Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
tions and vaccinations that have been given. Ideally, the seller will be honest with you about
why they are selling the sheep.
Handling Sheep
Handling sheep is usually easier than handling other livestock animals such as goats or pigs.
Sheep are flock animals and if you can get them heading in one direction, they all usually will
follow. However, there are times when you will need to separate individual sheep to do
routine animal husbandry such as trimming hooves, worming, giving vaccinations, doing
pregnancy checks, and so on. When you need to work with an individual sheep, you may need
to tip the sheep. In order to tip a sheep, you should stand to the side of the sheep, hold the
sheep under the front legs, lift them up, and use your knee to help place them in a sitting posi-
tion. The sheep should be leaning back against your legs. If you are handling a large sheep
then you will probably need someone to help you. This sitting position is very comfortable for
the sheep, and they are usually quiet and placid while you trim hooves or check them.
If you do not feel up to tipping a sheep, you can try using a chute to hold a sheep while you
do some of these routine chores. A chute is a very tight-fitting, fenced-in area that holds the
sheep in place so you can do your work. It is a very confined area, but it does not harm the
sheep.
Housing and Feeding Sheep
Sheep are housed similar to goats, but goats and sheep should not be kept together in a con-
finement situation, as the goat will most likely bully the more docile sheep. Sheep will do
well on pasture but should be provided a shelter in inclement weather. Pregnant sheep should
be monitored closely, and when nearing the end of their pregnancy, they should be placed into
well-bedded (straw) lambing pens to lamb.
Pasture
Sheep will get a large portion of their nutrition from pasture and hay. Ewes in late pregnancy
or that are lactating and rapidly growing lambs will need to be supplemented with grain.
Sheep do not require soda like goats, but they will need salt and minerals. The mineral copper
is toxic to sheep so read the label closely on your salt/mineral supplement to make sure it is
nontoxic to sheep.
