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Merry Christmas and SURPRISE!! Yes the pod is returning after a (too long) break, and this time I'm not alone! I've got a co-host with me - yes Andrew, my brother, and I will now be co-hosting the pod! Want to get a double dose of sheep content this is your spot! Two flocks, two hemispheres, lambing twice a year with two Nobles - we can't wait to bring you a double helping of sheep chats in 2026! Join us on the journey, message us and get in touch - jill@hallstonvalleyfarm.com.au

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Samantha Wan was raised in Sydney's west but now farm's Merino wool sheep in Victoria's west. By day she is a wool broker for Elders and is also developing her own brand of wool clothing - a definite wool champion!

In this episode we explore Samantha's:

Wool Growing Process

Wool Quality & Marketing strategies 

Sustainability & Challenges with producing wool 

Innovation & The Future of wool 

Find her here:

https://woolforeveryday.com.au/about/

https://au.linkedin.com/in/samantha-wan

https://farmers.org.au/farmerprofile/dare-to-dream-how-wool-captured-city-girl-sam-wans-imagination/

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Why do sheep have horns and some don't? What is the function of the horn and might it have an impact when we poll sheep? 

Let's talk all things sheep horns!!

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So I love a good sheep shopping splurge and I thought you might like to join me on a shopping trip! So here is what I have bought recently to prepare for the lambing, lactating and weaning season ahead - Happy shopping! 

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What is all this short day breeding, estrus, heat stuff all about? What to know how long your ewes cycle for and how different their cycles are from a human's cycle? In this episode we explore what happens when we work with nature to aid in sheep reproduction. 

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So what mistakes do you need to be aware of when it comes to introducing your sheep to new feed like grain or pellets? We can end up killing our sheep with kindness by introducing too much too soon. 

In this episode we explore how to start your sheep on a new feeding regime and even if you need to do this at all.  How much to give each type of sheep and what can you do to ensure they transition to a new feed well. 

What are the signs of a sheep who has had too much grain and what can you do about it if it happens. 


Links and products mentioned: 

Berg oil 
https://www.iahp.com.au/animal-products/berg-oil

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/livestock/animal-welfare/sheep-health/supplementary-feeding/grain

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/feeding-nutrition/supplementary-feeding-and-feed-budgeting-sheep

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Sheep Infrastructure design tips 

Sheep yards are the main sheep handling complex on a farm and need to be designed and built to provide efficient sheep handling. Sheep need to move well in the yards and we all want to handle our sheep safely.

Good sheep yards confine and control the movement of sheep. Good yard set up helps us to achieve a high quality work rate with a minimum of physical effort.

This should be done in a pleasant and safe working environment for humans and animals alike!

So where do you start with setting up or improving your sheep yard infrastructure?

Your site selection consider these factors:

•             ease of access from all parts of the property including access to power for muscle or pregnancy scanning

•             slope of land to assure good drainage

•             effect of prevailing winds on working conditions and dust control

•             situation of the yards in relation to existing trees which can provide shade and protection

•             access to a water supply for livestock drinking, dust control, and cleaning.

Yard size

The main yards should be large enough to handle the biggest mob on the property. Yard size is determined by a combination of the selected design, the capacity of the working race and the size of the flock to be handled. The holding yards should be large enough for mobs of ewes and lambs at weaning. Adjoining mini-paddocks including a water point increase the number of mobs that can be handled in a set of yards.

Provide 1 m2 per three sheep in forcing areas and at least 1 m2 per sheep in holding areas.

Design

When designing sheep yards keep the following points in mind:

•             Sheep have wide angled vision – they can detect movement behind them without moving their heads.

•             Sheep should have a clear, unobstructed view towards where they are meant to move.

•             Whenever possible use wide gates to maintain good sheep flow.

•             Ideally sheep should take a familiar route and direction through the yards for all handling operations.

•             Entrances to sheds, loading ramp should be placed along the route sheep usually take through the yards.

•             Sheep move better on the flat than up or down hill. If the land slopes, the direction of movement should be across the slope rather than up or down hill.

•             Sheep can cope well with one change of status at a time –go up a ramp; go onto the flat landing; go through a gate; go around a corner; go into a shed or a truck. Do not try to get sheep to do more than one change of status at a time or they will have trouble and cause a blockage in movement pathways.

•             Sheep move readily towards light and avoid dark areas, shadows and dead ends.

•             Sheep move willingly around curves and corners into narrow races. Sheep follow one another, and the use of see-through panels may encourage them to move.

