Problems with Grazing Sheep and Goats | What to Know!

Problems with Grazing Sheep and Goats | What to Know!
Thank you for joining us today! We are discussing 5 main points of consideration before you move sheep or goats to pasture! Please consider liking and subscribing, and please check out our other videos! If you have any questions or comments, please let us know!
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[@AgnesMariaL]

Glad this video popped up as a suggestion - I don't think I've actually subscribed to your channel yet (I totally should!) I researched and researched until I was blue in the face before getting my first sheep, but suffered many losses because of things that never came up in said research, such as bloat. This giving sheep fresh, lush pasture right off the bat after, say, a winter of hay and commercial feed, is again new information for me! I just bought four ewes a couple days ago: three Romanovs and one horned Dorset. Got them for a skookum deal - as in, dirt cheap - and all four are emaciated. They've been gobbling down the hay almost faster than our three equines (horse, mule and donkey), they are THAT STARVED!!! After my experiences with bloat, I have been giving ewe ration (they desperately need to get weight on, and my last existing sheep from my original flock is due to lamb any day) sporadically throughout the day in small amounts. If I had lush pasture to put them on, I would have, not knowing that it could be their detriment - now I know! Maybe that's the reason why the pigs had to stay in the one paddock last year for way too long, then go back to it after the hurricane blew down the fence of their next area... Everything happens for a reason, right? Minerals are not available here, not anymore (NS, Canada) last time I checked. They do have a cobalt salt-lick available (which they've been using) and - thanks to a previous video of yours - a dish of baking soda :)

[@LinessaFarms]

Thank you for watching our videos and thank you for taking the time to leave us a message. We have a lot of individuals around the world that struggle to find appropriate minerals and vitamins for their livestock. We look forward to hearing from you again in the future!

[@44warlord41]

Wow, your pasture is looking great. I started by planting mine late last year. I have some amendments to make to get you yours. Well done.

[@LinessaFarms]

It seems to take a good 3-4 years to really have things fill in right. It will get there eventually! As always, we appreciate your continued support and look forward to hearing from you again soon!

[@kaitlanlpz]

❤

[@LinessaFarms]

Thank you!

[@aprilblack8916]

Thank you for posting this video! This is good timing, since I'll be bringing home sheep from two different breeders over the next month. From your previous videos, I knew to order the bloat meds just in case and get some sodium bicarb, but I always seem to forget the "don't put them out hungry" tip. My grass (and clovers) is growing like crazy, so I need to be really careful with the animals.

[@LinessaFarms]

Hello, April! Yep… that clover can get them pretty quick. We usually have a few problem children that want to bloat but overall, most are fine. You will know if you are going to have problems reasonably quickly after placing them out on pasture. If we are going to see bloat, it will normally manifest within the first 24-48 hours.

[@scottstockle1andonly]

Have you ever tried "AU Grazer Sericea Lespedeza" for grazing goats?

[@LinessaFarms]

We have a lot of alfalfa and clover in most of our fields and haven’t really considered bringing in lespedeza. Unfortunately, if you get it going, it’s extremely difficult to get rid of and can become rather invasive. It is a very good option for many farms due to its unique characteristics. All lespedeza is not created equally. 'AU Grazer' is a specific cultivar of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), developed by Auburn University. This cultivar is known for its unique characteristics and uses, particularly in the context of grazing for livestock. Here are some key aspects of AU Grazer sericea lespedeza: Reduced Tannin Content: Compared to other sericea lespedeza varieties, AU Grazer has been bred to have slightly reduced tannin levels. This makes it more palatable to livestock while still retaining enough tannins to help control internal parasites like gastrointestinal nematodes. Forage Quality: It is recognized for its good forage quality, making it suitable for grazing by animals like goats, sheep, and cattle. The forage is high in protein and other nutrients. Growth Habits: This cultivar exhibits a growth pattern that is more favorable for grazing. It tends to be less woody and more leafy than typical sericea lespedeza varieties, which is beneficial for forage. Soil Adaptability: Like other sericea lespedezas, AU Grazer is well-adapted to a variety of soil types, including poor and acidic soils. It's also relatively drought-tolerant. Weed Control: It can be used for weed control in pastures due to its competitive growth, suppressing the growth of undesirable plants. Erosion Control: Its root system helps in preventing soil erosion, making it a good choice for conservation purposes. Wildlife Habitat: Besides its agricultural uses, AU Grazer can also provide habitat and food for wildlife, particularly during the fall and winter months. Management: While it offers several benefits, AU Grazer, like other sericea lespedezas, requires proper management to avoid becoming invasive or too dominant in pastures.

