Learned about market sheep and how to raise a sheep

[misfitmorgan]

The real sole purpose of the leg fluff is to make the hoof look bigger and the leg look thicker, to give the appearance of bigger bones when you are talking about showing. Some people will argue it allows the person showing to try to "minimize" any negative aspect/flaws of the legs, not really true as a good judge will see thru the fluff. We personally select stock without adult leg fluff because the animals stay cleaner. I am really against the entire leg fluff idea, you should not encourage people to use leg fluff to try to "trick" the judge into placing it higher as it just leads to inferior sheep being bred. Yes in normal smaller fairs the animals is sold to slaughter but in the higher levels they are often taken to several shows depending on the breeders desires for their stock. The idea being the more lambs that they breed that place well and then go on to breed, will make stock they can charge more for.

 

[Baymule]

That's stupid show rules. Show animals get derailed on common sense that sometimes is detrimental to the breed.

 

[misfitmorgan]

That's stupid show rules. Show animals get derailed on common sense that sometimes is detrimental to the breed.

Sadly happens with most any animal thats shown.

 

[Poka_Doodle]

That's stupid show rules. Show animals get derailed on common sense that sometimes is detrimental to the breed.

I definitely agree. But at a prospect show the judge was talking about how the lamb itself looked with the fluffy well fit legs. I've seen a breeder that my friends show for, have a whether go for close to twenty thousand, and at that point its a little ridiculous. I am lucky that my breeder charges the same for every lamb. I got his best this year, for the same price as every other lamb he is selling.

 

[Baymule]

Nice of him not to gouge kids for the better lambs.

 

[Ridgetop]

Leg fluff does not make the lamb better, just fluffier! LOL

No meat on the legs belong the knee so any judge that is misled by that should not be judging. Granted, a straight sturdy leg is essential for grazing animals. But unless this is a wool breed where 50% of judging points are on quality and condition of wool, the meat breeds should be shown slick shorn (in my opinion) since the standards for those breeds are judged 50%+ on meat allocation. Not wool. We only kept about 2 weeks of wool on our breeding stock for showing too. Back then all breeds except wool breeds shown in wool had gone to slick shorn so the structure was more easily seen. However, 20 years before that all breeding sheep were shown in full wool that could be sculpted to ae the animal appear as perfect. LOL I have also seen this done in other species with long hair - I myself (when showing dogs) was pretty good with a grooming scissors! LOL

Wanting leg fluff to hide any defects in the legs or hooves is just another way for the better fitters to win over a better animal with a beginning fitter. My opinion. Again I prefer a slick leg due to our terrain with brush instead of grass pasture. Probably why I prefer Dorpers now.

 

[Show Sebright]

Hi sorry I was gone for a long time. Thank you for all the help. I was looking in to a house for my sheep. I can’t have him ever eating the real grass sadly because we have 2 or 3 deadly plants in the grass.

 

[Show Sebright]

Here are some ideas… probably with a wood flooor or something cheap.

 

[Poka_Doodle]

Those are interesting ideas, and to be honest, I probably should take note because I will have to find a place for mine to stay for a bit come spring. I am probably not the one to tell you what exactly to house them in, but what I can tell you is that I kept mine in a horse stall in our barn, with a horse run available. You do obviously have to use extra fencing so that a lamb can not get through the fence and get out.
Regarding green grass, in general, green grass on the stomach of a show lamb or show goat causes diarrhea. It is ideal to not allow for them to eat green grass for the most part.

 

[Poka_Doodle]

Just re-read through this thread, and found a thing or two that I think is worth discussing.
I know how darn expensive the vets are, and while I understand luck, I would expect AT LEAST one trip to the vet for something. I know I was unlucky this past year and was on weekly (sometimes daily) vet calls for one lamb, but do expect to get to know your vet. Things happen with sheep, and unfortunately you do need to be close with your vet.
Leg wool I would say is a choice, I do believe in it, but depending on how competitive you want to be, you don't entirely NEED to worry about it.
When it comes to feeding, I would talk to the person you buy your lamb from, my breeder has the attitude of it all being the same thing in a different bag. Really feeding is a personal choice, and to be honest, I think that they all have pretty good reputations.