Page references in italics refer to illustrations.
Page references in bold refer to charts.
abortion, 239–42
enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE), 240–41
milking considerations after, 242
salmonellosis, 242
toxoplamosis, 241
acidosis, 251
“adoption coat,” 300
advertising. See marketing
Akbash (guardian dog), 161, 161
alleles. See breeding sheep
alternative health practices, 196–97
alternative markets, 3
American Association of Small Ruminant Practioners, 192
American Blackbelly, 40, 41, 42
American Grassfed Association (AGA), 12–13
American Herding Breed Association, 139
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC), 38, 39
Anatolian Shepherd (guardian dog), 161
anemia, 201
FAMACHA and, 206
animal identification. See records and animal identification
antibiotics, 232–33
antisera, 234–35
APHIS, 219
Arcanobacterium pyogenes (foot abscess bacteria), 225
artificial insemination (AI), 263–64
ATTRA — National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, 185
Australian locker hooking, 343
baby lambs, care of, 306–9
cryptorchid or short scrotum, 308–9, 309
docking, 306–7
vaccination, 306
backcrossing. See under breeding sheep
bacterial infections, 217–19
blackleg, 217
caseous lymphadenitis (Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis), 217–18
Johne’s disease, 218
listeriosis, 218
malignant edema, 219
pinkeye, 219
bacterins, 235
Balsillie, Ian, 149
Banner, 377
Barbados Blackbelly, 40, 41, 42
barns. See buildings; facilities
Basic Butchering of Livestock and Game (Mettler), 350
basics. See starting with sheep
“battering rams,” 268–70
Bean, Karen, 149
Beaucero Pyrenean Shepherd, 139, 139
bedding. See deep-bedding method
behavior of sheep, 13–17
emotions/senses, 14–17
handling facility design and, 122
sight, 15–16
social structure, 14
tips on, 15
“biocontrol.” See weed and brush control
biologicals. See vaccines/biologicals
birthing lambs. See lamb positions; lambing
Blackbelly (Barbados and American), 40–42, 41
Black Face Highland. See Scottish Blackface
Blackleg (Clostridium cavoe i), 217
“black sheep,” 337
bloat, 214–15
change in diet and, 114
dangers of, 169
dry hay and, 28–29
treatment for, 214
“blood grading” of fibers, 319
Bluefaced Leicester, 42, 42–43
bluetongue, 215
body composition at various ages, 176
Border collies, 138
bots. See nose bots
bottle jaw, 202
bottle feeding, 174
feeding schedule for, 305
hot flashes of, 304
overfeeding of, 304
Brecknock Hill Cheviot, 46, 47
artificial insemination, 263–64
backcrossing for black, 338
estrus cycles, 34
FecB gene and, 43
feed requirements chart for, 396
first recognized program, 68
heritability, 34–35
inheritance, 32–34
marketing and, 36
Mendel’s Genetics Experiment, 30, 31
multiple births, 35
mutations/genetic defects, 32
purebred/specialty breeding stock, 361–62
rams for, 264–68
undesirable characteristics, 35–36
undesirable recessive traits, 33
breeds of sheep, 18–19. See also specific breed
crossbred sheep, 18
definition of breed, 36
foraging capabilities of, 100
genetic diversity and, 37–40
native and western ewes, 19
number of domestic, 40
rare and heritage breeds, 38–40
Briard (guardian dog), 161, 161
British sheepdog trials, 145
scoring diagram for, 146
Brucella ovis, 238
buildings, 123–25
sheep and lambing shed, 124, 124
ventilation for, 194
bummer lambs, 22, 290, 299, 304–5. See also bottle lamb; orphan lambs
Burdizzo emasculator, 306–7
Burdizzo shears, 222
butchering. See meat products
buyer’s guidelines, 20
conformation, 24–26
first steps at home, 28–29
