The cold weather is enough to stress out all species of man and beast. But for sheep and goats, and especially those that lamb and kid in the cold winter months, extra management steps need to be taken to eliminate the stress on the flocks and herds. Although most sheep and goats will have thick coats of […]
Category: Management Practices
Business Plan is First Step to Successful Sheep Enterprise
There’s no business like the show lamb business. But when getting into the sheep business, or any livestock enterprise, it is important to remember that it is indeed a business. Every successful business needs to start with two things: a business plan and a set of goals. Successful club lamb producer and third generation agribusinessman Tyson […]
Why is Protein Necessary in your Sheep and Goats’ Diet?
Protein or no protein? That is a popular question among sheep and goat breeders. Protein is arguably one of the more expensive nutrients in the diet, yet it is essential to the proper health and wellness of the flock and herd. Do you need protein year-round? Probably not. However, there are critical times in your ewes […]
A Guide to Scours During Lambing and Kidding
The arrival of babies should be one of the most anticipated times of the year. You’ve planned your matings, maintained the health and nutrition of the flock and herd and will be welcoming the arrival of new lambs and kids any day. Don’t let the excitement of lambing and kidding get dampened by scours! Although management practices have […]
Keeping your Sheep and Goats Healthy through the Fall
Fall is a busy time on the farm. Regardless of if you are lambing or kidding, weaning your summer-borns or preparing to market your animals, it is imperative to keep them feeling and looking their very best. The extra stress involved at various production stages along with temperature swings brought on by the fall, all make staying […]
Fighting What you can’t See: Internal Parasites in Sheep and Goats
Sometimes the biggest pests are those you can’t even see. This is true for sheep and goat producers who tackle the challenges of internal parasites within their flocks and herds each year. These parasites cause anemia and decreased appetite leading to lowered performance and even death. The common parasites producers should be aware of are […]
A Guide to Bloat in Sheep
Bloat. It’s that uncomfortable feeling that you might experience at the first holiday potluck at your future in-laws. You’ve grazed your way through the day, munching on wonderful specialties from the wonderful cooks’ and bakers’. At the end of the day, you are miserable, full beyond belief, perhaps even bloated, but you didn’t die. However, when sheep experience bloat and it isn’t treated, it […]
How to Combat Heat Stress in Sheep and Goats
June 2021 went on record as the hottest June recorded since data has been tracked. According to the experts, the rest of the summer isn’t looking to cool off much either. Excessive heat across the country means that your sheep flocks and goat herds are likely to experience some extra heat stress, especially when those […]
3 Preventative Measures Against Cache Valley Virus
When we think mosquitos, we typically think of the foul odor of insect repellant and trying to keep those pesky creatures from landing on and biting our skin, causing itching and welts. However, if you are a sheep or goat producer who breeds ewes and does in the summer, your concerns for mosquitoes are likely to increase as you might […]
Ram Health, Proper Semen Handling Leads to Increased Conception Rates
When it comes to getting your flock bred, having reproductively sound ewes is just 50% of the equation. It is also imperative to have rams that are structurally and reproductively sound, and as an increased number of producers are moving to advanced technologies like A.I. and embryo transfer, knowing how to properly handle semen is […]
