Re: [Blackbelly] A Walking Dichotomy?

[Becky Lannon]

Barb & Cecil,

That's how we do it.  The older we get, the harder it is to run after the
ewes
who can't take care of their own lambs.  I'd always heard that expression
"survival of the fittest", but I thought it was referring to the animals,
now that
we are older I realize it means the shepherd.  LOL.

Becky Lannon
Lone Star Farm

----- Original Message -----
From: "Cecil Bearden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info>
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 6:12 AM
Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] A Walking Dichotomy?


> Barb;
> You have just hit on the most important aspect of raising sheep.  Since
> the profit margin is so small, then we have to have ewes with a great
> mothering ability.  I lump a lot of things into mothering ability.  I
> have over 80 ewes right now and this is the first time that I have had
> more than 50 lambs within 4 weeks of age.  I can pick out the ones that
> can produce lambs without help, and the ones that their lambs seem to
> stand around "humped up" from a lack of nutrition or something.  These
> ewes are getting tagged and are going to a sale as soon as their wean
> their lambs.  Since I am 10 years older than when I started raising
> Blackbellies, this becomes more and more important.  I might add that
> the lambs that have that White spot or more white than normal are doing
> very well.  So, that milking ability may came from the ones that have
> that white gene.  I do not pay as much attention to breed standards as I
> do the condition of the lamb and ewe.
>
> Cecil in OKla
>
>   I know with my sheep, I have committed to optimizing nutrition
> > at all stages (substituting book-learnin' for the experience I lack) and
> > any ewes that don't get their twins up and going without having to run a
> > hose down their throats for the first day or two, are going to be out of
> > here.  No more free ride.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Barb Lee
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list
> > Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
> >
> _______________________________________________
> This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list
> Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
>

_______________________________________________
This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list
Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info