general health, 26–28
sheep age vs. price, 21–22
where to buy, 20–21
California Milk Test (CMT), 243
California Variegated Mutant, 32, 48, 49
Campylobacter fetus/jejuni (vibrosis), 241
Canadian Rare Breeds Conservancy, 38
candles, homemade, 366–68
candle dipping, 367
candle wicking, 366–67
colored candles, 368
molded candles, 368
mutton tallow/lamb fat for, 367
purifying tallow for, 367
carpentry projects, 368
carrying capacity of pasture, 101–2
caseous lymphadenitis (Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis), 217–18
cheese from sheep’s milk, 3, 353
nutritional facts on, 12
Chefs Collaborative, 5
chemical storage/disposal, 190
Christmas trees, sheep and, 37
“claiming pens,” 126
Clamydia psittaci (enzootic abortion of ewes), 240
“clogging” a ram, 270
closed flock, 195–96
Clostridia
C. chauvoei (blackleg), 217
C. perfringens (enterotoxemia), 253
malignant edema, 219
coat of sheep, 27. See also wool
coccidiosis, 203–4
colored fibers/fleeces, 318, 337
colostrum, 171–73
deprivation of, 173
emergency homemade formula, 172
freezing/thawing surplus of, 291–92
substitutions for, 171–72
Columbia (sheep breed), 52, 53
commercial flocks, 7–8
culling ewes in, 22
community supported agriculture (CSA), 102
composite breeds, 38
conformation
body, 25
good/bad conformation, 24, 378, 378
for meat breed, 378
ram conformation, 26
udder, 25
for wool breed, 378
conservation efforts, sheep and, 84
constipation, 251–52
cooking lamb & mutton. See recipes
Corynebacterium
pseudotuberculosis (caseous lymphadenitis), 217–18
renale (pizzle rot), 239
Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), 5
crossbred sheep, 18
culling sheep
breed development and, 38
Darwin, Charles, 30
Day, Darrin, 322
“dead lamb’s skin” grafting, 303
defects, lethal/nonlethal, 33
deworming. See worming sheep
diarrhea. See scours
Dichelobacter nodosus (foot rot bacteria), 223–24
dietary disorders, 214–15
digestion, 167–74
bloat and, 169
cud, 170
final phases of, 170
first phases of, 168–70
in lambs, 170–74
diseases. See also ewes, disorders in; lamb problems; rams, problems with; specific disease
causes of, 199–200
health records and, 28
isolation of sick animals, 195
recognizing sickness, 196
docking, 306–7
dog control, state laws and, 154
dogs. See guardian dogs; herding dogs
dog trials, 145–47
scoring diagram for, 146
dominance hierarchy, 14
dominant/recessive traits. See breeding sheep
“down” sheep, 191
driving breeds (dogs), 140
drugs for sheep, 226–36
administering of, 226–27
antibiotics, 232–33
immunizing shots, 236
injections, 227–32
parasite preparations, 234
unapproved drugs, 236
vaccines/biologicals, 234–36
dual purpose sheep, 40
early-spring-confinement lambing, 10
ecthyma, 216–17
Eidman, Glen, 48
electrolyte solution, homemade, 257
emasculator. See Burdizzo emasculator
emergency lamb feeding
newborn-lamb milk formula, 172
stomach tube feeding, 296–97, 298–99, 299
English Leicester. See Leicester Longwool
enterotoxemia (Clostridium perfringens), 260, 306
enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) (Chlamydia psittaci), 240–41
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. See ELISA
ewes, 270–77
artificial insemination for, 263–64
culling of, 273
ewe chart, sample, 394
feeds/feeding, 180, 186, 274–77
ketone test for, 277
native and western, 19
ram’s effect on, 267
reproductive functions of, 262
reproductive tract of, 271
shearing prior to lambing, 278–79
“unplugging” teats of, 290
vaccines for, 271
water requirements for, 171
ewes, disorders in, 239–51
