[blackbelly] Browsers/Grazers
Mark, your observation about browsers is astute, but I would apply a slightly different logic. Some of the goat websites I've read are so hysterical about cocci that they demand breeders remove all kids from their mothers immediately they are born, and rear them artificially. It's widely accepted that the leaves of deep-rooted trees and shrubs are mineral goldmines. The roots go into the subsoil, much deeper than most forbs and grasses (particularly poorly managed ones), and bring the minerals up from below, storing them in their leaves, which fall in autumn and enrich the topsoil. Working on the assumption that Nature has equipped the sheep with everything she needs to be a successful sheep, we could observe that many of our blackbelly sheep are voracious foragers. My sheep are as handy on their hind legs as any goat, and are always grabbing desperately for any fir, pine or apple leaves they can reach. If you observe the eating habits of the sheep, they are either telling us that leaves are simply tasty, or leaves are essential to their diet owing to the tremendous mineral content. Look at Chris' model - his sheep really ARE in heaven, a complete smorgasbord from which to select their own nutrition. A flock that thrives without intervention. To me, that says that Chris' farm is vastly more "in balance" than mine, where the sheep are primarily grazing on a limited assortment of grasses, grown in deficient soil. These are just my thoughts - I was deeply unsettled after discussing my lab results with the vet last night. I was ready to throw in the towel, but my husband gently and compassionately intervened. He helped steer me back into the middle of the channel without running aground as I frequently do. We kick back in bed in the morning with our cuppa, and the "sheep train," a group of five individuals that we keep in the "house yard," file into view - we could set our clock by them - rummaging around for something green to eat. We watch them, our two beautiful rams, a lamb and a pair of ewes soon to give birth, and that deep-rooted respect and admiration well up, and I know I am not ready to give up, even though I can feel pretty defeated sometimes. Not yet though. I read recently that hazelnut leaves are loaded with minerals, so I just harvested a bunch for the sheep, out of a brushy paddock that is not quite ready for sheep yet. It leads a person in a whole 'nother direction - the dangers of monoculture in agriculture. I think I may start looking at that pasture and figuring out how to make it more productive for browsers. That could be a huge challenge. But maybe that is where this is all headed. I've been looking at ONLY the grass. I haven't been seeing the whole picture. The sheep are like a barometer of habitat health. I think I have been missing a large part of the picture. That can happen sometimes! Barb L. ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] Browsers/Grazers
Hi Barb, I like your logic! I also agree it sounds like Chris has a good thing going on with his flock! Finding trees that the sheep don't out right kill is probably the challenge. Around here the favorite tree of choice is the Osage Orange/Hedge. They won't touch the hedge apples. They usually leave the bark alone but absolutely go nuts over the leaves. The other tree they favor is Walnut trees. They leave the mature trees bark alone and really like the leaves. Unfortunately they usually kill the saplings by eating their bark and leaves. Maybe even more intensive plot rotations so the trees have a chance? I don't know what grows on clay and lava soil types. Keep us up to date on your progress! Mark It's widely accepted that the leaves of deep-rooted trees and shrubs are mineral goldmines. The roots go into the subsoil, much deeper than most forbs and grasses (particularly poorly managed ones), and bring the minerals up from below, storing them in their leaves, which fall in autumn and enrich the topsoil. Working on the assumption that Nature has equipped the sheep with everything she needs to be a successful sheep, we could observe that many of our blackbelly sheep are voracious foragers. My sheep are as handy on their hind legs as any goat, and are always grabbing desperately for any fir, pine or apple leaves they can reach. If you observe the eating habits of the sheep, they are either telling us that leaves are simply tasty, or leaves are essential to their diet owing to the tremendous mineral content. Look at Chris' model - his sheep really ARE in heaven, a complete smorgasbord from which to select their own nutrition. A flock that thrives without intervention. To me, that says that Chris' farm is vastly more "in balance" than mine, where the sheep are primarily grazing on a limited assortment of grasses, grown in deficient soil. It leads a person in a whole 'nother direction - the dangers of monoculture in agriculture. I think I may start looking at that pasture and figuring out how to make it more productive for browsers. That could be a huge challenge. But maybe that is where this is all headed. I've been looking at ONLY the grass. I haven't been seeing the whole picture. The sheep are like a barometer of habitat health. I think I have been missing a large part of the picture. That can happen sometimes! Barb L. ___ 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] Browsers/Grazers
