Re: [Blackbelly] The Beet Pulp Experiment
Dear Cathy and Barb. I don't often participate in these discussions because I am a newbie with less than two years experience and my flock is very small. We lost nearly half of our original flock because we did not recognize that we were purchasing BB that had become undernourished. We LEARNED. Also we LEARNED that the same lead ram had been used for several years - too much inbreeding - problems. Cathy, I don't know what part of the country you are in but we live in West Texas. I have made the same observations that you have. If I let them in my yard I can depend on them to trim up my rose bush, pecan trees and anything else they can get their mouths on. This is the first lambing we have had that appears to be a success. We got rid of the lead ram and brought in two other young rams. The new rams are true hair sheep ( we are prejudiced - we don't care for the wool). The so far have produced the most beautiful little lambs, and are they hearty and healthy!! This is a hobby - they aren't registered. But we will be culling big time in about 4 weeks - too many sheep - not enough pasture. I love reading the comments and input. Barb, you are to be congratulated and commended for advancing our education in the world of the ABB. Please don't stop expanding (you sometimes refer to as rambling). You and all others have been instrumental in my learning about this wonderful animals. Linda Cook - Original Message - From: Cathy Mayton [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 4:02 PM Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] The Beet Pulp Experiment Dear Barb, This last email you sent regarding finding out what makes the ABB sheep tick is right on. I recently wrote to a gentleman in the Bahamas who has a flock of BB and I asked him how he mananged his sheep. He did not give me a direct answer but told me that my sheep are wild. I was not sure exactly what he meant by that. What he was referring to, is that the ABB was bred for hunting purposes and it has not been too many years that the ABB has been embraced by shepherds such as yourself. I am considered a newbie since it has been less than 2 years of owning my small flock. What I did notice is the goat-like behavior of these sheep. How many wool sheep do you see standing on their hind legs to strip leaves from trees? I had a couple Suffolk for a short time because my husband wanted to cross the Suffolk with one of my rams. If you had a chance to read the article I wrote for the membership, I mentioned that I periodically let my ewes out to graze in the front and side yard. The Suffolk ate the fallen leaves but did not try to eat the leaves off the trees nor did they strip bark off the trees. My ABB flock now head out to eat the fallen branches off the willow tree and then they go out front to eat the branches off the shrubs. MAYBE if they get bored they will literally graze on the grass but that is not their first choice. In the spring I can't let them out because the eat all the tender shoots off the trees and shrubs and they bounce around from one shrub to the other especially if one thinks a gold mine has been hit. Yes, mine mostly get a small amount of grain twice a day and alfalfa but I also give them veggie scraps which they love. I used to throw away the hulls from the pistachio nuts I eat but they love them too. They also love green weeds and dried up ole tumbleweeds. I give them all of this. I think we have to do the best we can within our means and areas that we are growing these sheep. You are doing your very best. I also culled heavy last year for wool and if a ewe does not take care of her lambs then she will go down the road. In the wild it would be survival of the fittest. I don't believe there is a right way or wrong way to feed our sheep, we all just have to do our best and be critical enough to know when to cull. If there is an undesirable trait, no matter how sweet the animal is, than maybe it is best to cull them from the breeding line. If the animal is sweet and someone would like to have it for pet than it is a win-win for you and the sheep. I do believe that these are not just grass sheep like the woolies. I think these sheep would have a blast if they were able to run in thickets and be allowed to forage on the plants and shrubs in the thickets. I wonder if they like kudzu that grows in the Southeast? They might be great for hire to clear areas thick with kudzu and other undesirable plants. I have read articles regarding goats for hire that do this very thing. We have however, fenced in our sheep and so they must survive on what the shepherd gives them. Just my thoughts.. Cathy Mayton LeapN' Lambs On Jan 21, 2008 10:52 AM, Barb Lee [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ya know Cecil, I received some startling advice on raising these sheep that came from a non-sheep
Re: [blackbelly] lamb weights
Rhonda, I live about 60 miles northwest of Brady. Please email where you are selling your lambs ([EMAIL PROTECTED]). Thanks, Linda - Original Message - From: RBMuller [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 3:02 PM Subject: Re: [blackbelly] lamb weights Hey! Here in Central TX, weather is the determining factor for weaning. I usually breed ewes to lamb in Oct or Nov. I wean depending on winter grass. If there is sufficient grass, I wean around 3.5 months. If there has been no fall rain, or it has been late, and the ewes are having to be fed, I wean at 60 days. The lambs are creep fed starting around 3 weeks of age. I just sold a few lambs @ $1.27/lb.The lambs averaged 41lbs. Couldn't believe it! Wish I had more ready. Also sold 30 ewes @ $.59/lb and 30 nannies@ $.62/lb This part of TX had a nice fall rain-- then 2 months of dry, hot weater-- then cold and rain. No winter grass. The market here is pretty strong compared to North and East. I try to have lambs ready for February/March markets. Goat kids also. I have been disappointed with fall and late fall markets. My ewes have been culled to be thrifty/non wormy sheep. Hardly ever worm and when I do it is now to get any wintering eggs out on the ground to die in a freeze!!! I do not feed grain, but feed pellets only as a supplement to hay ( which has been a large expense this year because of no winter grass) Contrary to what most of you do, I give my sheep full access to a 12:12 mineral blocks and sulfur/salt blocks. None of my ewes have died from copper! AND I firmly believe this wonderful breed of sheep is capable of doing quite well with little to NO interference. Thank you for listening to my 2 cents worth! Rhonda I also raise LGDs, Maremma Sheepdogs, that never let another animal kill my sheep! - Original Message - From: The Wintermutes [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 8:31 AM Subject: Re: [blackbelly] lamb weights My question to the group here is what ages do you normally wean your lambs. And what is the normal age of weaning when the ewes are allowed to wean their lambs without intervention. The only ewes that have weaned their lambs voluntarily in my operation were having health issues. It would be interesting to see what lambs ADG would be if they were weaned at 120 days! Mark Wintermute ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info -- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.17.0/639 - Release Date: 1/18/2007 ___ 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] Sheep everywhere, but here!
