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Quality Gates and Sorting Equipment Can Help Sort Goats and Sheep

Sorting is an important aspect of many goat and sheep operations. However manual or hand sorting can be time and labor intensive. Having high-quality gates and sorting equipment can help manage your herds while also saving you precious man hours.

Here at D-S Livestock Equipment, we can work with you to develop a sorting system that meets the needs of your goat or sheep herd.

Our Two-Way Sorter folds to accommodate different raceway widths. It sorts animals left or right by a 24-inch operating handle. This keeps you away from the front of the sheep or goat so they exit the raceway better. The unit also has a lock to keep the sorter in left or right sort position.

Our Two-Way Sorter with Stop is a unique 3-in-1 gate that is easy to operate. It has a single handle that is capable of three different functions. It can stop animals, cut animals right, or cut animals left. The unit comes with a lock handle so it can be held securely in any position. The stop gate is built into the sorter allowing sheep and goats to be slowed for closer observation before sorting.

Our Bi-Fold Sorter with Stop has a center panel that folds flat while sorting left or right. When you put the unit in the neutral position, the panel folds out flat to act as a stop. It is operated by a 30-inch handle which can lock and unlock the sorter. This handle length provides you with added distance from the sorter so animals exit better. The unit also supports your raceway panels at the proper angle and width.

If you have a sheep or goat operation and you need quality sorting equipment, you should call 800-949-9997 to speak to a representative at D-S Livestock equipment.

Can You Raise Sheep and Goats Together?

Sheep and goats are two of the most popular ruminant animals for everyone from the “serious” farmer to people looking to raise affordable meat, milk, and wool on patches of larger land. However, a lot of people make the mistake of thinking that raising sheep and goats together is a simple process. The truth is that it takes a good degree of work. Let’s look at a few of the things you need to know when raising sheep and goats together.

Different food

If you plan to let your sheep and goats graze in the same area, you need to keep in mind that they prefer different types of vegetation. Additionally, goats need mineral supplements to stay healthy – especially copper. The kicker here is that copper can be deadly to sheep if they ingest too much of it.

For this reason, many farmers who keep both goats and sheep have separate feeding areas for both animals, and add the extra copper goats need to their feed – not out in the field where it could potentially harm your sheep.

Watch the horns

Almost all goats have horns, while sheep don’t. It’s important to watch out for violent behavior, as goats may try to establish dominance in the pack over sheep. You also want to keep lambs and kids with their mothers, separate from older sheep and goats that could potentially harm them.

For more information, or to order new equipment, call us today at [phone].

Early-spring Sheep Shearing Tips

With spring finally poking up around the country, it’s time for your sheep herds to get sheared. You definitely want that heavy winter coat off your sheep before it gets too warm, but you don’t want to shear any ewes when they’re close to lambing. This can cause too much undue stress for your sheep.

That being said, let’s take a look at a few early spring sheep shearing tips.

Prep your sheep

One of the most important things to do is properly prepare your sheep for shearing. This means that they’re clean and dry. Shearing wet, dirty wool is much more time intensive, laborious process. Additionally, if you’re having your sheep sheared by a professional, you don’t want to take up more of their time by forcing them to handle dirty, wet wool.

Remember it’s a tough job

If you decide to shear your sheep on your own, remember that it’s an incredibly labor-intensive job. If you’ve never sheared before, you definitely need a professional on hand to help you make sure you don’t ruin the wool, and more importantly that you don’t harm your sheep.

Sheep shearing is a lot of work, but the end result is a large pile of money – in the form of wool, of course. Now, if you have any other questions, or need equipment to start your shearing season, contact the team here at [practice_name] in [city], [state]. We can be reached at [phone].

The Basics of Raising Sheep

Sheep are a great option to raise for livestock ranchers who wants an animal that provides more than just meat and milk, like cows. Sheep provide wool, meat, milk, and cheese, and to top things off, they’ll eat weeds that other livestock won’t even look at. With their high reproductive rate and relative low expense to raise and maintain, sheep are an ideal animal to add to your livestock ranch.

Let’s look at a couple of the basics of raising sheep that any enterprising rancher needs to know.

They’re harder to fence than cattle

As any rancher can attest, fences are one of the most important parts of running a successful operation. Sheep are a bit harder to fence, since they have a tendency to wander, than cattle, but that problem is easily solved by building a solid, reliable perimeter fence with an interior fence to keep sheep feeding in whichever paddock has the most feed at any given time.

Feeding sheep

A lot of folks ranching sheep will use a natural pasture, supplemented with hay, for at least part of the year. You can add minerals and other grains to the natural grass if you desire, but it’s not necessary.

Here at [practice_name] we have all the equipment you need in order to feed your sheep, in addition to knowledge to answer questions you may have. Call us today at [phone] for more information.

The Winning Diet of A Show-Worthy Sheep

Raising sheep that are show-worthy isn’t the easiest task. It requires special attention to the sheep that you think can make it big on the show circuit.

Luckily, we have a few tips (and more than enough equipment) to help you raise show-worthy sheep. Let’s take a look at a few basic tips for raising show-worthy sheep.

Energy is important
A big part of a winning sheep’s diet is high-energy food sources. Things like carbohydrates, fat, and excess protein in your sheep’s diet will give it more energy, which helps you raise the best-looking, award-winning sheep.

Protein
This is frequently the most expensive part of a sheep’s diet, but if you want to win any of the livestock sheep shows, you’ll need to make sure your sheep get the protein they need. The most common protein supplement for sheep is soybean meal. Our feeders here at [practice_name] are protected from rain and have a 36-inch long trough. It can hold 300 pounds’ worth of grains to feed your sheep.