abortion, 239–42
mastitis, 242–44
milk fever, 244–45
pregnancy toxemia, 245–47
retained afterbirth, 247–48
vaginal prolapse, 248–51
“Expected Progeny Differences” (EPDs), 392
extensive vs. intensive management, 7–10
external parasites, 209–13
lice, 211
maggots, 211–12
nose bots, 213
scab mites, 213
sheep keds, 209–11
facilities, 122–34. See also carpentry projects; handling facilities
farm equipment and, 134
jugs, 125–27
lambing-barn environment, 127
restraining devices, 131–32, 132
facing, 279
fall lambing, 10
FAMACHA, 206
farm equipment, 134
FecB gene, fertility and, 43
feeding facilities, 132–33, 133
feeding practices, 178–82
feed changes, 179–80
feeding behavior, 179
growth stages and, 180, 182–83
last 4–5 weeks prior to lambing, 275–77
program for feeding, 180–81
time/amount of feeding, 181–82
feeds, 167–90. See also forage plants; pasture
carbohydrates, 178
composition of common, 397–99
digestion and, 167–74
energy and, 174
for ewes, 274–77
extras, 187
fats, 178
feeding practices, 178–82
feed requirements charts, 396
feed values/growth stages, 182–83
grains, 183–84
hay, 185–87
of newborn lambs, 170–74
nutrients and, 174–78
performance optimization, 181
poisonous plants and, 188–90
proteins, 176
salt and minerals, 187–88, 188
terminology for, 175
toxic substances and, 190
types of, 182–90
vitamins and minerals, 176–77
water and, 177
feet of sheep, 27–28. See also hoofrelated problems/care
female sheep. See ewes
Fences for Pasture and Garden (Damerow), 117
fencing, 116–22. See also paddocks
importance of, 116
interior fences, 116
perimeter fences, 116
polynet, 119
polywire, 118–19
posts, 120
smooth-wire electric, 118
soft steel cable, 119–20
types of, 117–20
wooden rail, 117–18
woven-wire, 118
fertility
FecB gene and, 43
inheritance and, 33
ram temperature and, 266
fiber qualities, 318–19
fiber structure. See under wool
fine-wool sheep, 19
fleeces. See handspinning; processed wool; wool products
flock management, 261–77
early/late lambing, 263
flushing. See under ewes
fly-strike. See maggots
foot trimming. See also hoof-related problems/care
forage plants, 103–5
composition of common, 397–99
foraging capabilities, breeds and, 100
“fostering coat,” 300
hand-cards for wool, 341
showing sheep, 378
Fusobacterium necrophorum (foot rot/foot abscess bacteria), 223, 225
Future Farmers of America (FFA), 90, 378
gathering breeds (dogs), 139
genetics. See breeding sheep
genus name for sheep, 2
globalization, 3
grafting lambs. See under orphan lambs
grasses, shrubs, forbs. See forage plants
grassfed movement, 5
grassfed production, 11–13
health benefits of, 12
grass tetany, 215
grazing approaches, 110–14. See also paddocks
foraging capabilities and, 100
managed grazing, 99–100, 101, 111–14
multispecies grazing, 179
orchards, 114–15
overgrazing/undergrazing, 110–11
Great Pyrenees (guardian dog), 164, 164
Groeschl, Bryon, 322
guardian animals, 155–66
animals which can be, 156
benefits of, 158
guardian dogs, 156–66
problems with, 158
guardian dogs, 156–66
attributes for success, 160
bonding process, 158–59
dangle stick training, 159
essential commands, 160
hip dysplasia and, 157
starting with a puppy, 157, 157
gummers, 24
hair of sheep, 27. See also wool
halterless leading, 381–82
halter training, 379–81
handcarding, four steps in, 342
handcarding in four steps, 342
handling facilities, 127–30, 129. See also facilities
chutes, 129–30
design of, 122
forcing pen, 129
gates, 129–30
gathering pens, 128–29
holding pens, 129
sorting pens, 130
hand-raised lambs, 22
