Sheep are loyal, sensitive, and sweet.
With the proper environment and care, they can make wonderful additions to your
family. Here, we provide some basic information about sheep and what they
require to stay happy and healthy.
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| "Lucy" Photo credit: Kevin Baker |
Basics
The average lifespan of a sheep
is about 10-12 years and their normal body temperature ranges from 101-103ºF. Size
and weight vary depending on breed and sex. Female sheep (called ewes) usually range
in weight from 100-150lbs. Male sheep (called wethers if castrated; rams if
not) typically weigh between 125-250lbs.
Behavior
Sheep are herd animals and
require the company of other sheep to be happy and healthy. By nature, sheep
are grazers – meaning that they tend to eat low-growing vegetation – however
they will happily snack on brambles and briars, including your prize-winning
roses! Keep this in mind when determining how you’ll keep your sheep in their
space and out of yours.
Space
Your sheep flock will need an
enclosed space that offers protection from the elements and predators, as well
as room to run, play, and graze. Shelter structures should be waterproof, well
ventilated but free from drafts, inaccessible to predators, and provide at
least 25 square feet of space per sheep. Your flock’s outdoor area should
provide at least 40 square feet of space per sheep and be securely enclosed. Shaded
areas will help prevent sheep from overheating in warm weather. Local wildlife
or even a neighborhood dog can make easy prey of sheep, so be sure to fortify
your standard post-and-plank fencing with strong wire mesh to prevent predators
from entering your flock’s space.
Diet
Sheep are ruminants, meaning that
instead of one simple stomach, they have four stomach chambers – the rumen,
reticulum, omasum, and abomasum – each of which has a specialized purpose. The
rumen is the largest chamber and fills virtually the entire left side of the
body cavity. The rumen and reticulum together act as a fermentation vat where
microbes start the digestive process. When a sheep eats, partially chewed
material is swallowed and sent to the rumen where it ferments. The sheep then
burps this material (“cud”) back into the mouth to chew and swallow it again.
This process is repeated until the microbes in the rumen and reticulum have
digested the material enough for it to pass to the omasum. The omasum further
breaks down food particles and absorbs water and other nutrients. The abomasum
is the final chamber, where digestive enzymes are produced and help prepare
nutrients for absorption in the intestines.
The microbes in your sheep’s guts
require the cellulose fiber found in forage (i.e. browse, grass, and hay). For
healthy animals, we do not recommend commercial sheep feeds because they often
include corn and grain – these ferment faster than forage and disrupt normal
digestive function (which can result in death). Access to adequate pasture
and/or good quality grass hays such as timothy, will help keep your sheep happy
and healthy (alfalfa and other high-protein hays can lead to health problems).
Sheep also require mineral
supplements which come loose or in block form, and can be free-fed. Note that
mineral supplements formulated for goats contain levels of copper toxic to
sheep; if you house goats and sheep together, a multi-species formula without
copper should be provided.
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| Sheep Mama and Amos coexist peacefully with goat Michael |
Any changes to your sheep’s diet
should be made gradually over time, as a sudden switch can cause serious
digestive issues. Clean, fresh water should always be available to your sheep.
Health care and maintenance
Consult your local large animal
veterinarian to determine the correct vaccines and vaccination schedule for
your flock. Common vaccinations will protect against clostridium, tetanus, and
rabies.
Hoof maintenance is simple, but
very important. A vet can show you how to properly trim your sheep’s hooves,
and it should be done every four to eight weeks to prevent infections
(including hoof rot) and lameness. Shearing is also an important and necessary aspect
of sheep care. Wool sheep will need shearing just once or twice a year and we
strongly recommend having this done by a trained professional. Your local
agricultural extension office or large animal veterinarian should be able to
help you find a qualified shearer.
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| Amos is a wool sheep and needs to be sheared once or twice a year |
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| Lucy and Mama are both hair sheep, who produce very little wool and will shed that wool annually, so do not require shearing |
We recommend castrating male
sheep in order to avoid the undesirable behaviors (and smells!) associated with
amorous intact males. However, castration stops the development of the urinary
tract and can leave males vulnerable to blockages caused by urinary calculi
(bladder stones). Therefore, it is best to wait until your sheep is at least a
few months old before having them castrated.
