SHEEP BEHAVIOUR BASICS: PART 3 Handling: Sheep-human problems: Welfare issues By Dr Clive Dalton Are sheep intelligent? Sheep handling tips Catching and holding sheep When you find the right angle, the sheep will relax and you can take your hands off and hold it only with your legs and especially your knees. It’s the position … Read more
Agriculture, goats, husbandry, Angora, Mohair, fleece, handling By Clive Dalton The final objective – top quality combed top 26-30 microns Handling fleeces If you do a good job on the basic fleece handling on the farm, then it makes the job easier for the classer, and this will be reflected in a higher return. Here … Read more
Agriculture, husbandry, goats, Angora, Mohair, fibre, handling, shearing By Dr Clive Dalton Kid fleece, 26-30 microns Fibre handling Shearing Suggestions from goat shearers: Important point: If there is any risk of dampness, then expect the shearer to refuse to shear your goats. It’s bad for the shearer’s health (skin boils) and damp mohair will become … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton Back industries Many back injuries occur when handling sheep, especially when lifting a sheep over a fence. This is often done to save time, rather than pushing the sheep to a gate when the pen is full. Or you may be in a paddock where there is no gate to drag … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton Can you do without a bull? It’s a good idea to try avoid keeping a bull for these reasons: What are the alternatives? What age of bull to buy? Horned or polled bulls? Puberty Bulls reach puberty around 9-12 months old but young bull calves from 4 months old sucking their … Read more
Cattle, farming, husbandry, behaviour, senses, communication, housing cattle, farm raceways, training cattle to lead, droving on highway By Dr Clive Dalton Cattle – what are they? More about ruminants What do cattle do all day? Cattle divide their day into periods of: Cattle sensesSight Point of balance Hearing Smell Touch Sleep Memory Cattle Communication Bulls … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton Handling goats Behaviour Catching & holding goats Yards Good things about yards Shelter/Shade & housing Danger times for goats Birth. Post shearing