handspun yarn, 343
heritage breeds and, 39
sales of wool for, 336–37
wool requirements for, 320
health considerations, general, 26–28, 191–236
alternative health practices, 196–97
bacterial infections, 217–19
disorders of sheep, other, 214–25
drugs for sheep, 226–36
healthy strategies, 193–96
hoof-related problems/care, 220–25
illness causes, 199–200
natural defenses, 197–98
parasites, 200–213
recognizing sick sheep, 196
scrapie, 219
signs of health/sickness, 27
spider lamb syndrome, 220
temperature, normal, 196
viral infections, 215–17
health of sheep, 26–28
coat, 27
feet, 27–28
mucous membranes, 26–27
records for, 28
respiration, 27
skin, 28
herding dogs, 17, 135–47. See also specific breed
basic training for, 143
breeds of, 138–40
“broken”/“unbroken” sheep and, 142
buying a trained dog, 144
characteristics of, 136
commands for, traditional, 144
dog trials, 145–47
driving breeds, 140
“fetching”/“wearing,” 143
gathering breeds, 139
health concerns and, 141–42
puppy selection, 140–42
selection of, 140–42
tending breeds, 139–40
terminology for, 147
training of, 142–44
veterinary issues of, 141–42
heritage breeds, 38–40
population status of, 39
traits of, 40
Herrick, Donna, 354–55
hides. See pelts
high-input systems, 7
Hoag, Bill, 84
Hog Island (sheep breed), 64, 65, 66
homeopathy, 196–97
homestead flocks, 6
hoof-related problems/care, 220–25, 221. See also foot trimming
foot abscesses, 225
footbath, 220
foot rot, 223–24
foot scald, 224–25
hoof trimming, 222–23
lameness, 220
limping sheep, checking, 222, 223
“hoppling” (hobbling) a ram, 270
Horned Dorset, 61
hybrid vigor, 18
hypocalcemia. See milk fever
hypothermia, 293–95
ID’s for sheep
Radio Frequency IDs, 400–401
illness, causes of, 199–200
biological agents, 199–200
chemical agents, 199
immunizing shots. See vaccinations
injections, 227–32. See also vaccinations
filling syringe, 228
intradermal or intracutaneos, 230
intramammary, 232
selenium supplementation, 250
sheep chair for, 132
sterile procedures for, 227–29
storage of drugs for, 229
intensive vs. extensive management, 7–10
internal parasites, 200–209
coccidiosis, 203–4
control of, 205
deworming, 206–9
FAMACHA and, 206
less common types, 202–3
roundworms, 201
targeted worming, 208–9
worm infestations, 201–2
worm resistance, 207–8
international sheepdog trial scoring
diagram, 146
Internet resources. See Web sites
Jones, Amos Dee, 56
jugs (pens), 125–27
requirements for, 126
keds. See sheep keds
Keeping Livestock Healthy (Haynes), 192
ketosis. See pregnancy toxemia
Kleinpeter, Ken, 102–3
Komondor (guardian dog), 164, 164
Krinsky, Rebecca, 388
Kuvasz (guardian dog), 165, 165
Laidlaw, James, 76
“lamb coat,” 295
“lamb cradles,” 127
lambing, 278–309. See also postlambing care
early/late, 263
helping out, 280–82
lambing snare, 283
lamb positions, 282–88
orphan lambs, 297–306
post-lambing care, 288–93
predators and, 151
preparation for, 278–79
problems with newborn lambs, 293–97
process of, 279–88
ringwomb, 282
shearing prior to, 278–79
when to assist, 281
when to call the veterinarian, 287–88
lambing pens. See under jugs
lambing sickness. See milk fever
lamb positions, 282–88
both legs presented, head turned
front half out, hips stuck, 283
head coming out before legs, 284
large head or shoulders, 282–83
tight delivery, 282–83
two legs back, 284
acidosis, 251
constipation, 251–52
enterotoxemia, 253
entropion, 252
mechanical pneumonia, 255
navel ill, 254
pneumonia, 254–55
polio, 255
scours, 255–58
tetanus, 258
urinary calculi, 258–59
white muscle disease, 259–60
