MANAGING WORMS. Can you improve the overall health of the flock?

[The Old Ram-Australia]

G'day and thank you greybeard,you are of course completely correct in what you say.Modern livestock production is a compromise of both old and new practices.But there are sensitive issues on the fringes which do impact on the continuing genetic strength of modern livestock species.For example in the case of sheep and goats if the farmer picks up that "weedy" new born(which under normal circumstance's would not survive) and takes it home and keeps it warm and hand feeds it and when this animal is mature he/she breeds from it ,does he /she not reduce the genetic strength of the species?

It has been my experience that first you have to make the reader stop and read , consider the topic and only then can you get them to reply.The response to the thread is "heartening",the number who have opened the thread continues to grow and the Administrators decision to make it "The thread of the week" did come as quite a surprise.I'm hoping that the above comments will draw out some new contributors to the subject....T.O.R..

 

[greybeard]

G'day and thank you greybeard,you are of course completely correct in what you say.Modern livestock production is a compromise of both old and new practices.But there are sensitive issues on the fringes which do impact on the continuing genetic strength of modern livestock species.For example in the case of sheep and goats if the farmer picks up that "weedy" new born(which under normal circumstance's would not survive) and takes it home and keeps it warm and hand feeds it and when this animal is mature he/she breeds from it ,does he /she not reduce the genetic strength of the species?....T.O.R..

Absolutely!! Man is great at developing superior genetics in herds and flocks--for our own purposes, but far too often throws it all out the window with a moment of "Aw--that poor little thing--it's so cute" ---or we don't make good use of a knife and leave sub-standard males intact.

As much as I hated the 2010-2011 drought here, it forced almost all the poor cattle genetics out of the gene pool and into the auctioneers ring. Mom nature will always cull--one way or another.

 

[The Old Ram-Australia]

G'day,I agree that drought can be a great "driver" of change,in the years 2000/2010 we were in continuous drought and in the fall of 2002 we sold all of our cattle and instead concentrated on the sheep.At the beginning of fall we would estimate what feed we had on hand and sold down to that number to get the flock through winter.In 2008 in the depths of the drought we made a fundamental change to the way we farmed.The 2 photos show the position in 2008 and the other in 2012,2 years after the drought broke.The second photo was taken in Feb which is normally our hottest and driest month. ..T.O.R.

 

[greybeard]

It is heartbreaking to see land in that kind of condition, and know there is nothing one can do about it until nature decides to once again lend us a hand--no matter what species or crop we raise.
During our drought, I saw lifetimes of work go thru the auction ring--for pennies on the $$. Many got out of farming and will never return, and that drought is still the driving force behind our record high beef prices today.
(this year, we are in the opposite side of things--rain and flood)

 

[ohiogoatgirl]

I thought this podcast would be of use here. talks about rotation grazing, other grazing types and what they mean, how he decides to move animals (ie when and how soon or stay on longer etc). I found it very helpful.
http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/tag/sheep

 

[Blue Sky]

Two things I didnt notice mentioned, diatomaceous earth and multi species grazing. I have had success w both in limiting but not eliminating parasites. This spring was the wettest in many years and we had significant lamb losses. I use Levamasol now w success. I've definitely stepped up my worming this year. It has been my understanding that some species of worms have eggs that can survive months or years hence the multi species. You all are right about a multi faceted approach.

 

[norseofcourse]

I've read, and re-read, this thread several times. It contains a lot of information to think about. Forgive me if my post seems a bit scattered, I'm trying to hit several points from your posts.

I have a small flock by American standards, 5 to 10 sheep or so (depending on how many lambs). By Aussie standards, I probably don't even have sheep


Since my sheep are more hobby than business, I may have more flexibility than those needing to maximize profits. I also try to keep a mind open to learning, while at the same time deciding on my own 'what works for me', not just doing things because some 'expert' says to.

I have 6+ acres, a bit over half of it fenced. My place is far from a mono- or duo-culture - I have grasses, legumes, weeds, forbs, bushes, vines and trees galore. Many I've identified, a few I still haven't. The sheep eat most of it. They may or may not know which plants to eat for which needs - but I am sure the variety is good for them.

