The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: mebnandtrn on August 22, 2015, 08:10:43 am

Title: sheep and pigs
Post by: mebnandtrn on August 22, 2015, 08:10:43 am

We have a small ish area that we have kept 3 weaners in. They went last week and wont be replaced till next year. Is there a problem if we put a ewe in there to thin her down? The ground had a couple of pig poos and a bit of grass but is otherwise suitable.

Title: Re: sheep and pigs
Post by: fsmnutter on August 22, 2015, 09:25:32 am

Shouldn't be a problem.
Different species usually have different worms etc, so common practice uses cross grazing to clean up pasture as the worm eggs will be eaten and die in the other breed.
Just would recommend not keeping a single sheep anywhere on their own so would advise at least one companion with her.

Title: Re: sheep and pigs
Post by: shep53 on August 22, 2015, 12:26:10 pm

 IF you fed your pigs on a standard  pelleted feed , the pigs area may have high levels of copper  and depending on your grounds normal copper level and the breed of sheep it  can  cause poisoning .

Title: Re: sheep and pigs
Post by: TheSmilingSheep on August 22, 2015, 04:39:51 pm

i once asked a vet pal about the copper issue.... and she googled a bit for research and concluded that with low density of pigs on reasonable sized area for a few months then no issue for the sheep (but agree that solitary sheep might be a bit miserable)