Backyard Farming Forum
Bringing food production home

the 3yo ram is great! the stew is tasty,tender, and sweet like beef. so far so good....can you say sheep ribs on the grill...or mutton chops?. i knew it would be tasty because of how well fed he was. last summer a couple from aus. visited the farm and commenter that he was prime 2-2 hoggart.

maybe a two (2) tooth hoggart...... means he's about 2 years old by looking at his teeth

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If you think you can,
If you think you can't,
Either will be true.
Henry Ford

had two lambs born this morning one is a double cross off last years cross bread yearling....we have 5 so far and expecting 3 more.

nice

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contentment

Can I ask about the 3 yo ram? I've always been taught after 12mths males have 'ram taint'. Can you taste anything odd in an older ram?

Sorry big worm, I forgot to answer your question (about parasites etc).

When I was breeding sheep in wet country (around Coffs) I read a really great book called Healthy Sheep Naturally by Pat Coleby (Australian). I really recommend it.

Anyway, about your problem, she says (and I've found with my little flock) that there are 2 things that go with parasite problems, especially in black sheep:

1. copper deficiency. Black sheep need heaps more copper, so they get deficient earlier and then get worms. Copper is the most important mineral against worms and other parasites (cobalt is important too). A mineral block in the paddock may help (if it's out of the rain, or the copper will leach out).

2. Don't graze grass below 5cm in height. Below this height are about 80 % of worm larvae. This advice is maybe not very practical in some areas but it really holds true, especially in areas with summer rainfall.

Hope this helps. I love your white sheep, they remind me a bit of Wiltshire horns (which I had).

regards
Erica