Feeber lambs - DL

[dori36]

I've got a lamb question for those of you who also raise/show lambs/sheep:  Since I sold all my cattle, my corrals are overgrown with grass and weeds.  So, I'm thinking:  "Put a little handful of lambs in there to eat it down and, then, sell 'em in a couple of months.  Do I have to worry about the group "drop dead" with them if I get them weaned and from a reputable breeder?  DL, since you're in Michigan and aware of regs, do sheep have the same id regs as cattle here?  And, what are feeder lambs selling for now?  I can look up the sale barns out west for these numbers but, obviously I'm not buying out there.  Don't even know if there 'are' any reputable sheep breeders in central lower Michigan.  Thanks for tolerating my non-cattle question!!  (lol)

 

[frostback]

I would get goats over sheep for weeds.

 

[duck213]

i would go with goats too.

someone once told me that sheep are always looking for a way to die.

 

[txshowlamb]

I have raised sheep for many years and they are not the greatest weed eaters some can be sensitive to weeds some will die from certain weeds feeders lambs sell for 50-100 dollars if that. Goats would definentaly be better to eat weeds then sell them out as feeders or if you could go to a breeder and just ask to borrow their does or buck maybe the kids they may allow that with a deposit down.
hope this helps sincerely txshowlamb

 

[BCCC]

. Goats would definentaly be better to eat weeds then sell them out as feeders or if you could go to a breeder and just ask to borrow their does or buck maybe the kids they may allow that with a deposit down.
hope this helps sincerely txshowlamb

I agree with her ^^^^

Sheep are like sucicidly!! go with goats

 

[farmboy]

suicidly? lol

 

[JSchroeder]

Goats are pretty darn good a dropping dead too and the reputation of the breeder only influences how much you lose when they do.  I don't think it hurts the bottom line as much as it's a mental thing.  I know a lifelong cattleman that tried messing with goats on small acreage areas and he just couldn't take picking up dead animals.

That being said, people do raise them for a reason.

 

[linnettejane]

i think i'd just get a weedeater...

 

[Shebet21]

Goats are pretty darn good a dropping dead too and the reputation of the breeder only influences how much you lose when they do.  I don't think it hurts the bottom line as much as it's a mental thing.  I know a lifelong cattleman that tried messing with goats on small acreage areas and he just couldn't take picking up dead animals.

That being said, people do raise them for a reason.

I couldn't  agree with you more. I've had goats, failed miserably. Sheep do great for us around buildings and such. They clean up weeds first, grass second. I've had sheep on and off for 20 plus years, have only buried three.

 

[knabe]

you could also just have someone pay you to eat it down with their animals or vice versa with the payment.

 

[justme]

Where's showheifer?  Isn't she our resident sheep expert?

 

[txshowlamb]

I think either way sheep and goats all have their problem i have raise sheep and know with experience that they die easily some weed are deadly to them and even the heat. Not only that having to shear them and the up keep on sheep are harder than that of goats eat about everything some sheep on the other han can an will be picky believe me. I guess if was in your shoes I would go woth goats but thats up tp you. Hope this helps.

 

[Dusty]

Goats are pretty darn good a dropping dead too and the reputation of the breeder only influences how much you lose when they do.  I don't think it hurts the bottom line as much as it's a mental thing.  I know a lifelong cattleman that tried messing with goats on small acreage areas and he just couldn't take picking up dead animals.

That being said, people do raise them for a reason.

A friend of mine was changing the fuel filter in his tractor one day and i saw two of his goats drink diesel fuel out of the drip pan and they didn't die.  This qualifies them as a hardy animal in my book.

 

[JSchroeder]

It's not what they eat or drink that makes them die.

 

[dori36]

you could also just have someone pay you to eat it down with their animals or vice versa with the payment.

Actually, I would consider this a good suggestion, too!  Thanks to everyone for their input.  In Wyoming I could have "borrowed" sheep/goats from any number of people.  Here in Michigan, I don't know anyone who has either!!  Maybe the weedeater is the best idea of all!  I already have one of those but the corrals are pretty big and pretty overgrown!

 

[fluffer]

My mom just got 10 cull ewes to eat her grass down.  Hubby works at a sale barn so he just got them for her.  Since she has never had sheep either she wanted something cheep that if she killed it it wouldn't be too expensive.  So far they are eating all the weeds down and are still alive.  She likse them well enough she is thinking of getting some pb dorpers.  I like them cause I can train my Border Collies on them    The only thing we had to do to them was shear and deworm them.

Fluffer

 

[racekannon]

I will get a picture tomorrow of our goat set up if nothing breaks down in the hay fields, best thing going.  This year one was a bottle baby  he rides in the gator,  it's a hoot.  A feeder goat can cleanup 100 square feet a day of thick brush .  CDT and worming regularly is all we do to them and feed decox daily.  They make money.

 

[DL]

Dori - sheep and goats require scrapie tags - email me ([email protected]) maybe we can talk at the fair (or otherwise) - you may actually be able to "borrow" sheep, goats or cattle to deal with your pastures. There is also a pretty good meat goat market in our area.....

 

[dori36]

Dori - sheep and goats require scrapie tags - email me ([email protected]) maybe we can talk at the fair (or otherwise) - you may actually be able to "borrow" sheep, goats or cattle to deal with your pastures. There is also a pretty good meat goat market in our area.....

Thanks for the info!  I have pm'd you this morning!

 

[Show Heifer]

Here it goes:

Sheep and goats die from lack of care, and lack of knowledge. Not the willingness to die.

Do NOT buy your critters from a salebarn if you plan on anything remotely long term. You have to very vigilant about sore mouth, foot rot (each takes YEARS to eradicate once you have it). Buy from a farm that you can visit to see what they have (just like cattle)

For weeds, I would go with goats. I don't like them, but for true weeds (not just long grass) nothing beats a goat. Make sure you have good fences (cattle tight isn't tight enough). Plus you do not have to shear them.

If you are looking very short term (4 weeks or so), ask your local youth group (4-H, FFA) to see if someone has a small flock or a few for you to care for.

Must have scrapie tags as DL said.

Wish you luck.