Kristi: We live in Ballinger, Texas - roughly between San Angelo and Abilene - in West Texas. Have three generations. Will send pictures if you are interested. We have more than our pasture will support. Linda Cook - Original Message - From: Kristi Brian Muck [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 5:27 AM Subject: [blackbelly] Sheep everywhere, but here! Wow, just catching up on posts and saw Barb and Mark post about the number of sheep they have - why can't ya'll be here in Texas?!? I can't find a blackbelly breeder locally (SE Texas) to save my life, and all I want is some more to help keep the pasture down :-) Can't afford to have any shipped, so am pretty much stuck with having the few I have I guess! Kristi Muck ___ 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] Bottle Lambs
Nancy, I have a set of twins, the mom died. They were born 11/2/06. What is the grain mix you are feeding them? Linda River Market Place - Original Message - From: Nancy Tom Richardson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 9:34 AM Subject: [blackbelly] Bottle Lambs Hello everyone. I have my first set of bottle lambs for this fall. They were born on October 13th (Friday!) They spent their first week with mom. But they were small and it turned very wet cold. They were not doing well with this first time mom so I brought both in. They are Jack Jill. Sired by Wingnut they are both yellow bellies from a Yellow belly mom. Jill is still small but eats well. They are eating a grain mix and nibbling at hay. They are being raised indoors and love laying on their heating pad still to rest. If anyone is interested please email for photos etc. Thanks Nancy - www.freewebs.com/mossyspringsranch - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2006 6:07 PM Subject: blackbelly Digest, Vol 2, Issue 200 Send blackbelly mailing list submissions to blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can reach the person managing the list at [EMAIL PROTECTED] When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than Re: Contents of blackbelly digest... Today's Topics: 1. Friday Sales: December Transport (First Class Transport) -- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 23:06:40 -0700 From: First Class Transport [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [blackbelly] Friday Sales: December Transport To: blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii The November trip is nearing its end. The new truck has proven its worth. The trailer upgrades have also been very beneficial. The heaters that were installed will allow us to keep the trailer above freezing this winter. That will allow our water supply to remain unfrozen as well as keep the animals more comfortable. We should have our cameras installed in the trailer by our next trip so Rick will be able to view the animals while driving. The next trip will start on November 27th. There is plenty of room throughout. Please visit us at www.FCTransport.com to check pricing as well as routes. Thank you, Tammy Dispatch Our mission is to be a leading provider of safe, reliable, and affordable small animal transport while providing your animal with a First Class transporting experience. -- ___ This daily digest is from the blackbelly mailing list. Visit this list's home page at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info/ End of blackbelly Digest, Vol 2, Issue 200 ** ___ 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] Herbal wormer
What is this herbal wormer you are talking about? We have 34, a mix of lambs, yearlings and full grown. We just purchased a feed that has Tramasol in it for worming. I would be interested in the herbal because we have limited grazing and are trying to keep supplemental feed to a minimum. Linda - Original Message - From: Mishael, Zack, and Morgyn [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2006 8:30 PM Subject: [blackbelly] Herbal wormer With all the talk about wormers I wanted to share that I have been using an herbal wormer with good results. The sheep are shiny and fat on very limited grazing and very little supplemental feed. I have only had them for 4 months but they have grown dramatically in that time. I originally decided to go with the herbs because the sheep were so wild and it was easy to mix with some grain. It is given 3 days in a row and then once per week for 7-8 weeks, then three day in a row-repeat. I guess the idea is the parasites can't handle the presence of the herbs and get out of there, but you have to maintain that weekly dose to keep them clear. I suppose it may not be cost effective for large flocks but maybe somthing to try in an emergency. These guys are breeding stock but I will definitly be using it on lambs to keep those chemicals out of my meat. ___ 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
