Sheep Chat Thread

[ladyrsanti]

She looks like a cross of some sort? A bit like a jacob.

Do you guys know much about copper toxicity in sheep? I had a bad feed mill for a while (that recently went out of business). When I was just starting out with my sheep, I was buying supplies there and they didn't seem to know much and gave me goat feed and goat minerals. The feed was used to acclimate the sheep, one handful a day and the minerals were given free choice (though they rarely touched them). I don't have either product anymore and the new mill I go to is much more helpful and accommodating. But still, I worry that I've done some damage in the meantime. Any way to tell?

 

[AlienChick]

Thank you.
She is a registered Katahdin ewe.
Katahdins come in many color patterns; one reason why I love them so much.
One day I'm hoping to get a pure black lamb.

 

[ScottnLydia]

The way I understand it, copper toxicity is a complex beast!

1st answer. The signs are; Lethargy, anemia, wool or hair loss, excessive thirst, sometimes bloody colored urine, stringy wool, washed out color in the wool (maybe).

2nd answer. It's tough to say if they got too much, since there are so many variables at play. Like; some breeds, like Finn sheep and Texels are more susceptible.

Copper absorption is variable, depending on the amount of Molybdenum available in the system, since Moly. binds with the Copper. But, to further complicate the equation, Sulpher binds Molybdenum, so the amount of Sulpher dictates whether or not the Moly. will be of any effect!

The accumulated Copper in the liver may do nothing for months to a year, but then my be released by stress, liver damage, trauma, etc.

Long answer short (too late), let's all hope that they just didn't get that much, and that what they have will dissipate with time.

 

[AlienChick]

Do you guys know much about copper toxicity in sheep? I had a bad feed mill for a while (that recently went out of business). When I was just starting out with my sheep, I was buying supplies there and they didn't seem to know much and gave me goat feed and goat minerals. The feed was used to acclimate the sheep, one handful a day and the minerals were given free choice (though they rarely touched them). I don't have either product anymore and the new mill I go to is much more helpful and accommodating. But still, I worry that I've done some damage in the meantime. Any way to tell?

Copper toxicity in sheep usually results from the accumulation of excess Cu in the liver over a period of a few weeks to more than a year with no clinical signs, followed by a sudden release of liver Cu stores to cause toxicity (rapid breakdown of red blood cells).

In these situations, chronic Cu poisoning may result from excessive Cu intakes or from low intakes of Mo, S, zinc, calcium or following liver damage. Stresses, such as weather, environment, poor nutrition, transportation and handling, can also cause the liver cells to die and release the stored copper into the bloodstream.

Affected sheep are lethargic and anemic. They may grind their teeth incessantly and experience extreme thirst. Membranes are very pale and may appear yellow, as jaundice sets in. Urine is a bloody color. Death usually occurs 1 to 2 days after the onset of clinical symptoms. At post-mortem, tissues are pale to dark yellow and the kidneys are a very dark color.


add'l info: http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/coppertox.html

 

[ScottnLydia]

Thank you.
She is a registered Katahdin ewe.
Katahdins come in many color patterns; one reason why I love them so much.
One day I'm hoping to get a pure black lamb.

How totally cool!!! I've seen so many Katahdins, in so many variations of white, brown, cocoa, and red, but I have never seen black! I've seen Katahdin/Dorper crosses that have a lot, but never a pure Katahdin. A pure black Katahdin would be so cool!!!

 

[ScottnLydia]

Well, here's my whine. Saturday, one of my ewes that is supposed to be due early March, showed up at the feeder with some (I believed) definite hollows at her hips. Since a blizzard was due in the middle of the night, I decided to put her in a jug with a heat lamp.

You can probably guess the rest. 3 days later, nada. She's just honked at being locked up! Sent her water bucket flying this morning! Another blizzard is coming in now, but when this warms up, I think I'll let her out.

Who wants to bet that the day she gets out she'll lamb!!! I figure it will either be that, or she'll wait 'till the next storm.

 

[RachelM]

I have a question for some sheep-peeps. Because of the hay shortage, there's a local shepherd selling off some of her soon to be born (or already born) lambs. Some are purebred, and others are cross. The cheapest ones listed are $150 for a Jacob/Romanov cross. We have lots of hay pre-bought, and have experience with other bottle babies (horses and rabbits). Would this be a wise investment? How long is a bottle baby typically nursed, and at what cost?

 

[AlienChick]

I, personally, would not pay that much for a bottle baby.
A weaned lamb, yes.
Bottle babies are cheap since most consider them a pain.
A lot of people will even GIVE them away.
Paying $50 for a bottle baby is not unreasonable.
If it's not even purebred, I wouldn't go higher than that.

That being said, of course, the prices do vary depending upon location and demand.

If you just want a bottle baby to raise, check craigslist for a cheap one or a free one.

 

[ladyrsanti]

Thanks guys, helpful info. My own research didn't turn up anything about the toxicity presenting itself later, when the animal becomes stressed so that's very helpful indeed.

 

[WallabyOfChaos]

I have a question for some sheep-peeps. Because of the hay shortage, there's a local shepherd selling off some of her soon to be born (or already born) lambs. Some are purebred, and others are cross. The cheapest ones listed are $150 for a Jacob/Romanov cross. We have lots of hay pre-bought, and have experience with other bottle babies (horses and rabbits). Would this be a wise investment? How long is a bottle baby typically nursed, and at what cost?

When we kept bums I liked to keep them on the bottle until they were at least 3 months old, and I would usually go through one and a half 25 lb. bags of milk replacer for each lamb for the duration of their time on the bottle. Milk replacer was about $60 for a 25 lb. bag, so that made my feed cost a whopping $90 per lamb in milk alone, plus we would supplement with grain and the lambs were left in the backyard to graze so there was no hay cost. Unfortunately, the feed cost alone would match and usually far exceed the market value of the lamb when it was weaned and ready to sell. Now we pick up the orphaned or abandoned little darlings, keep them on the bottle a week, and then sell them for $50 to $75 each.