Sheep

The articles below cover a number of topics about sheep health, sheep behaviour and sheep farming. There are more articles in The Basics section too. If you're looking for something in particular then use the search box above. If not, then browse the article titles and see what there is to help you. If you can't find an answer here then why not ask in our discussion forums? One of the very friendly and helpful members is sure to be able to help you.

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Exit drenching supports sheep who may have parasites partially or fully resistant to active ingredients in previous drench products.

Exit Drenching after Pre-lamb Treatments

At this time of the year, exit drenching is the term that we need to be thinking about the most. The idea behind exit drenching is that animals which were treated with a long-acting drench prior to lambing are likely to be approaching the end of the payout period of that product.

Swedish Gotland Pelt Sheep

Gotlands are born with jet black, silken coats (prized generations ago for fur coats) and change colour as they age. Their faces and legs are black with no wool – barrels on toothpicks.

Black & Coloured Sheep

Sheep with naturally coloured wool are found occasionally in most breeds. There are two colour ranges from black to pale grey, and from brown to pale cream.

Treatment options for foot problems in sheep and goats

Foot scald and footrot become much more common during prolonged spells of wet weather and they are not easy to deal with.

Ringwomb

One of the problems that can occur when a ewe is lambing is that the cervix doesn't relax and expand fully.

Doing Faecal Egg Counts on sheep

Faecal Egg Counts measure the eggs per gram of faeces (epg) that pass through a sheep and hence the worm load.

Fostering orphan lambs

Bonding between a ewe and her lamb(s) takes only a few minutes. After this, she will not take a lamb that smells differently.

Managing triplets

With today's more fertile sheep breeds, inevitably there are more lambs born, which everyone thinks is a good thing.

Shearing a sheep using hand shears

There are many methods used around the world to shear a sheep using hand shears or blades.

Intensive shepherding for small flocks

It's worth providing all the help you can in a small flock. Here are some suggestions:

How to lift a sheep over a fence

Many back injuries occur when sheep are being handled, especially when lifting sheep over a fence.

Ewes carrying multiple lambs need special care

Every lamb is worth saving if you can.

Catching and holding sheep

Don't catch or hang on to sheep by their wool.

30 suggestions to save lambs

Every lamb is worth saving this spring - so it's worth putting a lot of effort into your lambing management.

Condition scoring sheep

When considering the state of health of a sheep, it's a great help to know its liveweight.

Worming lambs in spring and summer

Weaning is a stressful time for lambs.

Sheep senses

Sheep eyes allow for wide peripheral vision – with each eye they can span 145°.

Sheep social order

Sheep are the classical social "flocking animal".

Sheep feeding

Sheep are ruminants – and they start eating pasture from about a week old.

Sheep reproduction

Sheep are seasonal breeders and ewes are stimulated to cycle by the declining daylight pattern in Autumn.

Lambing

A few hours before lambing, a ewe will move away from the main flock to find a quiet birth site.

Sheep handling tips

To keep sheep moving, make sure there’s always a clear way ahead.

Hogget lambing

Hogget lambing is regularly promoted as a way to increase income, but results have been variable in the past.

Docking lambs

Docking removes most of the lamb’s tail to prevent the build-up of dags on the wool around the sheep’s back end.

Bearings in ewes

A bearing is a mass of flesh bulging from the vulva of a heavily pregnant ewe.

Things to think about before you buy sheep

Maybe a good time for small farmers to start thinking about more sheep.

Lambing preparations on small blocks

Saving lambs this spring is all about being well prepared, having the right gear, and knowing when to offer or seek help.

Diarrhoea in sheep

If your sheep get diarrhoea, their daggy rear ends will be a very obvious sign, not just to you but to all the passers-by who look over your fence!