Internal parasites are common in sheep,
but some are more dangerous than others, especially in young, old, or sick
individuals. Watch your flock for signs of parasitic infestation including
anemia, coughing, diarrhea, fever, and weight loss. Work with your vet to
establish a deworming schedule, and have fecal samples tested quarterly to
monitor parasite load.
Perform regular health checks on
your sheep! Start when they are young, so they get used to being handled and
having all parts of their body touched. At Charlie’s Acres, in addition to
daily contact and observation, we check our sheep head to tail once a month.
Here’s what we look for:
Eyes: discharge, excessive
tearing, foreign bodies
Ears: discharge (some wax is
normal!), foreign bodies, odors
Nose: discharge, foreign bodies,
sores
Mouth: cracked/missing teeth,
odors, scabs/sores
Abdomen/udders: lumps/masses,
fluid build-up, sensitivity, tautness, discharge/heat/swelling around teats
Penis/vulva: discharge,
lumps/masses, discoloration, swelling, odors
Butt/tail: cleanliness,
lumps/masses, discoloration
Legs: heat, swelling, joint
enlargement/stiffness, sores
Hooves: cracks, heat, debris
between toes, sores/wounds, odors, overgrown hooves
Common ailments
The ruminant digestive system
supports a delicate balance of microbial life which can be easily upset. Bloat
(also called grain poisoning) is a potentially fatal condition caused by overeating
rich grain or new pasture. Prevention is key. Take time to gradually adjust
your sheep to new food including lush spring pastures, and especially those
that are wet with dew, or growing alfalfa or clover. Be careful to store feed
securely out of your sheep’s reach as they will gorge themselves if given the
opportunity. Signs of bloat include distention of the left side of the abdomen
(indicating a buildup of gas in the rumen) and obvious discomfort – e.g.
calling or crying, grinding teeth, kicking at the abdomen, salivation. Call
your vet at the first indication of bloat, as it can kill animals quickly. Talk
to your vet about bloat remedies that you can keep on hand in case help is not
immediately available.
Caprine Arthritis and
Encephalitis (CAE) is a retrovirus usually transmitted vertically from mother
to offspring, although it can also be transmitted horizontally among flock-mates
through contact with infected bodily secretions such as blood or feces. CAE can
manifest with very serious symptoms, but many infected sheep can live their
entire lives without showing signs. When symptoms are present, they can take
many forms. The arthritic form is the most common. There can be an acute onset
of symptoms – typically in older sheep – including joint soreness, stiffness,
and swelling, but more often the arthritis is chronic and progressive. The encephalitic
form is less common and most often affects lambs between two and six months of
age. Neurological deficiencies may result in poor coordination, head tilt,
tremors, twitches, and blindness. Progressive nerve damage leads to muscle
weakness and then paralysis. The encephalitic form of CAE is fatal. CAE can
also present as pneumonia including a chronic cough, rapid breathing, rough
lung sounds, and enlarged lymph nodes. The mammary form of CAE presents as
mastitis, where the udders become hard and unable to express milk. Sheep
infected with CAE will often exhibit slow progressive weight loss. Blood tests
can determine whether or not your sheep has CAE, and other tests can be
performed to determine the specific form. Except in the encephalitic form, which
is fatal, symptoms and any associated pain can be managed; discuss a treatment
plan with your vet.
Caseous lymphadenitis (CL) is a
contagious disease that causes large pus-filled abscess on the skin and/or
lymph nodes and organs. The external abscesses are usually not painful to the
affected sheep, but if they burst or are ruptured, the pus can spread the
disease to other members of the flock. The internal form of the disease can
affect a sheep’s lymphatic function and other organ systems. If you notice that
one of your sheep has an abscess, you should isolate the individual and have a
vet culture the pus, which can be tested for CL. Work with a sheep-savvy
veterinarian to put together a strategic treatment plan.
