The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: andywalt on November 11, 2010, 07:23:10 pm

Title: Bubbles the Tup in with the girls but look at the fleeces
Post by: andywalt on November 11, 2010, 07:23:10 pm

Hi its been a few weeks

I have been able to get a more or less permanent grazing licence on 7.5 acres on land just a few hundred metres away, and I am fencing 300 meters of stock fencing very scrubby ground which is crying out for sheep to control it, I will be able to get it topped off but look at all the seeds from the docs and other weeds that are stuck in there fleeces, they are happy and have plenty of grass but dont they look tatty.....

Title: Re: Bubbles the Tup in with the girls but look at the fleeces
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on November 12, 2010, 01:02:12 am

seeds and docks yes...... but avert thine eyes......just look at the lovely grass and the ££ signs from all the lovely lambies they will be making :-)))

Title: Re: Bubbles the Tup in with the girls but look at the fleeces
Post by: Fleecewife on November 12, 2010, 09:58:11 am

But don't expect any £££s for the fleeces  :D ;D

Title: Re: Bubbles the Tup in with the girls but look at the fleeces
Post by: andywalt on November 12, 2010, 10:39:05 am

Thats what I was expecting, are the fleeces graded? or will they be refused if full of rubbish?

Title: Re: Bubbles the Tup in with the girls but look at the fleeces
Post by: andywalt on November 12, 2010, 10:42:45 am

Also another point is the 7 Acres is up to our knees in grass, I am fencing it into 3 seperate field/paddocks should I be concerned about them getting too fat at lambing time? will it make the birth more difficult? maybe I should try restrict large amouts of grass?

Title: Re: Bubbles the Tup in with the girls but look at the fleeces
Post by: woollyval on November 12, 2010, 01:49:54 pm

Do not worry about docks nor lots of long grass....sheep eat grass and often docks and thats what they do! In winter the feed value of grass drops to that of lettuce so you will not have to worry about them getting fat but they will have lots of roughage. Just suppliment with a general purpose block suitable for rams as well as ewes to keep up the nutrition. It surprising how much weight can be lost under that wool.

On subject of wool....you will get very little from BWMB for fleece with high veg matter but if you can keep burrs off the fleece it will be ok...burrs and hay seeds are the worst!
you can alays sell it to me!!!!!

Title: Re: Bubbles the Tup in with the girls but look at the fleeces
Post by: andywalt on November 12, 2010, 03:36:41 pm

ohh sell it to you wooly shepard? tell me what you do with it? as I will not have any time or inclination to do anyhting with the fleece !!??

I have a malases high energy lick in the field at the moment a red tub, do you think thats ok?  what blocks do you use?


andy

Title: Re: Bubbles the Tup in with the girls but look at the fleeces
Post by: morri2 on November 12, 2010, 05:25:19 pm

They don't look that tatty!!  I note you've kept the ram's original name intact.  No point in changing it, he'll not know the difference anyway. :D

Title: Re: Bubbles the Tup in with the girls but look at the fleeces
Post by: woollyval on November 12, 2010, 07:33:57 pm

Red high energy block is fine! I have a tubby block in with mine at the moment. Take a peep at my blog and website and you will get an inclination of what I do with wool....produced 25,000 wool insulation packs for keeping food cold last year. I supply Riverford Organics meat boxes among others with their box liners!