[@scottstockle1andonly]

@LinessaFarms thank you so much for the detailed response. I'm just getting started with goats, and I really appreciate your channel and the information you provide. I was looking at this as an option because right now, I just have mostly bahia on my Sandy loam soil here in north Louisiana. I think I'll avoid the Lespedeza since it can be hard to control or get rid of if it doesn't work for us.

[@frankhoodsenyonjo3947]

What are the signs of bloating in goats

[@LinessaFarms]

There are a few different types of bloat. Abomasum bloat and frothy bloat. Frothy bloat will involve choking and foam coming from the mouth. Abomasum bloat will involve swelling on the left flank (generally). Pain is common, going off feed, laying down, kicking, crying out, and eventual death.

[@saudm4872]

Do I have to repeat the dewormer after 2 weeks?

[@LinessaFarms]

It depends on how your animals are looking. Depending on the wormer, it can be repeated in 2 weeks if needed.

[@Ranchopistolas333.]

Nice pasture ! What type of grass is that ?

[@LinessaFarms]

We use a mix of orchard grass, fescue, and timothy along with clover, alfalfa, and birdsfoot trefoil. Thanks for watching. 😬

[@530eman]

Is therabloat the animal equivalent of Beano 🤔

[@LinessaFarms]

Kinda. Completely different medication but essentially works in a similar way.

[@ShepherdsCreek]

We don't have a LGD specifically because we have 3 pet dogs who would absolutely ruin a LGD so it wouldn't want to be a LGD anymore. Our own dogs also lost the privilege to be around the livestock unsupervised so instead, they come out with us very supervised and the rest of the time they have their own pen by the house. We have found that this works as enough of a deterrent (along with really good fencing for our sheep) for coyotes that we haven't had any other problems since. Fingers crossed that will continue to be enough. If not, we will get some donkeys.

[@AgnesMariaL]

If you do go with donkeys, make sure they're good with the type of stock that you're keeping, because not all donkeys will be good with sheep and goats. A lady I know bought a donkey for her goats, and he just wanted to beat the crap out of them. An LGD is hands-down your best bet, IMO - we have three Kuvasz and a Decker terrier (vermin control) and our Kuvasz were house dogs for years before we moved and started farming! They now work in rotation, where I have one out during the day, and the other two (sometimes just one) out at night. If I'm running meat birds in a chicken tractor, one goes and sleeps in the tractor overnight. They all get their playtime together in the mornings and evenings. And yes, whichever one (or two) that doesn't "go to work" overnight will climb into bed with us, just like normal house dogs.

[@ShepherdsCreek]

@AgnesMariaL interesting! One of my shepherds attacked our sheep once so I will never trust her around livestock unsupervised. The other shepherd is too anxious to be alone as well. The st. Bernard potentially could but he is a pet haha he'd be useless. I've always wanted donkeys though so I figured it would be a good excuse. Hopefully if we got a pair of them, they can play rough with each other but leave the sheep alone.

[@AgnesMariaL]

@@ShepherdsCreek It's tough when a guardian dog attacks the very thing it's supposed to guard. Training and socializing are key, but the odd dog takes a bit more - or, given a different job. Our Athena was raised with chickens, for example, and accidentally killed a bunch as a puppy. She is MOSTLY trustworthy with the poultry, but even at 8 years old she occasionally still likes to grab one and "mother" it (my fault - I would give her chicks to bond with and mother, but chicks don't know any better so don't fight to escape - they just snuggle into her crotch after their "bath", lol!

[@ShepherdsCreek]

@AgnesMariaL yeah our girl was 4 years old when we moved to the farm and just has too high of a prey drive. We don't really know how to train her not to get so excited around the sheep so we just don't let her near them unless we have full control of her. Her presence alone seems to be enough to deter coyotes. She has killed several of them when we are out for walks with our toddler too so we keep her as a human guardian animal.

[@LinessaFarms]

We have used donkey in the past with mixed results. Thank you both for taking the time to comment. Overall, I concur with what was said. It’s a dynamic situation and to a certain degree, you get lucky with a good dog (or unlucky in some cases). It would seem from our experience that exposure to livestock from a VERY early age is the best medicine. We will usually start exposing our dogs to other animals about a week after they are reliably mobile. We also have house dogs which are brought out to visit and introduced from an early age as well.

[@deniseharris9252]

How do you treat Grass Tetany

[@LinessaFarms]

This would be treated through providing supplemental magnesium. If the signs and symptoms are profound, the veterinarian could have to administer a magnesium bolus through an IV.