As far as a 'survival of the fittest' type of management - well, in some ways I fail at that. I got attached to the first ewe lamb born here, where in a larger/commercial flock she may have been culled for parasites and bottlejaw as a lamb. Or after she aborted a lamb her second pregnancy. And if I get a 'weedy' newborn, will I nurse it back to health? Yes. BUT - will I add it to my flock's genetics? NO!

Gracie (one of my original ewes) has given me lambs 3 years in a row now. Twice she's had a lamb with parasite issues. I'm willing to accept that part of the problem might be me - not noticing quickly enough, not treating aggressively enough. Would she be culled in a larger flock? Probably. I choose to keep her - but it's highly unlikely I will ever keep (or sell) another of her offspring for breeding - even one that had no parasite issues (of her twin lambs this year, the male had bottlejaw and anemia for over a month before a third wormer was finally effective. Her ewe lamb was checked using the FAMACHA and five-point systems, and never needed wormed at all). I didn't keep any ewe lambs this year.

I want to raise my sheep using medicines and chemicals as sparingly as possible. When the levamisole worked on Gracie's male lamb, I had people tell me to go ahead and dose all the lambs, or even all the sheep, with it. It was tempting - the smallest size package of wormer treated 128 to 256 of my size sheep, and I had dosed only one lamb. Why let all that wormer go to waste? But all the others had good body condition scores, good FAMACHA scores. I took into account all I've read and heard about worms, wormers, resistance, refugia and so on, and I felt that treating everyone else would not be in the long term best interest of my flock.

As far as rotational grazing - I'm not there yet, but as I'm able to fence off more areas inside my main pasture, I'll be heading that way (or, my own version of it). It will help me keep the wide variety of pasture plants (although I will not be sad to see the end of the multiflora rose, poison ivy and garlic mustard). I will also be pollarding trees for additional food. And with the ponies, I have opportunites for cross-species grazing to help lessen parasite larvae.

When I moved here, the 'pasture' was in the process of turning into woods. I was told it was hayfield, years ago. I'm slowly turning it into pasture. A lot of stuff I read about 'pasture management' doesn't apply here, or at least not yet. I am hoping that by continuing to clear trees and brush, keeping my animal numbers low, and eventual rotational grazing (and mowing, and maybe some plantings), I can get the pasture in good shape and keep it that way. To bring it back to the original point of this thread, managing pasture is part of managing parasites, too. Threads like this are a great way to learn more and get you thinking.

 

[The Old Ram-Australia]

G'day,thank you for your comments.Blue Sky,worms are part of the natural system of the stock but are usually controlled by the good health of the stock,natural immunity can be enhanced by the culling and careful selection of replacements.The use of Diatomaceous Earth has been advocated for years but I think the jury is still out on its usefulness. Multi-species grazing is effective but it does limit your main game unless you have a vast amount of land.

NOC.It nothing to do with the size of your farm or flock,but its your dedication to producing better and healthier prodigy each year.Saving the weak is all well and good as long as it does not present a problem when you have to"eat it".Your main problem appears to be "blood sucking worms",Barbers pole being the main offender.In Aussie we can access a narrow spectrum drench which contains Closantel which also controls Live Fluke .

If you farm is an old hay paddock it is quite possible that it is low in minerals and trace elements,try to conserve any trees or brush that the sheep naturally select and let your pasture "run a bit wild" as when you slash you only bring the sheep's mouth closer to the waiting parasites.A "wild pasture" will always be more sps diversity than the neatly trimmed one.Also do you supply a mineral mix for the stock add lib? We have used a "home mix" for over 40 years to all classes of stock,I have posted it in the past ,but happy to post it again if requested.Frank.

 

[Baymule]

@The Old Ram-Australia please post your recipe for sheep minerals. None of the feed stores around me carry minerals for sheep. We just got 4 bred ewes and I would appreciate it. I did order a bag of sheep mineral, but would like the option of mixing my own.

 

[Blue Sky]

I'd like that recipe too. We moved from very brushy land to a 99% grass grazing environment. I noticed that the sheep consume twice as much salt and seem to need more kibble. I miss my acorns too. Reputed to be toxic, acorns made up much of my flock's diet in the fall. If they gorged we saw a little scour but not problematic.