Need a teacher on working with sheep

Hi

We are new owners of a lifestyle block in the Kaipara area. We have two little sheep families- 3 damara ewes and a young dormer ram plus 3 arapawa ewes and a young ram.
Is there anyone around the Dargaville area that would give us a little time to teach us some handling skills, how to dag our sheep, and any pointers

I guess you mean "Dorper" sheep, which are a cross between Dorset and Persian sheep. They should not need dagging or any other care unless they are on lush wet ground. Your best plan is to have breed(s) that are easy care like the Dorper and Wiltshire. Other breeds need shearing, dagging and foot rot treatment, not to mention dressing for fly strike. Wiltshires generally produce twins and are more fertile than common breeds. The only thing I do to mine (apart from eat them) is to dock their tails, but I am going to stop doing that next season and see what happens.

Good on you asking for help and I hope you find someone near you. Are there others on small blocks near you? It would be good to get to know them as they will have been newbies sometime too. Otherwise just use your instincts, read what you can here and anywhere and just give it a go. You will learn somethings on your own and make heaps of mistakes but they are good teachers too! Good luck

Hi,



FIND some one who is exprienced to do the Job like a well trained and seasoned Shearer "always" takes all the guess work out while you learn at your own property. A good shearer who can do :all" cares- Feet shearer drench and vaccine a great Shearer wil be able to lead on on the right track, be able to teach you- EG: worm resistance new tyoe of worms each year may differ and so on, as they do this for a job all the time they should be on to things.
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A little of our Journey - Sheep, dogs, cats, Chooks, ducks, trukeys... our property must also have a good eco system as cats have found and brought in Brown small lizards- opossums cone out in our fruit trees at night- mice rats cats good at pest control - you name it even a Pet Turtle in the past and chinchillas....no longer though and no more goats, geart milkers but Sheep easier to care for, can milk those to if wanted.

10-15 yrs working along side Vets with our animals alot of good tips- Even Massey Uni Student asked to do a Thesis of one of our goats one time while it had to have a C section.


Go Hybrid ! get best of both breeds- people all have thier different likes quirks and breeds, next year we should have some very nice New cross breeds

"My Dorpsters"..... First Lambs for this breed shoud be ready by early Next year, though limited stock may be available.

40yrs Animal Experience- aprox 12 years with Sheep and on farms
we have severel different types of sheep breeds in cluding the Dorper breed, I wil be breeding a new type wil be a cross between 2 breeds I think are very good over all Lifestlye Block sheep, EG: between a Dorset quick upright strong legged lamb with good hoof structure, and all round great body growth, (not skinny while keeping good meat growth) sweet looking faced good natured Dorset X with and as nice calm natured Dorpers. I have named my self called.
Past years I have breed min Goats and miking Goats and made cheeses Welcome to ask any questions, we are busy however happy to do best to answer.
We also have

East Fresian Cross Dorper
Sth Down Suffolk cross Dorper
Dorset Cross Dorper) My Dorpsters.

All cone out with beautifk coloir and patterned

***Our Mission or Aim**
We manage on a less is best scale, but focus on improving better quality animal that will have good hoof structure for NZ climate and improve sellecting prefered breed we like for thier makes, then matching and improving cross breed top have smoother lambing breeds as possible.

CARE:

We roate in paddocks worm when needed ( eg Spring- Mid Summer) but not over worm as used rotating as means to keepo worms at bay, Sheep know when to move on inbetwen paddocks for cleaner grounds IF they have been provided and can get to good pasture for themskelves even better as selve trained sheep make good sense !, saves locking paddocks up.
For best all round health and cleanessnes, we prefer a full shear lest 1 time a year and crutch when needed, around twice a year time-Hooves checked when shearer also does Dreching and *vaccine once a year" for 2 mth old lambs and pre- pregant EWE Vaccine.

When we sell
A full shear is good when people look to buy as well, as I personal think then can see proper carcus value, one cannot see under a heavy of full body of thicker wool.

Good Sheep Care - basically don't get caught our by any droughts, sell on once 2 mths of age, and don't keep more than your Grass can handle-

SHEEP PASTURE PER ACRE: "Ratio 2-4 sheep per acre is enough up to breeding times. Select and save best breeders thus you will get better sales from them. We have X12 lambing times may uincrase uo to 23 Max- after 2 mths then back down to no more than 12 best breeders each year, less we may have is 7 best breeders all 12 mths until lambing season and so on, but we never over stock, saves $$ and better health for sheep.

And don't forget no need to over do things, ENJOY Your Sheep as when you don't thats the time to sell all and may be think of some thing else on your Block to do.

Kind Regards

S & J
Feilding.

Sheep- Orchard PLUMS apples, Walnuts- Elderberries - Chooks- Eggs- ducks Turkeys... 4 useful cats 1 useful Dog...at times.

They should not need dagging or any other care unless they are on lush wet ground.

Good advice. I will see if I can find a shearer who is willing to come out just for dagging and crutching a few sheep and go through stuff with us.

Very Happy to come to see you and offer any help and answer any questions that I can. I live in Dargaville can be contacted by email.