•             Take sheep behaviour into account when positioning handling facilities – generally sheep will move towards the yards in anticipation of escape or release to their paddock.

•             Oncoming sheep must not see the operator. The sheep in the race focus on the sheep in front of them and in the direction of movement without distract

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Technology and good biosecurity practices can protect you from big losses when it comes to Ovine Brucellosis.  Colin Chapman, Professor and Dorset Downs stud breeder leads us through the best ways to tackle and prevent this mostly hidden from view infection.

What is Ovine Brucellosis?

It’s caused by a bacteria called Brucella Ovus, which is one of several different types of Brucella.  “It lives only in sheep, it doesn’t live on the ground or in the water.  It spends it’s entire life cycle in sheep, which fortunately makes it easier to control because you don’t have to eradicate it in the environment as well” he explains. 

Ovine Brucellosis (OB) quite different to Bovine Brucellosis, which causes the cow to become sick and abort their calf.  The cow and calf are both infected with this type of Brucellosis, and it’s also infectious to humans.  Bovine Brucellosis has now been eradicated in Australia.

What problems does it cause in sheep?

When Brucellosis is in your flock of sheep you don’t notice it.  “The sheep are not unwell What you do notice is that you will have a drop in fertility and the ewes don’t have as many lambs as expected.  A reduction in lambing percentage over time could indicate that it is present in your flock”, says Colin. 

Colin goes on to explain that on closer inspection you may find that the rams have lumps and bumps in the testicles, but apart from palpating the testicles of the rams there is nothing to see. It is mostly invisible except for the records which show a reduction in lambing percentage.

How does it reduce lambing percentages?

OB reduces fertility in the rams by causing a blockage in the tubules from the testes up to the penis.  In the two testicles one side might be blocked but the other side may be open.  So a ram can be partially infertile or totally infertile, which you can’t tell by the palpation.  Once  OB gets into the reproductive tract it stays there.  All rams that are sexually active regardless of age are vulnerable.

What about the ewes and wethers?

Colin explains that ewes that are mated with infected rams will possibly have the bacteria present in the vagina and uterus for a brief period of time but normally with no adverse affect.  It does not cause any blockage as ewes or wethers don’t have testes.  It may cause local inflammation in a ewe but that will pass.  The ewe is not a carrier Colin assures.  The presence of the bacteria in a ewe will be resolved usually in a day or two.  So unless there is more than one ram around the same ewe in a short period of time the bacteria would not be passed from the ewe to another ram.  This would be considered an unlikely way for it to be transmitted, it is usually ram to ram transmission through homosexual activity.

OB comes onto a property when someone buys a new ram that is infected and puts it in with their ram flock.  Doing this without prior quarantine and testing can infect a whole flock of rams within days or weeks.

Teasers can in theory be at risk or a source of infection, as they still have the testes in tact.  

How do I check my flock for Brucellosis?

If you have had a reduction in lambing percentage then the next step would be for your rams to be checked.  This involves palpating the testes to feel for lumps and bumps.  If there is any on the testes or around the tubes, pea size or bigger, then that would prompt a further investigation.  The next step would be to take a blood test which tells us if that ram has ever been exposed to the Brucellis Ovus bacteria, which shows up by the presenc

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What are the issues with overweight sheep? Can it cause  animal welfare issues, reproduction issues and health issues? 

In this episode we explore what happens when sheep get fat, what is the impact for ewes and wethers and what to do about this. 

Sheep well!

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 Meet Jon Hickford a Professor at Lincoln Uni and learn about gene testing in sheep and what benefits it can offer us as sheep breeders. 

Smart Shepherding with Science

How technology can help sheep breeders reduce and even almost eradicate devastating diseases in their flock.  In this article we talk with Jon Hickford, a Professor at Lincoln University in New Zealand, about gene testing to breed better animals that are naturally resistant and are more productive.

WHY ARE GENES SO IMPORTANT?

The basis of breeding is knowing that something has some degree of heritability says Jon Hickford. Jon is an acclaimed researcher and lecturer in Science and Agriculture with over 30 years of experience.  We know that highly heritable traits can be bred for easily and vice versa for low heritability traits.  We've now come to a better understand that that's all driven by the genes, by the DNA of an animal, or plant or human.  So Jon and his team at Lincoln University in New Zealand aim to understand how DNA affects the performance of livestock, and has a big impact on livestock productivity and performance.

