Flock Management - Raising Sheep - page 274

Feeds
Do not overfeed ewes during the early months of pregnancy. A program of
increased feeding must be maintained during late gestation to avoid preg-
nancy disease and other problems. Overfeeding early in pregnancy can cause
ewes to gain excessive weight that may later cause diffi culty in lambing.
Have adequate feeder space (20 to 24 inches [50.8 to 61 cm] per ewe) so
that all ewes have access to the feed at one time; otherwise, timid or older
ewes will get crowded out. If possible, they should be given a free-choice
mineral-salt mix that contains selenium; this can make it unnecessary to
inject selenium prior to lambing (to protect lambs from white muscle dis-
ease). Never use a mineral mix intended for cattle because it may be fortifi ed
with copper at a level that is toxic to sheep. Some geographical areas require

SHEPHERD STORY

Richard Parry: Manager Extraordinaire
A LTHOUGH RICHARD PARRY'S FLOCK is larger than the

national average, by Western-range standards, 1,500 head is nothing to get
excited about. But Richard's approach to shepherding is something to get excited
about. Some of Richard's techniques may not apply to your small fl ock, but his
philosophy should.
After graduating from high school in 1971, Richard became a rancher in his
own right because of his father's untimely death. The ranch had already been in
his family for several generations, and it was up to him to keep it going.
Richard's dad and granddad before him had operated a conventional range-
style sheep outfi t. At one time they ran 3,000 head. Lambing was done in sheds
in the winter, then ewes and lambs were moved up to Forest Service allotments
to graze in the summer. In spite of hired herders staying full time with the fl ock,
death losses were high. The home place was farmed for winter feed.
Richard started his career with a farm-sized fl ock, but soon was up to 1,000
head and practicing the same approaches his family had before. “By 1985 I was
about ready to chuck it all. We were struggling along, making less money, work-
ing harder. But then I went through my fi rst 'paradigm shift'; I discovered man-
aged grazing. I really began to get excited again, to see hope for our operation.
We began by building grazing paddocks on half the farm ground.
“Between 1985 and 1990, the paradigm shift continued. I discovered The
Stockman Grass Farmer magazine, holistic management, and the Ranching for