lambs. See also newborn lambs
body composition, various ages, 176
ewe lambs, flushing and, 272–73
feeding/stage of production, 180
vaccines for, 271
“lamb swings,” 127
lameness, 220
Larocca, Phil, 376
late-spring pasture lambing, 10
leader-follower relationships, 14
legumes
in hay, 186
nitrogen fixation and, 105
U.S. pasture areas for, 107
Leicester Longwool, 70, 71, 72
Levin, Betty, 137
lice, 211
listeriosis (Listeria monocytogenes), 218
live-animal business, 363–63
club lamb sales, 362
mowing services, 362–63
purebred/specialty breeding stock, 361–62
ram rental, 361
livestock auction barns, 21, 194
Livestock Guard Dogs Association, 160
Locavore movement, 5
“lockjaw.” See tetanus
long lower jaw conformation, 25, 25
heritage breeds and, 40
lungworms, 202
maggots, 211–12
magnesium deficiency. See grass tetany
male sheep. See rams
malignant edema, 219
managed grazing, 99–100, 101, 111–14
paddock numbers, 112–13
timing flock’s movements, 112
management-intensive grazing. See managed grazing
“mange mite.” See scab mites
manure, 363–64
chemical content of, 363
Maremma (guardian dog), 165, 165
blogosphere, 314
details matter in, 337
direct marketing, 7
easy ways to advertise, 311
Web sites, 312–14
marking lambs, 293
mastitis, 242–44
test for, 243
treatment for, 243
meat. See meat products; mutton
meat products, 344–53
cutting instructions for, 350–51
dressed weights/yields, 347
Easter lambs, 348–49
locker lambs, 346–48
mutton, 349–51
nutritional facts on, 12
organic lambs, 348
relative percentages, meat cuts, 346
“tenderstretch” carcass hanging, 351–52, 352
yield grades, sheep and lambs, 345
medication. See drugs for sheep
Mendel, Gregor, 31
merchandising. See marketing
Merck Veterinary Manual, 192
Merian, Lisa, 312–13
MidWest Plan Service, 133
milk fever, 244–45
vs. pregnancy toxemia, 246
milk formula, emergency newbornlamb, 172
milking ewes, abortion/stillbirth and, 242
milk products, 353
nutritional facts on, 12
mineral supplements. See under nutrients in feeds
mites. See scab mites
mouth conformation, 25, 25. See also teeth of sheep
mowing services, sheep used as, 362–63
multiple births. See twinning
mutations/genetic defects, 31, 32
mutton, 349–51
cutting instructions for, 350–51
recurrent ram selection and, 269
National Animal Identification System (NAIS), 392, 400–401
National Institute for Animal Agriculture, 400
National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP), 391–92
native ewes, 19
Nature Conservancy, The, 64, 84
navel ill, 254
newborn lambs. See also baby lambs, care of; problems with newborn lambs
bottle-fed, 174
colostrum deprived, 173
colostrum for, 171–73
digestion in, 170–74
emergency milk formula, 172
milk quantity for, 173
nitrogen fixation, legumes and, 105
North, Karl and Jane, 8–9
Northland Dairy, 8–9
nose bots, 213
“no-tail” docking, 307
nutrients in feeds, 174–78
alternative nutrition, 197
beauty of wool and, 316
carbohydrates, 178
fats, 178
immune systems and, 194
lamb body composition and, 176
proteins, 176
salt, 187–88
vitamins and minerals, 176–77, 187–88, 197
water, 177
orchards, grazing in, 114–15
subdividing of orchard, 115
tree trunk protection, 115
orchitis, 238
alternative health practices and, 197
orphan lambs, 297–306. See also bummer lambs
bottle lamb, 303–5
cafeteria-style feeding of, 305–6
for ewe with dead lamb, 303
feeding schedule for, 305
forcible acceptance, 301–2
grafting of, 299–303
out-of-season lambing, 262
ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP), 28, 216. See also pneumonia
