All things ovine, sheep farming and learning more about sheep and shepherding. Learn about breeding animals and being a sheep farmer. Want more content to help you sheep well? Subscribe now for subscriber only content! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/subscribe
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! More tales and tails of lambing on the farm, including challenges and surprises with lambing maidens. Enjoy! Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! The highs and lows, lessons and experiments from this year's lambing so far! Get ready for some very gory insights! The sheep magazine in digital copy: https://assba.com.au/Main.asp?_=Muster&D=/edit/Muster/&W=F&X=R To subscribe to the sheep magazine follow the link below: https://assba.com.au/products/display.asp?ID=1&Title=The%20MUSTER%20MAGAZINE%20annual%20subscription Support the show Want more! Want to show us some ...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! Where do hair sheep come from? Are they are fad? What are their features and advantages and what breeds are there? Enjoy this journey into the amazing world of hair sheep breeds! Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! What are dual purpose sheep breeds? How many are in this category and how do they vary country by country. Learn all about dual purpose sheep breeds in this episode! Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! I love wool! Who knew there were so many breeds that offer us such a brilliant resource. Enjoy learning about the variety of wool sheep breeds that we have, where they come from and what qualities of wool they have. Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! In this episode we explore sheep that are primarily raised and valued for their meat production. These individual types of meat sheep are selected and bred for their ability to gain weight rapidly. Each lamb produces a lean, muscular high-yield carcass which is desirable for the cook, the chef or the consumer! We specifically explore : What are meat sheep Breeds of meat sheep of the world Why breed meat sheep Where you might find meat ...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! Disclaimer - history was not my best subject at school! Nevertheless here is my attempt at a short history of sheep! https://www.britannica.com/animal/mouflon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! Following on from the episode on terminal sheep systems in this episode we explore the pros and cons of the maternal production system when breeding sheep. Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! A terminal sire is typically used in a commercial breeding program. This is a breeding program where the offspring of the sire will generally be slaughtered for meat. As a rule, a terminal sire’s primary use is to produce good quality market animals. Terminal sires are used but they are rarely, if ever, used to produce replacements or breeding animals. In a terminal sire breeding system, breeding and replacements animals are often boug...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! Ever dreamed of an easy, hassle free place to market and sell your sheep - well such a place now exists in Australia now but soon to come to a country near you! Youchoose's mission is to create a simple and easy-to-use directory with practical features. A transparent and collaborative network of breeders and animal lovers. They have created a directory for all animals , whether you are a sheep breeder, dog owner or breeder budgies! You...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! Sheep are prey animals and prey animals have a flight zone. The flight zone of an animal is the area surrounding an animal that if encroached upon by a potential predator or threat, including humans, will cause alarm and escape behavior . We can use this to manage, move or muster sheep in a safe way in a paddock or in yards. https://www.grandin.com/behaviour/principles/flight.zone.html Support the show Want more! Want to show us some s...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! What is sheep scanning, why do it and what do I use the data for? I've been scanning sheep two ways this week - here is why i do it! Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! What are the differences and similarities with farming sheep in Australia and Ireland? In this episode we chat again with Andrew, my brother about his time in Australia and what he has noticed while being on several sheep enterprises while here. Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! A bittersweet time for me in Ireland over the last 5 weeks. Here are all the tips and unusual strategies we used while lambing in Ireland with my brother. Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! Focus on Forelimbs Forelimbs, front legs or shoulders in a sheep actually hold up to 60 per cent of the weight of a sheep! I chatted with Matt Hill from Aurora Park Hampshire Downs and Border Leicester stud recently to explore all things fore in sheep! How important are shoulders? Matt remarks that there is more pressure on the front legs as they hold up more of the animal overall. Shoulders are important for three crucial functions. T...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! So what is the natural grazing behaviour of sheep and how does it compare to a goat or cow. When should my sheep be feeding/eating and for how long? No doubt there are all thoughts you have had while ruminating on your sheep! Well in this episode I explore my own observations and research on the topic of sheep grazing behaviour. Enjoy ruminating on this one! Here are the big words I mentioned: Crepuscular pattern - grazing at twilight ...