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B. "If there is a way to die, a sheep will find it".
People who have had bad experiences sometimes come by to tell me this when they see me
with sheep.
A large flock owner will see and learn to deal with various illnesses and lambing
problems quickly -- it is just a matter of numbers. With many people keeping a
few sheep each, there are more people to make mistakes (and everyone makes
mistakes).
Many problems can be avoided. The following is a list of things the books
don't always emphasize, and is written with the sheep in mind.
| 1) Stoicism. Sheep are some of the most stoic creatures
you'll ever meet, and will wait until they feel horrible before acting sick. Who
wants to be the one the coyote notices? This means it is easy for an
inexperienced person to miss a sick sheep until the sheep is very sick, and it is harder
to help. Some things you can do: |
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a. Get to know your animals.
Enjoy hanging around and watching them when everything is fine. If you do, it
is easier to notice when something is wrong.
b. Check on them regularly. When you feed and water the
sheep, stick around long enough to notice if any are not eating. A sheep that
isn't eating with the other sheep may be sick.
c. Reading and equipment. Read up on common sheep
illnesses, so you are more likely to notice a problem. Know how to use a
veterinary thermometer and keep one around. Keep supplies you might need in an
emergency. |
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d. Start right. Try to buy healthy
sheep in good condition. Keep them in good condition.
e. Sheep stuff for sheep. Don't feed mixed/pelleted feed
or mineral salt that isn't formulated specifically for sheep. Wormers are an
exception -- talk to your vet.
f. Change feed gradually. Sheep are ruminants, and they can't digest
food for which their rumens don't have the necessary organisms. Problems
digesting can lead to bloat. Don't make fast changes in feed type or content (and
that includes going from hay to grass). Make changes gradually. |
g. Maintain (maintain, maintain..).
Keep up on the maintenance -- worming, hooves, shearing, vaccinations, shelter cleaning,
etc. Keep using good quality feed. According to Dr. Buggia (ABC), it is
not uncommon for people who have had sheep for several years to have problems because they
just let something, like worming, go one year. Then, a sheep doesn't get up
one morning and the vet is called. The sheep has a lot of worms and, since it
was weak and couldn't compete with the other sheep, may also be malnourished.
All pages on this site, copyright 1998-1999 by H.L.
Richardson.