Ovis aries (domestic sheep), 2
paddocks
advantage of, 111
grazing period vs. numbers of, 114
number of, 112–13
paperwork. See records and animal identification
external, 209–13
heritability and, 35
internal, 200–209
parasite preparations, 234
Parry, Richard, 274–75
pasture, 101–15, 184–85. See also paddocks
bare spots, rejuvenation of, 108, 109
carrying capacity/stocking rate of, 101–2
clipping/mowing of, 113
forage plants for, 103–5
frost seeding of, 109
grazing approaches, 110–14
ideal pasture mix, 104
nitrogen fixation and, 105, 108
overgrowth control, 108–9
plants, pasture areas and, 106–7
rest periods, paddocks for, 111, 112
tame vs. native, 101
U.S. pasture areas for, 107
pasture plants. See forage plants
pecking order, 14
pelts, 353–60
baking soda-kerosine tanning method, 360
care of, 357–58
drying and softening of, 360
fleshing out of, 357
home tanning of, 358–60
live sheep handling and, 356
salt-acid tanning of, 359
tanning preparation, 358
pens. See handling facilities; jugs
pet food, mutton for, 349
phase lambing, 9–10
pinkeye, 219
“pinning.” See constipation
pizzle rot (Corynebacterium renale), 239
planned grazing. See managed grazing
“Plant Image Gallery,” Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 105
plants/pasture areas, U.S.
for grasses, shrubs, forbs, 106
for legumes, 107
map of, 107
pneumonia, 254–55, 306. See also ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP)
polio (polioencephalomalacia), 255
post-lambing care, 288–93
ear tags, use of, 293
feeding the lamb, 289–92
marking lambs, 292–93
molasses/feed for mama, 292
multiple lambs, 292
starvation of lambs, 291
umbilical cord care, 288
postmortem examinations, 196
potbelly, 202
“Predator-Friendly” movement, 149, 162–63
predators, 148–54
coyotes as, 151–52
discouraging, 150–51
Endangered Species Act and, 155
identifying, 150
laws regarding, 154
managing for, 148–54
multispecies grazing and, 179
variety of, 153–54
victimization, signs of, 152
pregnancy/delivery. See ewes, disorders in; lambing; lamb positions
pregnancy toxemia, 245–47
early treatment of, 247
ketone test for, 277
vs. milk fever, 246
problems with newborn lambs, 293–97
hypothermia, 293–95
inverted eyelids, 297
resuscitation of lamb, 296
stomach tube emergency feeding, 296–97, 298–99, 299
warming a frozen lamb, 295
weak lambs, 295–96
processed wool, 339–43
carding machine for, 341
cleaning fleeces for, 339–40
drying fleeces, 340–41
handcraft uses of fleece, 343
odd uses of wool, 343–44
production systems, 8–10
early-spring-confinement lambing, 10
fall lambing, 10
grassfed production, 11–12
late-spring pasture lambing, 10
organic production, 10–11
phase lambing, 9–10
winter-confinement lambing, 9
products. See also wool products
live-animal business, 361–63
meat and milk, 344–53
odds and ends, 363–69
pelts, 353–60
pulsed grazing. See managed grazing
purchasing sheep. See buying sheep
quarantining sheep, 29, 194–95, 223
Radio Frequency IDs, 400–401
rams, 264–70
“battering rams,” 268–70
body temperature, fertility and, 266
breeding, preparation for, 265–68
conformation of, 26
effect upon ewes, 267
harness/brisket marking for, 267–68
hoppling/yoking/clogging of, 270
raising your own, 268
ram chart, sample, 395
ram rental, 361
recurrent selection of, 269
replacement rams, 19
reproductive tract of, 265, 265
rams, problems with, 237–39
epididymitis, 237–38
orchitis, 238
pizzle rot, 239
ulcerative dermatosis, 239
range sheep, 19
rare breeds, 38–40
ALBC priority for, 39
population status of, 39
recessive traits, undesirable, 33