Jon and his team’s research looks for those genes that underpin diseases or other characteristics that can severely diminish the performance of an animal or cause it some sort of health or welfare effect.  For some of the diseases of livestock it is a single gene defect.  A lot of the research has been done in Australia with Australian stud breeders, focusing on eradicating particular forms of genes that are really quite devastating to the sheep industry. 

WHICH DISEASES ARE THESE?

Microphthalmia in Australian and New Zealand Texel sheep - This was a real success story.  This disease was a problem for the Texel stud breeders about 15-20 years ago.  The condition causes blindness.  So the researchers developed a new gene test based on some science done in Germany that allowed breeders to identify their Microphthalmia carrying sheep. And they've been using that tool ever since.

‘We can never be absolutely sure of eradication, but there is an ongoing dialogue about not letting Microphthalmia ever show its head again in Australia and New Zealand’ says Jon.  ‘There are still some Texel-cross genetics out there that make us suspicious’, he suggests.  It is a risk using unregistered genetics and not tracking pedigree when you’re dealing with a disease like this.

Dermatosparaxis a skin condition in White Dorpers – This disease impacts young lambs, their skin is like tissue paper and if you pick the lamp up the skin just rips.  It was rampant within New Zealand and Australia.  

This disease is also seen in cows, dogs, humans and cats Jon advises.  ‘That gave us a good clue on the genetics.  We looked at the gene that was implicated, in all those other species, and it was faulty in sheep, and specifically in white Dorper sheep.  So we again, developed a gene test probably 10 years ago now and worked with the Australian and New Zealand Dorper breeders.  We put about five years in working with the Dorper Stud Sheep Association of Australia.  We probably worked with about 70 of the Dorper studs.  I'd like to be able to say we eradicated it, but I suspect it's still there too. There are people that don't follow good breeding practices or don't record and are not associated with the various breeding associations” says Jon. 

Gaucher disease in Southdowns – This is a neurodegenerative disease, which is similar to Gaucher disease in humans.  Eventually the sheep fall over and die.  ‘We found what t

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Meet a sheep legend with a passion for legs! Gavin Vale is a veteran with decades of knowledge about sheep. In this episode we get up close and personal with the legs of sheep!

So what are the basics with sheep and their legs? Why are good, structurally correct legs so important in sheep?

With legs are we talking about all four or just the back legs and the front are shoulders? 

Let’s explore some language – what is hocky, sickle hock, cow hock, straight legged, bow legged any others? 

What is hip placement? How is this related to leg issues?

What about tail set? Is this leg related or relevant to leg structure? 

How should a sheep stand when they are still? 

How do you decide what sheep to cull – based on leg problems/flaws?  

What advice would you have for someone who was buying sheep – what to look for re legs? 

What do you look for when you watch a sheep walk? 

What is the biggest mistake people make when looking at legs? What might people miss when looking at legs? 

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So what stops your lambs for growing, simply it is one of three things:
1- Genetics
2- Nutrition and feed
3- Environmental conditions including parasites, weather,stress

How are your lambs growing this season? 

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This is a challenging one and most of the research on this comes from Australia where they refer to this as a Dry Sheep Equivalent or DSE.  This is how many sheep can have have per hectare on your property. 

 In measuring the energy requirements of livestock, we use a 50 kg wether as the standard. Other areas use a 45 kg wether. A 50 kg wether maintained at constant weight has a dry sheep equivalent (DSE) rating of 1. 

There are lots of variables to consider - your soil and pasture, your fertilising program, do you have any other livestock or free loading wildlife and what is the weather doing, as well as what breed of sheep you are running - so many things to consider! Have a listen and let me know if you are any the wiser after this episode!!


https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/budgets/livestock/sheep-gross-margins-october-2015/background/dse

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Do you see snot in your sheep? Nasal discharge can be worrying for us shepherds and there are a few reasons for nasal discharge. 

In this episode we explore what it is and what might cause it.

Some links

https://www.farmhealthonline.com/disease-management/sheep-diseases/cobalt-deficiency-in-sheep/

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The carnivore diet is not only an incredibly healing way of eating, but also a whole lifestyle that nourishes you, ensuring you maintain that optimal physical health and mental wellness.  Eating a biologically appropriate diet adequately fuels both your body and your mind, enabling your body to restore its nutrient capacity.  Your body then heals by natural design.  Yes, that’s right, it HEALS itself!  It just needs YOU to support it.  