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! We will all have to deal with the death of a sheep maybe from natural causes like old age or you may even need to euthanise an animal. What are the options so you treat the animal in a moral and ethical way at the end of their life. What do you do with their body. In this episode we explore some options for you to think about. Do know that there may be legal requirements that you need to follow for this in your location or state. Here ...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! Can a single born ram produce twins? Who makes that biggest difference the ewe or the ram? In the episode we explore who is more important in the twinning game! Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! Did you know that 95% of parasites are on pasture and only about 5% are within the sheep. This means parasite larvae numbers present in the pasture are an important factor to consider for worm management. So how do you manage worms on your farm and in your fields, we explore several approaches in this episode for you. Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! h...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! Want to know what drench to use and when to drench, this episode will help you explore the different types of drenches and understand more about when to use drenches on your sheep. Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! The biggest threat to sheep and lambs - parasites! The biggest issue we have with parasites comes from Barber's Pole Worm or Haemonchus Contortus. In this episode we explore the worm, what it does, how it is different and how to win in the fight against it. We also explore some new learnings I've had this season about our foe Barber's Pole Worm. I hope this helps you sheep well for the season to come! Support the show Want more! Want t...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! What is flushing, how to do it and why do it - in this episode we explore all of these questions to help you prepare for joining 2024 no matter when your joining/mating season happens! Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! A common question and something to think about is what is the difference between grass and grain fed lamb both for us as producers and also for us as consumers. Scientists who compared grass fed lamb meat with grain fed lamb meat in a feedlot found that: Lambs grazing in pasture had 14% less fat and about 8 % more protein compared to grain-fed lamb. Grass fed lamb meat is also an excellent source of vitamin B-12, niacin, zinc, and a go...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! sSo no doubt you are in wind down mode for the year and it is a good time to reflect on all things sheep! What did you do well or what went well in 2023 and what are the takeaways from the year and area to improve for 2024. In this episode I share with you my five lessons from sheeping in 2023. Enjoy! See you in 2024! Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! h...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! So what do you buy that sheep person who has everything.... something sheep related of course!! With sales in the air, birthdays, holiday and festive shopping to think about, here are some ideas on sheep presents that could just hit the sheep spot for you or for that sheep crazy person in your life. I've also included some DIY sheep related gifts that you can make yourself and give to people as presents! So happy sheep shopping! Suppor...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! So a huge question I get asked is should I go stud with my sheep? The question really relates to your WHY, why are you doing this!? Go beyond making money and breeding great sheep - what are you really wanting to achieve with your sheep, what do you really want to focus on with your sheep. There are so many reasons why we do what we do and yours will be yours so spend time working that out and that will help you make YOUR choice! While...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! Prevention is always better than cure! So what can you do to reduce hoof issues, lameness and any productivity issues in your sheep? In this episode we explore the key things that you can do to avoid most sheep foot problems in the first place! Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! So you love your sheep and want to grow and expand! Firstly - great decision!! But how do you do it? What steps do you take? How do you move forward in the right direction and do the most important thing first? In this episode we explore exactly that all the steps you need to take to grow from 3 to 30 sheep or from 10 to 100 sheep or whatever number is right for you and your land. I do hope this episode helps you grow with confidence a...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! Ahh the age old question - what drench do I get for me sheep? Well... it depends! This question has more follow up questions that answers. The main question to ask yourself is what worms am I trying to actually drench/kill. Once you know that or get close to knowing that you can then target the little suckers. In this episode we explore pour on drenches, injectable drenches and drenches that go down the sheep's throat. We look at the a...
Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime! So what are my go to natural approaches for sheep issues and health concerns and what have I used them all for. In this episode we explore five best natural therapies some of which you can get really cheaply or you might even have them in your kitchen cupboard! Support the show Want more! Want to show us some sheep love? Sign up for extra content via our sheep supporters tab ! https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new...