Mine must be pretty healthy right now, they ahve been annihillating every hackberry sapling around!! After they are in a pasture for about 3 weeks, I can get under the saplings to cut them down. Then in one evening, they clean off all the leaves Cecil in OKla - Original Message - From: "The Wintermutes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Friday, August 04, 2006 2:55 PM Subject: Re: [blackbelly] Browsers/Grazers > > Hi Barb, > > I like your logic! I also agree it sounds like Chris has a good thing > going > on with his flock! > > Finding trees that the sheep don't out right kill is probably the > challenge. > Around here the favorite tree of choice is the Osage Orange/Hedge. They > won't touch the hedge apples. They usually leave the bark alone but > absolutely go nuts over the leaves. The other tree they favor is Walnut > trees. They leave the mature trees bark alone and really like the leaves. > Unfortunately they usually kill the saplings by eating their bark and > leaves. > > Maybe even more intensive plot rotations so the trees have a chance? I > don't know what grows on clay and lava soil types. Keep us up to date on > your progress! > > Mark > > > It's widely accepted that the leaves of deep-rooted trees and shrubs are > mineral goldmines. The roots go into the subsoil, much deeper than most > forbs and grasses (particularly poorly managed ones), and bring the > minerals up from below, storing them in their leaves, which fall in > autumn and enrich the topsoil. > > Working on the assumption that Nature has equipped the sheep with > everything she needs to be a successful sheep, we could observe that > many of our blackbelly sheep are voracious foragers. My sheep are as > handy on their hind legs as any goat, and are always grabbing > desperately for any fir, pine or apple leaves they can reach. > > If you observe the eating habits of the sheep, they are either telling > us that leaves are simply tasty, or leaves are essential to their diet > owing to the tremendous mineral content. > > Look at Chris' model - his sheep really ARE in heaven, a complete > smorgasbord from which to select their own nutrition. A flock that > thrives without intervention. To me, that says that Chris' farm is > vastly more "in balance" than mine, where the sheep are primarily > grazing on a limited assortment of grasses, grown in deficient soil. > > It leads a person in a whole 'nother direction - the dangers of > monoculture in agriculture. I think I may start looking at that pasture > and figuring out how to make it more productive for browsers. That > could be a huge challenge. But maybe that is where this is all headed. > I've been looking at ONLY the grass. I haven't been seeing the whole > picture. > > The sheep are like a barometer of habitat health. I think I have been > missing a large part of the picture. That can happen sometimes! > > Barb L. > > > ___ > 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
Re: [blackbelly] Browsers/Grazers
My sheep just love it when I clear fence row! I throw the brush to the side and they gorge on the leaves. It makes hauling the brush off much easier later on! Mark -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Cecil Bearden Sent: Friday, August 04, 2006 5:45 PM To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Subject: Re: [blackbelly] Browsers/Grazers Mine must be pretty healthy right now, they ahve been annihillating every hackberry sapling around!! After they are in a pasture for about 3 weeks, I can get under the saplings to cut them down. Then in one evening, they clean off all the leaves Cecil in OKla - Original Message - From: "The Wintermutes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Friday, August 04, 2006 2:55 PM Subject: Re: [blackbelly] Browsers/Grazers > > Hi Barb, > > I like your logic! I also agree it sounds like Chris has a good thing > going > on with his flock! > > Finding trees that the sheep don't out right kill is probably the > challenge. > Around here the favorite tree of choice is the Osage Orange/Hedge. They > won't touch the hedge apples. They usually leave the bark alone but > absolutely go nuts over the leaves. The other tree they favor is Walnut > trees. They leave the mature trees bark alone and really like the leaves. > Unfortunately they usually kill the saplings by eating their bark and > leaves. > > Maybe even more intensive plot rotations so the trees have a chance? I > don't know what grows on clay and lava soil types. Keep us up to date on > your progress! > > Mark > > > It's widely accepted that the leaves of deep-rooted trees and shrubs are > mineral goldmines. The roots go into the subsoil, much deeper than most > forbs and grasses (particularly poorly managed ones), and bring the > minerals up from below, storing them in their leaves, which fall in > autumn and enrich the topsoil. > > Working on the assumption that Nature has equipped the sheep with > everything she needs to be a successful sheep, we could observe that > many of our blackbelly sheep are voracious foragers. My sheep are as > handy on their hind legs as any goat, and are always grabbing > desperately for any fir, pine or apple leaves they can reach. > > If you observe the eating habits of the sheep, they are either telling > us that leaves are simply tasty, or leaves are essential to their diet > owing to the tremendous mineral content. > > Look at Chris' model - his sheep really ARE in heaven, a complete > smorgasbord from which to select their own nutrition. A flock that > thrives without intervention. To me, that says that Chris' farm is > vastly more "in balance" than mine, where the sheep are primarily > grazing on a limited assortment of grasses, grown in deficient soil. > > It leads a person in a whole 'nother direction - the dangers of > monoculture in agriculture. I think I may start looking at that pasture > and figuring out how to make it more productive for browsers. That > could be a huge challenge. But maybe that is where this is all headed. > I've been looking at ONLY the grass. I haven't been seeing the whole > picture. > > The sheep are like a barometer of habitat health. I think I have been > missing a large part of the picture. That can happen sometimes! > > Barb L. > > > ___ > 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 ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] Browsers/Grazers
One side of our property borders some woods; in the winter, to save on hay and make the sheep happier, I will trim some of the branches that hang over our pasture for them every day - THEY LOVE IT and it gets the fence line clear at the same time! Of course, it makes more work for me to go back and pick up all the leafless branches later, but they love it so much, I don't mind. Their favorites are camphor (yes, I know, everyone says poison, but my sheep LOVE it AND you should see them when the camphor berries are falling, they make a bee-line for that area every morning to pick up any berries that are on the ground), oak (of course) and their number one favorite is BAMBOO! Onalee ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