recipes, 369–75
Anna’s Casserole, 374–75
Breakfast Sausage, 370–71
Cornmeal Crust, 372–73
Garden Meat Loaf Squares, 373
Hasty Hash, 371
Oregon Lamb or Mutton, 375
Sloppy Joes, 374
Smoked Leg of Mutton “Ham,” 369–70
Vi’s Tamale Pie, 372
records and animal identification, 390–401
computer software/spreadsheets, 392–93
EPD values, 392
ewe chart, sample, 394
feed requirements charts, 396
health records, 28
identifying your animals, 393
National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP), 391–92
ram chart, sample, 395
record charts, samples, 393–95
recurrent selection of rams, 269
registered breeding stock, 18
reproduction. See breeding sheep; ewes; rams
resources, 192. See also Web sites
restraining devices, 131–32, 132
resuscitation of lamb, 296
retained afterbirth, 247–48
Rideau Arcott, 80
ringwomb, 282
Romanov, 81
rotational grazing. See managed grazing
roundworms, 201
safety
with CCA posts, 120
toxic substances and, 190
salmonellosis (Salmonella bacteria), 242
salt. See nutrients in feeds
Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation “Plant Image Gallery,” 105
sanitation, 193–94
Santa Cruz (sheep breed), 84, 85
Sarplaninac. See Shar Planinetz
scab mites, 213
Scottish Blackface (Black Face Highland), 86, 87
dry hay and, 28–29
electrolyte solution for, 257
signs of, 27
white scours (Escherichia coli infection), 257–58
yellow scours, 256–57
scrapie-identification requirements, 393
selenium-vitamin E injectables, 250, 260
senses/emotions of sheep, 14–17
hearing, 16–17
smell, 17
taste/touch, 17
set stocking
parasite control and, 205
sewing projects
Shar Planinetz (guardian dog), 166, 166
shearing sheep, 278–79, 321–23
facing, 279
“fitting” (preshow preparation), 387, 387–89
how to shear, 324–34
local services for, 335–36
pelt value and, 354–55
preparing to shear, 323–24
sharpening blades, 323
suggestions for, 334–35
twenty steps in, 324–34
“shearling” lining. See pelts
Sheep Disease Management (Gates), 193
sheep farming today, 3–13
homestead flocks, 6
intensive vs. extensive management, 7–10
vertical integration, 5–6
Sheep Housing and Equipment Handbook, The, 133
“Sheep Industry Economic Impact
sheep keds, 209–11
Sheep Production Handbook, 122
sheep shearing. See shearing sheep
sheepskin cross-section, 315, 315
sheep ticks. See sheep keds
Shepherd Magazine, 338
Shepherd’s Journal, 377
Shepherd Stories
Betty Levin’s Help, 137
Christmas Trees and Sheep, 37
Dogs on Duty, 149
Facilities Expert, 102–3
The Judge, 380–81
Lessons Learned, 354–55
Manager Extraordinaire, 274–75
Northland Dairy, 8–9
Organic: I’ll Drink to That, 376
Predator-Friendly ranchers, 162–63
In the Ring, 388
Wool as Art, 312–13
shipping, shrinkage and, 130
showing sheep, 377–90. See also conformation
kinds of shows, 377–78
show classes, 379
training sheep for shows, 379–90
shrinkage, shipping and, 130
sickness. See diseases; specific disease
sight. See vision, field of
skin folds, 36
Sloan, J., 43
Slow Food movement, 5
soap, homemade, 364–66
containers for, 365
lamb tallow soap recipe, 364–65
variations of, 365–66
solid mouth, 24
soremouth (ecthyma), 216–17
Southern Cheviot. See Border Cheviot
specialty wool markets, 3
Spider Lamb Syndrome (SLS), 220
“spinning count,” 319
Spurlock, Dr. Glenn, 48
Staphylococcus, mastitis and, 242
starting with sheep, 1–29
background on sheep, 2
behavior of sheep, 13–17
buying sheep, 19–28
production systems, 8–13
sheep farming today, 3–13
working sheep, 17
St. Croix (sheep breed), 90, 91
“stiff lamb.” See white muscle disease
