TAIL DOCKING:not normal practice,but an alternate approach.

[Bossroo]

G'day again and thank you both for your posts.I will endeavor to answer your questions and most likely ask Bossroo a few.

Katie first,Thank you for your reply and I would never take a question as an augment.My reason for crutching is that our pastures respond very quickly to a rain event.This 'flush' of fresh feed usually results in a loosening of the bowel movement in "some" of the stock and this attracts the 'flys' ,but the majority of 'strike' is in the hip and shoulders and the 'runs' are down to the flanks............Our sheep tend to be very 'broad' across the rump and moisture has a habit of collecting in this area and so makes it an ideal spot for 'strike' to occur...........Because we 'winter shear',by the time we get to summer the sheep are carrying 6 mths wool ,so regardless of tail length we would have to crutch them.

It may be of interest to you that in the 'tropic's they shear twice a year in an effort to reduce the flystrike problem rather than "shower spray/dip " the sheep which leaves 'chemical residue in the wool.

Bossroo:I should have know that you would be the one with the "scientific ' background.LOL....One of the reasons I started down this path was that I noticed when handling the sheep that the tail area was a pretty good indicator of the animals condition ,I found that in 'good feed times'it was hard to feel the bones in the tail ,but as soon as conditions started to "go off" this extra condition was the first to go...... One of the things I have noticed over the years is that the "bare area" on the underside of the tail 'varies ' quite a deal and I am tempted to start to select 'for this trait' of a larger than normal stretch of bare skin.(but at nearly 69,I fear the research may take a few more years than the time I have left "sheep farming")

The problem with wool stain does not seem to be at the anus ,but on the 'leg wool 'lower down the hock...Your other point about the 'back fat ,I did not infer that the fat was" in " the birth canal,but was between the muscles and the skin and that is why it restricted the muscle relaxing process.

Your comment on lambing were interesting ,but if you compare the structure of 'modern sheep'(take the Suffolk as an example) in an effort to produce 'bigger body's of meat',they have not only put 'far' to much leg under them ,but have increased the forequater width to such an extent that if you speak to stud masters they may admit(if you are lucky)that they pull a lot more lambs these days......

I'm glad you are a 'fan ' of the Kelpie,but there are two distinct types of Kelpie,one is a "casting dog" like the Border Collie,but the other is 'bred for ' "Yard/Corral work",I have taken advantage of this trait of 'working behind the stock and there great 'covering ability' to help me in a paddock situation ,as I said before our sheep 'hate ' me and will run a mile,so the 'driving and cover works great for me especially at 'gateways ' and in forcing yards/paddocks.

http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/uploads/3214_img_0486.jpg

Thank you both again for taking the time to respond,I'm hoping for some more comments/responses on this topic...............T.O.R...........

Other than the very obese or very thin sheep... I found that when we run the sheep down a chute , we could very easily reach for the 2" tail stump/ tail base area, we could very rapdly tell how much fat the sheep was carrying. Also run one's hand along the backbone and over the rib area. Many of the Suffolk here have very little wool on their bellys so they only need to be tagged on their rear ends only. Your comment regarding the "bare area" on the underside of the tail. I assume that you are referring of the fecal matter that then acccumulatess on the tail wool of the lower portion of the tail. I would think that that would be solved with a shorter docking of the tail resulting in about 2". Other than in obese or very thin ewes, I see very little cooralation between the layer of fat between the muscle and skin to the muscle relaxing process. However it is a function of hormones to relax the muscles then to start the uterine constrictions to expell the embryos. Most difficulties in birthing is often due to the size difference (in volume and weight and shoulder structure) of the fetus and the birth canal volume. Several years ago a friend baught a Suffolk ram that was head and shoulders, long and lean and larger than all of their other rams and weighed over 350 pounds. All of his offspring were then noticably larger that from the other rams and the ewes had more difficulty lambing. Other considerations would be the forage type the ewes are eating that may influence their hormone production influencing the muscle raxing process.The amount of body fat in the ewe is actually a store reserve for milk production to nurish the rapidly growing lambs especially if the grass/ forage production is lower. 3 years ago, my accross the street neighbor, owns 35 range Suffolk ewes and 12 Ramboulett ewes, 1- 2 year old Suffolk ram and baught 1 Dorper yearling ram. He ran all of them together in one breeding group. 90% of the lambs turned out to be Dorper X. They were born almost 2/3 the size of the Suffolk sired ones, with no lambing problems at all. He also had a 20% increase in the number of twins born over previous years. These lambs ran circles arount the Suffolk sired ones. He noticed that these lambs not only ate the pasture grasses but the weeds as well that the other sheep wouldn't touch. Also, much more docile and easier to handle. Man was he disappointed at first, untill weaning time when the Dorper sired lambs out weighed the Suffolk sired ones by about 10+ pounds each. He butchered many lambs on his ranch eather himself or by the Arab buyers who did their own ritual killing/ butchering. Their carcasses had a much better meat to bone ratio and a very good marbling. Then his smiles became even broader when his customers of Mexican and Arab decent prefered the Dorper sired lambs and then told their friends who then put their names on a waiting list for these crossbred lambs for the following year. He sold the Suffolk ram and baught 10 ( and looking for more) Dorper ewes as he had to satisfy the new additional customer demands. My Kelpie was a light sandy color ( Dingo) with white markings. She was a great corral dog. My McNab ( Tom) resembled your dog on the right. He was the smartest and best working dog I ever owned. I was given him by a sheep sheerer when he was only about 4 weeks old. He started out as Tom, then as he got older and started to display his smarts/ working ability and then worth, he started to acquire new names untill he became known as Thomas, J. McNab, Esquire !

 

[The Old Ram-Australia]

G,day Bossroo,in the short time we have been on this forum I have learned to expect and respect your opinions and views ,thank you ,again for a well thought out and considered post.

Your obvious scientific background comes through and on more than "one "occasion you have had me reaching for the dictionary,so I can get an understanding of your words.

On the topic of Mineral Mystery's,it would be of value to me if you could put forward an opinion on the subject.

Thanks again .................................T.O.R.