What do you eat? 
 A meat-only diet is pretty self-explanatory — you’re going to eat only meat. Nonetheless, like all diets, there are a few gray areas. 

In this episode we explore Lynsey's journey to becoming carnivore, what this might mean for the red sheep industry in Australia and what the health benefits a carnivore way of eating and way of life might be. 

Contact Lynsey @CarniMumma and via:
https://www.carnivorelifestyleaustralia.com.au/beginners/your-why/health-and-wellness Check out the carnivore friendly products that Lynsey has sourced at https://www.carnivorelifestyleaustralia.com.au/. 

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Wet weather this spring and summer has certainly created ideal conditions for foot problems in sheep. Nearly continuous exposure to moisture softens the hoof’s horny tissues and makes it more vulnerable to irritation, injury, and infection. Those flocks that are affected by classic virulent foot rot (sometimes called contagious foot rot) have likely seen a surge in the number and severity of cases if they have not been attempting to control or eradicate this potentially devastating disease.

Those flock owners who have experienced milder forms of lameness in their flocks may assume that they don’t have foot rot but have a milder condition called “foot scald” or “scald.” Actually there are really two recognized conditions that are sometimes referred to as “scald.” At first the difference may seem academic, but for some producers, it may be more than that.

Virulent, or contagious, foot rot is caused by a synergistic infection with two organisms, Dichelobacter nodosus (formerly Bacteroides nodosus) and Fusobacterium necrophorum. This last organism is in virtually all sheep environments and sets the stage for infection with the organism necessary for foot rot to occur — Dichelobacter nodosus. This organism produces a powerful proteolytic enzyme that dissolves hoof horn and leads to the undermining of the sole, the severe lameness, the foul smell, and the abnormal hoof growth seen with classic virulent foot rot. About 20 different strains of D. nodosus are believed to occur in the US.

True foot rot does not occur in the absence of D. nodosus. However, a less persistent and generally milder condition in which only inflammation between the toes and a slight under-running of the hoof horn occurs in some flocks. Both D. nodosus and F. necrophorum can be isolated from these cases, but the strains of D. nodosus isolated seem have a reduced virulence or ability to produce disease. This condition is technically referred to as benign foot rot but has also been called foot “scald.” It is believed that the strains of D. nodosus that are involved are weak enzyme producers and are less able to produce the severe damage seen with virulent foot rot.

Another infectious and inflammatory condition which involves only the skin between the claws without significant undermining of the horny tissue has been termed ovine interdigital dermatitis (OID), and it has also been called “scald.” The bacteria associated with this condition are F. necrophorum and Actinomyces pyogenes; both of which tend to be common in typical sheep environments. D. nodosus is not involved. The disease usually only occurs when the weather and other conditions on the farm damage the skin and allow these bacteria to create skin infections.  Because the term “scald” has been applied to both OID and benign foot rot, the use of that term can be misleading.  Both conditions usually cause only mild or temporary lameness that may be obvious only in wet periods of the year. From a practical standpoint, the two conditions are difficult to distinguish from one another, and laboratory capability to isolate and serotype D. nodusus is generally not readily available. Foot baths and soaks with 10% zinc sulfate usually result in improved healing of either condition. Foot “scald” often disappears when the environmental conditions become dry.

So if the two conditions called “scald” are not easy to differentiate and they both tend to clear up with foot bathing or dry weather, why even bother to make the distinction? There are two reasons that may be important to some producers. The first is that all the strains of D. nodosus, whether they produce virulent or benign foot rot, are maintained in the flock by sheep that harbor the infection in cracks and crevices on their feet — carrier animals. That means that most likely, unless an attempt at eradication is made, benign foot rot will be back again as soon as the weather conditions favorable for foot softening&

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Here are some resources for this episode:

https://www.wormx.info/tapeworms
What about tapeworms in sheep? (wormboss.com.au)

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Who knew we could influence our lamb taste so much!

Research for this podcast includes:

Foods | Free Full-Text | Odd- and Branched-Chain Fatty Acids in Lamb Meat as Potential Indicators of Fattening Diet Characteristics (mdpi.com)

What does lamb taste like? - Chef's Pencil (chefspencil.com)


This episode was inspired by this great article written by Bill Williams. His original article is below:

Six factors that influence the flavour of lamb before the chef starts work (which you will never know if you buy your lamb from a supermarket!) 

