Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
a while, the ground may be muddy, but the sheep should never be chest deep
in wet manure or mud.
At each farm, ask the shepherds about their breeding plans:
■
What are they trying to accomplish with their fl ocks?
■
Do they have production records and health records on the fl ock?
■
Will they provide a fi ve-day health warranty? Some farmers won't do
this, and with good reason: they don't know how you will take care of
the animals. But many will stand behind their animals' health for a short
period.
■
Will they deliver your animals? Within a reasonable distance, this may
be part of the sale price, but for long distances, expect to pay farmers for
trucking.
■
Will they provide some technical support after purchase, like answering
phone questions?
If a seller seems unwilling to answer your questions or is impatient with
you, go somewhere else.
Don't purchase your fi rst sheep at the sale barn or livestock auction house.
Although some good ewes may go through there from time to time, it's the
most dangerous way for beginners to purchase their animals. First, even if
the animals are healthy when they get there, they're exposed to all kinds of
other animals that are there specifi cally because they aren't healthy. Second,
as a neophyte, you probably don't have the ability to distinguish good, healthy
animals from those that aren't, especially at a distance as they run through
the ring. If you do have a sale barn nearby, though, go there for educational
purposes. Talk with the farmers and study the pricing of terminal market ani-
mals (those that are going for butcher). If you see some sheep that look good
to your untrained eye, ask whose farm they come from, and by all means give
that person a call.
Also try to move animals during mild weather, if possible, and avoid rough
handling and overcrowding in transport. All animals become stressed by mov-
ing, but the worse the stress, the more likely they'll come down with shipping
fever, which can run the gamut from a small nuisance to a calamity.
Sheep Age versus Price
The age of the sheep is important in relation to the asking price. Fine, young
ewes that have already lambed once or twice usually bring the most money;
they're already proven breeders, but they still have lots of years, and lambs,
