Mineral Considerations for Sheep

Jaelyn Whaley, South Dakota State University Extension Sheep Field Specialist
(Previously published online with South Dakota State University Extension: May 22, 2024)

Minerals play an integral role in many reactions throughout the body, and they are critical for animal health and performance. Bioavailability, individual animal consumption, individual mineral interactions, and variable plant and soil mineral concentrations make strategic mineral programs challenging. The differences between toxicity and deficiencies are small and can greatly affect sheep production.

Identifying Deficiencies
Precisely supplementing needed minerals begins with identifying potential deficiencies or toxicities of both macrominerals (Ca, P, Na, K, Mg, Cl) and microminerals (Cu, Mn, Zn, Se, Co, I). If your ewes are on pasture, shrub and forb species are generally higher in mineral concentration than grasses. Therefore, forage sampling that is representative of sheep grazing behavior and your pasture serves accurate assessment of mineral consumption. Making sure that Continue reading Mineral Considerations for Sheep →

Warm-Season Grasses Play Drought Defense

Amber Friedrichsen, Managing Editor, Hay and Forage Grower
(Previously published in Hay & Forage Grower: December 3, 2024)

(Image Source: Eastern Alliance for Production Kathadins)

Reflecting on another drought year may put a fire under some farmers’ seats to be more proactive about forage availability next season. Adding warm-season grasses into hay and grazing systems might be one answer to cushion short forage supplies, as long as the right species are seeded in the right places.

According to Dirk Philipp with the University of Arkansas, much of the current pastureland in his state was originally prairie or forest. Even though the forage base in Arkansas has largely shifted to bermudagrass, dallisgrass, and bahiagrass, there are opportunities to replicate the drought resistance that naturally existed in these systems presettlement by seeding annual and native grasses.

“Prairie and forest restoration may Continue reading Warm-Season Grasses Play Drought Defense →

Reduce Feed Costs by Reducing Hay Waste

PennState Extension
(Published online with PennState Extension: April 23, 2024)

(Image Source: PSU Extension)

The largest input cost for any livestock enterprise is feed costs. In forage dependent operations, most of these feed costs occur during the winter when feeding hay. Spring is a great time to assess hay feeding areas and consider how much hay the sheep wasted over the winter.

Is there a large amount of wasted hay lying next to the hay feeders? Did pens inside the barn require minimal bedding last year due to the amount of hay waste? A “yes” answer to either of these questions should inspire producers to look more closely at feed quality and feeder design. Using feeders should be an obvious means to help reduce waste. Less obvious perhaps is the concept that feeders can also help to promote animal health. This occurs by preventing fecal or soil contamination that can lead to problems such as internal parasites, coccidia, or listeriosis. Hay losses can range from 2% to 60% and results from trampling, forage quality or maturity issues, and fecal contamination. This results in sheep and goats refusing to eat what’s left at the bottom of the hay pile, which is typically decomposed and contaminated. Selecting an appropriate feeder can help to manage hay waste.

Not all feeders are Continue reading Reduce Feed Costs by Reducing Hay Waste →

Lambing and Kidding Cheat Sheet for Beginning Small Ruminant Producers

Dr. Andrew Weaver, Extension Small Ruminant Specialist, North Carolina State University
(Previously published online with NC State Extension: September 22, 2024)

(Image Source: Willow Creek Farm)

Introduction
Lambing and kidding season is an important time for a small ruminant operation. Survival of newborn lambs and kids is paramount to the economic viability of the farm. The new lamb or kid crop is the product of investments and decisions regarding genetics, and the next generation sets the stage for the future of the flock or herd. During the period surrounding lambing and kidding, understanding and identifying normal versus abnormal behavior and physiology and knowing when to assist are essential to newborn survival, a healthy start to life, and productive individuals in the future. This guide is a simple reference for beginner sheep and goat producers experiencing the lambing or kidding season. It includes instructions for neonatal care.

Facilities
Proper facilities will provide protection for Continue reading Lambing and Kidding Cheat Sheet for Beginning Small Ruminant Producers →

Quality Hay Tastes Great and is Less Filling

Mike Rankin, Senior Editor, Hay & Forage Grower
(Previously published online with Hay & Forage Grower: November 26, 2024)

Although written from a cattle perspective, today’s article from Mike Rankin highlights that benefits and challenges of feeding high quality hay. For those looking to stretch their winter feed supplies, a combination of all quality types of hay may be the solution…. Be sure to look in to this one folks!

Who can forget those old Miller Lite beer commercials when a variety of celebrities were enlisted to tout the product as either tasting great or being less filling? Of course, in the eyes of the Miller Brewing Company, the product was both.

The same can’t always be said for hay. High-quality hay, with excellent fiber digestibility, may take on the same advertised virtues of the beer, but poor-quality hay will definitely not. Continue reading Quality Hay Tastes Great and is Less Filling →

Blending Technology and Tradition to Achieve Breeding Goals

Dr. Tom Murphy, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center
(Previously published online with EAPK: November 22, 2024)

We talk a lot about tradition in the American sheep industry. Traditions aren’t stagnant, they get modified from one generation to the next as new information and insights are gained.

Nearly everything in modern sheep production – be that fences, milk replacer, or RFID readers – was at one time a state-of-the-art technology. Whether we choose to adopt a new technology is dependent on economics and those intangibles that define our unique perspectives for raising sheep in the first place.

From the dawn of sheep domestication until the last 50 years or so, the only available technologies to select replacement animals were visual appraisal and performance of the individual itself. We refer to this as phenotypic selection. Evaluating breeding stock in this manner has taken us from the wild mouflon to the thousands of breeds we have today.

At face value, Continue reading Blending Technology and Tradition to Achieve Breeding Goals →

Farm Emergency Planning

Dr. John Yost, OSU Extension Educator ANR, Wayne County

(Image Source: Alberta Beef Producers)

A farm emergency can take many forms. It could be a barn fire on a large dairy farm, or it can be something less extreme such as a simple power outage. Emergencies aren’t foreseen and no two are exactly alike. No matter what size farm you have, it is important for you to develop a plan on how you, and your facility, would respond to potential disasters.

Developing an emergency management plan will require careful thought but doesn’t have to be overly complicated. I equate them to Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point plans (HACCP) that are utilized by our food processing industry. When developing a HACCP plan, you think of where a food safety problem can occur, implement control measures that will prevent it from happening, and list the process for correcting the problem when it does happen. In this case, you are dealing with potential issues that you will not be able to prevent, and instead create your action plan for when they do. Continue reading Farm Emergency Planning →