Salt
Another important aspect of a show-winning sheep’s diet is salt. Salt is an important mineral for regulating the functions in the bodies of sheep, and help maintain the sheep’s skeleton. Low salt totals can result in rickets or a delicate skeleton. Neither of those issues will provide you a show-winning sheep.

Raising a show-winning sheep takes hard work, but with the help of your products here at [practice_name] we’ll help you raise the wining sheep you want.

Preparing for Shearing

Did you know that most sheep grow wool continuously? This means that most sheep will need to be sheared at least once a year. While shearing isn’t necessarily easy work, anyone can do it. Still, at times it is more beneficial and cost effective to hire a professional. Today, our team at [practice_name] is happy to give you a few tips on how you can prepare your sheep a professional to shear.

Of course, before you shear your animals, there are a few steps that should be taken. For example, please ensure that your sheep will be dry before they are sheared. Similarly, your sheep shouldn’t have full stomachs come shearing time. Full stomachs will make your animals uncomfortable and make the experience more difficult. In fact, it may be best to avoid feeding your animals at all on shearing day. You should also prepare an area. If the day will be warm, we recommend a shaded, dry space. Similarly, you may want to have an extension cord ready in advance.

Finally, we recommend keeping other distractions away. For example, if you have small children, dogs, or other animals in the area, your sheep could be distracted, making the process more difficult.

If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact us at [phone] soon. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Minerals Sheep Need

Did you know that there are a few vitamins and minerals that your sheep will need to remain healthy? In fact, to avoid health problems, your sheep need sixteen different minerals. While some of these minerals can be found in what your sheep usually eat, other should be given to them in the form of supplements.

Sheep particularly need salt, calcium, and phosphorus to be healthy. Without salt, your animals will produce less milk, drink less water, and not grow as well. Furthermore, if sheep don’t have enough salt, they are more likely to eat poisonous plants. Your sheep also need calcium and phosphorous to avoid major health problems.

Again, it is extremely important to give your sheep the minerals they need. Without them, your sheep could give birth to weak lambs, be depressed, have metabolic problems, and have poor fertility. Conversely, if your sheep get too much of any mineral they may experience a variety of other problems. Fortunately, there are a variety of mineral mixes that are combined with your sheep in mind. Depending on the mix you choose, you may need to add salt on your own or need to stop your sheep from finding salt. We recommend asking your provider more specific information.

If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact us soon. We’re excited to hear from you.

How to Raise Sheep and Goats Together

Are you thinking of raising goats or sheep? Are you struggling to decide which animal you should raise? Have you ever considered raising both simultaneously? Did you know that was an option? In reality you can raise sheep and goats at the same time—though there are a few things you should be aware of first.

The most important thing you should know is that even though sheep and goats seem to have quite a few similarities, there are many important differences. For instance, both animals require different minerals. The most important difference is that while goats need the mineral copper, it is fatal for sheep. To avoid feeding problems, we recommend keeping sheep and goats separate for feedings.  Similarly, both animals forage, though goats, which will normally eat anything, will browse for specific foods, sheep look for grass and clovers.

Another similarity is that both goats and sheep are sociable animals. This means that they can compete with each other for a spot in a herd. This can be dangerous since most goats have horns and sheep do not. This means that goats have a chance of injuring sheep seriously. In order to avoid this problem, you may want to consider removing your goats’ horns.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can care for your goats and sheep simultaneously, or about how to raise either of these animals individually, please feel free to contact us.  We will gladly answer any questions you may have.

Popular Sheep Breeds

Are you thinking of raising sheep? Do you wonder what breed would be best for you?

Naturally, the first thing you need to consider is why you’re raising sheep? Are you hoping for milk? Are you trying to make a profit by selling wool or meat? Of course, most sheep can be used for both purposes, but some breeds may be better suited to specific goals.

For instance, many sheep are popular because they produce high-quality wool.  Merino sheep are particularly useful and in-demand world-wide. Their wool can be used to create warm accessories, such as clothing. Lincoln sheep are also popular for its fine, beautiful wool, which is mostly used in weaving and designing.

If you are more interested in selling sheep for meat, we recommend considering the Dorset sheep and the Dorper sheep. The Dorset sheep is also useful because it produces milk very well. Dorper sheep are also a popular choice because of their ability to adjust to a variety of climates. You may also consider a Hamsphire sheep and a Suffolk sheep. Incidentally, Suffolk sheep are frequently considered the best meat-type breed.

Again, if you are interested in dairy sheep, a Dorset sheep might be right for you. However, a highly productive sheep—also known for its high-quality milk—is the East Friesian. These sheep can produce more than a thousand pounds of milk in about half a year.

If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact us soon. We will gladly answer any questions you have.

Water for Your Sheep

As you know, any animal needs water to survive. But, if you’re raising sheep, you may rarely see your animals drinking—in fact, you may not see them drink at all. Do you ever wonder why that is, how you should give them water, or how much water your sheep actually need?

Of course, you should provide fresh, clean water for your sheep. Sheep prefer drinking from a still source of water, rather than from flowing water. We recommend using buckets or other forms of automatics waterers. Also, please rinse out the container that holds your sheep’s water regularly.  Your sheep will prefer water that has no ice in it in the winter, and water that is in shade during the summer.  Finally, to maintain control of your water supply, we recommend fencing off water from nearby streams and other natural water sources.

Typically, your sheep will need between something between a half gallon and three gallons of water a day. The amount of water they need a day is influence by how heavy the animal is, whether or not they are lactating, what they are being raised for, and environmental conditions. Similarly, if they don’t seem to drink, it is most likely because they get most of the water they need through forage. We recommend having a clean, fresh supply available at all times.

If you would like to learn more or have any questions about sheep care, please feel free to contact us. We are excited to hear from you.

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