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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Worksafe guidelines for sheep fasting times

Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH) now recommends that sheep are fasted prior to shearing

Stop dagging sheep

Lifestyle blocks are unfortunately a great place to find sheep decorated with dags.

Shearing Sheep

Sheep grow wool continuously, so it is important to shear them at least once a year.

Variety gives boost to lamb growth

Ever eaten Weetbix for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

Signs of lambing

A few weeks before lambing the ewe will “bag up”. You’ll see her udder swelling.

Don't castrate your ram lambs

Before you get the rings out to castrate your lambs this spring, decide if it’s a wise move to turn them into wethers.

When to wean lambs?

If you get things wrong, you’ll end up with poor weaners that will be poor hoggets, and these in turn will make poor-performing ewes over their lifetime.

Watch for lamb mix-ups at birth

If you’re keeping breeding records of your sheep flock, making sure you get the correct mother at birth is critical

Hand-rearing lambs

Rearing a pet lamb can be a great experience and it’s especially rewarding if you’ve saved a young lamb from starvation and exposure.

Don't shift a ewe soon after she has lambed

When a ewe is preparing to lamb, she’ll try to find a quiet spot for a birth site.

Helping a ewe birth a lamb

If you have to put your hand into the vagina, and then through the cervix of the ewe into the uterus to sort out a lambing problem, try this to make it easier:

Producing wool for homespinners

Natural coloured fleece is sought after by handspinners, but the quality has to be right.

Rearing a lamb or kid for school

The day you are offered an orphan lamb or kid to rear for school pet day - you have to be very hard hearted.

Cutting a sheep's throat is not humane

New Zealand is well advanced in slaughter practices in all meat works, where cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs are electrically stunned before their throats are cut severing the carotid arteries.

Have you got a ram sorted out?

A ram has two jobs. He has to get ALL the ewes pregnant and then improve the next generation of the flock via his offspring.

Lambing Tips

Start to save your old bread bags to put over newborn lambs when it’s wet and cold.