2024-2025 Sheep Showing

[BrahmerQueen]

Looks like it to me

 

[Baymule]

I mud confess, I don’t check teeth guides against my sheep.

 

[Margali]

@Baymule They have lamb class, 2 tooth and 4-6 tooth classes. Was triple checking I entered Oreo in correct one.

 

[Ridgetop]

Lamb class means no adult teeth, all lamb teeth. 2 tooth means 2 adult teeth. 4-6 teeth mean adult teeth on either side of 2 center teeth.

I would say she's a 2 on body condition but people were giving side eye like she was starving to death.

Show people feed high protein concentrates all year round. Their ewes will look rather fat to most people (remember those White Dorper ewes at the show we met you at?) Katahdin ewes are often more slim and gracile looking due tp bone structure than heavier bodied Dorpers. Dorper Standard requires a very deep and rounded body with only 1/3 of the height from ground to top of withers being legs. That ratio will show the body to be 2/3 of the height from ground to top of withers. This is one reason they will look larger and more full through the barrel than most Katahdins. When you add a show body condition of 3-4 on top of that larger bone structure, Oreo will look thinner in comparison.

Soak beet pulp overnight in water and feed that to Oreo. Beet pulp will help her put on weight. Feeding corn will also help put on some fat cover. High protein hay will not put on weight in the same way since high protein hay is a lower calorie feed. Feed half the concentrates in the morning before turning out to pasture to ensure that she eats more of the concentrate before she fills her rumen with grass or hay. Feed the other half at night when she comes in so she can eat it before sleeping.

 

[Margali]

So Oreo and Aria have been on a mix of 14% protein, hulled sunflower seeds, and 15% sheep specific $$ feed for about a week. I'm seeing major improvement on both I think from the high fat.

Here are the rough numbers based on the lbs line on feeds scoop. They are getting a bucket with ~9.75lbs morning and night.

	lbs feed	1.25	0.75	1.25
		RFS 14% All- Stock	Hulled Sunflower	15% MFM Sheep & Goat	Ration
Crude Protien	Min %	14	21	15	16.0
Crude Fate	Min %	3.5	43	3	12.4
Crude Fiber	Max %	16.5	12	13.5	14.3

 

[Baymule]

Hey! What about pictures of these beautiies?

Glad you figured out a good feed for them.

 

[Margali]

I'm second guessing if there is as much progress as I thought. They are also leaving a ton of sunflower seeds in the feeder.

 

[Ridgetop]

Feel along ribs and loin for body condition. Katahdins may not put on as much condition as some other breeds. Some breeds put on a lot more flesh and fat.

 

[Baymule]

Ribs and backbones aren’t supposed to show, normally . These two are feeding their babies and it all goes in the milk bag. Kinda tough to show good mommas!

I gave my sheep Black oil sunflower seed, in the shell. I think they liked the shells as much as the inside seed.

 

[farmerjan]

Good old corn will put some fat/flesh on them.

My cows do not eat sunflower seeds unless they are desperate...