work. One of her drawings would make a great Christmas present for someone. When I find a company to make my farm's new sign, I'll post a photo of it. How cool would it be if all of us had blackbelly signs on our farm gates! Eventually everyone in the neighborhood would know that these beautiful creatures are NOT GOATS! Carol Carol Elkins Critterhaven--Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz T-shirts, mugs, caps, and more at the Barbados Blackbelly Online Store http://www.cafepress.com/blackbellysheep ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] barbado sheep in Bastrop, TX
This came in on Craig's list today. Thought some of you might be interested. I've noticed recently how the term adoption fee is now replacing price in so many ads for critters these days. http://austin.craigslist.org/pet/239780201.html Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2006-11-26, 9:33AM CST We have 5 sheep and 2 rams that need to be adopted. Due to husband's new work schedule, we are unable to handle all of them. 2 of the sheep are positive pregnant and there is another one we think is pregnant. We are asking an adoption fee of $ 350 for all of them. This will include the remainder of the feed that we have for them. For more information or details, please call us at 903-806-5615 Since our truck is not running right now, you would have to pick them up in Bastrop. Thanks for looking. Pictures can be sent upon request. ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] cafepress.com website problems
Hi Cecil, I don't have any control over the CafePress end of things other than giving them the file to print the cookbook. However, I've never had any trouble with their ordering process. I recommend you use their Order by Phone method if your computer continues to time out (it may simply be a slow cyber-journey from your computer to their Web site today). Their toll-free number is 1-877-809-1659 Monday - Saturday 9:00 am - 9:00 pm EST. Before calling, please note the Product Numbers of the items you want to order. To find the Product Number, just click on your item of interest and locate the Product Number below the item name. If you still have problems, Cecil, email me privately and I'll do everything I can to make this a smooth transaction. Carol On 11/26/2006 6:27:44 AM, Cecil Bearden ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote: I spent about 30 minutes this morning to get the blackbelly cookbook CD. every time I tried to checkout, the computer timed out. Carol Elkins Critterhaven--Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz T-shirts, mugs, caps, and more at the Barbados Blackbelly Online Store http://www.cafepress.com/blackbellysheep ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
