Sheep Grooming
Baa, baa, show sheep. Have you any wool? Yes, and with any luck, your show sheep’s wool will have a good buildup of lanolin, too. Read on to find out how lanolin acts as a natural conditioner.
Sheep grooming starts at home and isn’t something you want to attempt to start the week before your show. It takes time, effort, and skill to get your show lamb dialed in as you prep to win and try to make your lamb look picture-perfect.
At DuraFerm®, many of our team members are passionate about sheep grooming and showing. DuraFerm is a line of nutritional supplements for sheep and goats that supports optimal digestion and nutrition for maximized performance at every stage of production. That is why we created this blog. We wanted to share some valuable information with you, our fellow sheep enthusiasts.
DuraFerm is fortunate to have team members who have raised, sold and shown sheep for many years. We leaned into one such team member for his experience and expertise in sheep grooming. Sam Silvers, BioZyme® Director of National Specialty Livestock, lives at Junction, Texas, where he and his family operate Silvers Livestock. Silvers shares his advice on sheep grooming.
Skin Care 101
When it comes to clipping show lambs, Silvers said he likes to rough clip their bodies about 30-45 days before their first show date. Once he shears their bodies, he covers them with a sheep blanket and leaves them.
“I keep the same blanket on the lambs to keep their lanolin in their hides as long as possible. The blanket might seem like it is getting greasy and kind of nasty, but lanolin is the best natural skin conditioner for the sheep,” he said.
Lanolin, or wool grease, is a naturally occurring emolument excreted by the sheep’s glands. As the lanolin comes out of the glands, it moisturizes the lambs naturally. Therefore, Silvers don’t wash their body until it gets closer to show time. Keeping the blanket on the lambs helps keep the lanolin worked into their skin.
“Washing will only strip the lanolin out of their skin. I’d wait to wash them before it’s time to shear for the show,” Silvers advised.
Work the Shag
When it comes to daily sheep grooming, working leg wool will probably take the bulk of your time. Leg wool needs worked every day. Silvers said working leg wool involves the following:
- Unwrap the legs
- Blow out the legs
- Brush out the legs and apply conditioner
- Blow out the legs again and let dry completely
- Rewrap the legs when they are 100% dry
Rinse the legs with cold water at the beginning of this routine every other day to promote wool growth. Silvers emphasizes the imperative of ensuring that the legs are completely dry before wrapping. Wrapping wet legs can lead to sluffing leg wool, which is the opposite of what you are working to achieve.
“Do not wrap damp or wet legs. That is bad news for the lamb and, ultimately, the exhibitor,” he said.
He suggests blowing downward to get all the tangles out of the leg wool, especially as it gains more length. Finally, he said find a conditioner that works best for you. You need something that promotes hair growth, luster, and shine. There are several great products on the market already.
If you are unsure where to start, talk to other exhibitors or breeders. Often, it takes trying products to determine which one works best in your barn.
The Final Cut
When it comes to sheep grooming, each state and each show will have different regulations and rules. For example, Silvers said at most Texas shows, they can’t shear at the show, so he will put a final clip on the show lamb 2 to 3 days before they leave or the day before they leave. It often depends on the show.
The Foundation
One thing that you don’t want to overlook is your show lamb’s feet. Silvers suggest trimming feet about every 2-3 weeks. Hoof size and shape are a critical part of sheep grooming because if your sheep can’t walk out properly, its overall appearance probably won’t matter since there is so much emphasis on structural soundness.
Nutrition Plays a Role
As we mentioned, DuraFerm is a line of nutritional supplements for sheep and goats that supports optimal digestion and nutrition for maximized performance at every stage of production. DuraFerm is a way to strengthen your stock.
BioZyme, makers of DuraFerm, also makes a line of products that support the health and well-being of show livestock – Sure Champ®. Sure Champ augments the routine you’re already using to ensure maximum results. It takes the benefits of a great dietary supplement, like DuraFerm, and takes it to the next level in show livestock. Sure Champ essentially helps your animals #PreptoWin, and both brands are powered by AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, a research-proven prebiotic designed to enhance digestibility.
Nutrients like biotin and zinc, both found in Sure Champ® Extreme with ClariFly® help enhance the skin, leg wool and hoof quality in show animals, which is important when it comes to sheep grooming.
Sure Champ Extreme with ClariFly is a pelleted, daily supplement for show livestock with ClariFly designed to support hoof health, hair coat and performance when temperatures are above 70 degrees. It contains Amaferm to enhance digestibility and MOS to help normalize gut microflora and support the immune system.
Additionally, it contains HEAT technology, a combination of essential oils and garlic, as well as ClariFly to support animals when heat and insects are a challenge. Remember, keeping your animals cool in the heat, also promotes hair growth.
Sure Champ Liquid Boost is a liquid for all livestock designed to provide immediate support to the animal’s digestive and immune systems. Formerly known as Vita Charge Liquid Boost, it contains both Amaferm and MOS and flavoring to help drive feed and water intake.
DuraFerm & Sure Champ Work Together
As you work on your sheep grooming, don’t forget what you see on the outside – wool growth, good skin – often starts on the inside with quality nutrition. If you raise sheep, you want to invest in a nutrition program like DuraFerm. This will ensure that your flock gets all the vitamins and minerals it needs.
If your show lamb project is seasonal and will only be in your barn for a limited time, Sure Champ may be the ideal nutritional supplement for you.
Order your Nutrition Products from BioZyme Today!
You can get your DuraFerm or Sure Champ products as easily as ordering online today.
Do you prefer to support a local BioZyme dealer? Find a dealer near you to find all your favorite Sure Champ and other DuraFerm products.
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