stillbirth, milking considerations after, 242
stock dogs. See herding dogs
stocking rate of pasture, 101–2
Stockman Grass Farmer, 185
stomach tube emergency feeding, 296–97, 298–99, 299
sustainability, 4–5, 7, 185. See also low-input systems
tagging. See crotching
tail removal. See docking
tallow. See candles, homemade; soap, homemade
tanning. See under pelts
tapeworms, 202
teaching/writing about sheep, 368–69
teeth of sheep, 22–24
terminology for, 24
tending breeds (dogs), 139–40
terminology
for feeds/feeding, 175
for herding dogs, 147
for sheeps’ teeth, 24
tetanus (“lockjaw”), 258, 260, 306
tick bites. See “cockle”
total digestible nutrients (TDN), 175, 185
toxic substances, 190. See also poisonous plants
toxoids, 235
toxoplamosis, 241
training sheep for shows, 379–90
bracing, 385
eight steps for showing, 383–85
final fitting, 389
“fitting” (preshow preparation), 387–89
foot placement, 384
halterless leading, 381–82
halter training, 379–87
handling during shows, 386, 386
obstinate students, 382
preshow carding, 389
show ring strategies, 390
squaring up, 384
squatting, 384
training to stand, 382–83
Turner, D. Helen Newton, 54
Turning Wool into a Cottage Industry (Simmons), 339
twinning
flushing and, 272
multiple births, 35
post-lambing care and, 292
Tyler, Dave, 162–63
“types” of sheep, 19
ulcerative dermatosis, 239
unapproved drugs, 236
unbroken sheep, 147
undesirable recessive traits, 33
urinary calculi (“water belly”), 258–59
USDA, Wildlife Services office, 154
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 105, 111
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), 219
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 10, 13, 400–401
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 236
U.S. Sheep Industry Development program, 36
U.S. standard yield grades, slaughtering and, 345
vaccines/biologicals, 234–36
antisera, 234–35
for ewes and lambs, 271
selenium supplementation for, 250
vertical integration, 5–6
Veterinary Guide for Animal Owners, A (Spaulding), 191, 192
vibrosis (Campylobacter fetus/jejuni), 240, 241
viral infections, 215–17
bluetongue, 215
ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP), 216
soremouth (ecthyma), 216–17
vision, field of, 15–16
bifocal/monofocal vision, 16
vitamins and minerals, 176–77
warming box for lamb, 295, 295
water. See under feeds
“water belly.” See urinary calculi
for grassfed movement, 12
for local products, 346
marketing products using, 312–14
on NAIS, 401
for sheep health issues, 192
for stomach tube feeding, 297
for sustainability, 185
Weed, Becky, 162–63
weed and brush control, 3
for leafy spurge, 104
weights
status/age/body composition, 176
Western ewes, 19
wether (castrated male), 270
White, Bill, 37
white muscle disease (“stiff lamb”), 183, 259–60
wigging. See facing
wild animals. See predators
winter-confinement lambing, 9
wool, 314–44. See also processed wool; shearing sheep; wool products
clean wool yield, 318, 319, 319
crimp of, 318
evaluation of, 318–19
fiber structure, 315, 315, 317, 317
micron system for, 319
nutrition, beauty of wool, 316
processed wool, 339–43
production of, 315–16
sheep coats to protect, 320, 320–21
on sheep’s legs, 35
wool blindness, 36
wool break, 202
wool products, 336–44. See also pelts; processed wool
bedding, wool in, 336
colored fleeces, 337–39
for handspinners, 336–37
working sheep, 17. See also herding dogs
worm infestations. See internal parasites
targeted worming, 208–9
worm resistance, 207–8
yield grades, sheep and lambs, 345
“yoking” two rams, 270