1. The breed of the sheep. What are you actually eating? Merino, Corriedale, Border Leicester, Suffolk, Dorset, Ryeland, Southdown, Romney? I guess I must mention Dorper and Damara. LIke different grape varieties, sheep varieties produce different tasting and textured meat. I produce Wiltshire because that's the breed that yields the dining experience I personally like best. They may not be the fastest to reach a marketable weight, but the wait's worth it! Another example of slow food.

2. The age of the sheep. When was the last time you saw "old ewe" or even mutton labelled at the supermarket? Not that mutton can't be delicious if prepared correctly, but seriously, if you go to a saleyard more than half the sheep sold usually aren't lambs or even hoggets. Where do they go? My theory is that most of them turn into "lamb" when they leave the abattoir.

3. Diet. Are they feedlot finished? Or perhaps they've been raised on improved pasture made up of just one or 2 grass varieties in high rainfall or irrigated grazing areas where the native grasses have been wiped out by broad acre round up applications? In my experience lambs raised on a wide variety of native grasses and shrubs like saltbush taste much sweeter with a less fatty taste. Of course what they have been eating also effects how fat they are, too.

4. Water. Water quality and availability are extremely important to sheep health. Consider the difference between sheep that have to walk a long way to a muddy dam compared to sheep grazed in close proximity to a flowing stream of fresh clean water. Good water access also enables sheep to browse and digest roughage more easily.

5. Animal husbandry. Have the sheep been dogged? Consider the journey from the paddock to the abattoir.....especially for sheep sold through saleyards. Many supermarket lambs end up affected by adrenaline and fear. I don't like to road transport sheep in summer....it's just too hot most days.

6.How long have the carcasses been dry aged before being cut up into kitchen ready cuts? If the carcass is given at least a few days to "set", the muscles relax and the meat matures. Dry aged lamb is much more tender and flavoursome than freshly butchered lamb.

What do you think? We would greatly appreciate any comments about which factors you consider most important in determining lamb quality.

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Setting your breed objectives – Simon Thomas 

To set your breeding objectives ask yourself the following question and write down your answers:

Question 1: Why breed sheep? 

Apart from the usual answers like “I enjoy the challenge” or “sheep chose me” you need some underpinning factors.

My career as a former stock agent and being an experienced breeder has taught me that there are two key driving factors behind breeding livestock 'profit' and 'tradition'.  The varying degrees of adopting these factors will influence and drive your program. This could be breeding heritage sheep to maintain a breed type and a stable population or breeding sheep to met market demands for example. 

Question 2: Where do you sit on this scale? Is the balance between the factors of profit and tradition right in your breeding operation currently?

Question 3: What is your perfect description of the sheep you want to breed? 

My earliest memory of being at a sheep show was being in the viewing tiers at Royal Melbourne Show in the early 1980s watching my father show his Border Leicesters. The wonderful Mrs Peggy Sparrow often sat by my side to watch me.  In between the completion of classes Mrs Sparrow would always strike up a conversation with us kids. These conversations normally would revolve around the results of the show floor, but every now and then Mrs Sparrow would give you a 'gem' piece of advice.  This question comes from Mrs Sparrow, she went on to say “once you have your perfect description, write it down and then set a plan as to how you are going to achieve it and do it multiple times”. 

Why is this question so important? 

To write your own sheep description is a very personal thing, no two descriptions will be the same.  Each breed has their own standard. These standards are what every breed association set out as the core traits that define their breed. To write down your description take this breed standard further so yours not only meets this standard but it also meets your personal view of the perfect sheep for your operation or market. 

Why you are breeding sheep in the first place will impact on the level of depth you delve into when writing your description. 

When writing a sheep description plan I use an analogy of choosing a vehicle. When buying a vehicle, that vehicle comes with standards features (these are your breeds core traits).  You then have the ability to individualise the standard features to personalise that vehicle to you. For example maybe you would like leather interior, metallic paint (these are your personalised sheep traits).  For example, the Southdown breed description states that the feet should be black, my breed description for this standards are feet must be black.  Then there are the times where a feature of the breed may not be explicitly stated in a breed description but this could be of significant importance to you, for example nose colour, teat placement, temperament and performance traits like growth rate or fertility.

Question 4: Do you assess and modify your description as required?

It is never to early or late to record a sheep description. Whether you have been breeding sheep for generations or you are still deciding what your first breed of sheep may be, you should regularly assess and modify your description as required.  Assess your sheep against your own statement. You may need to modify it and you may need to modify your breeding program to get there.  Regularly read your associations breed standards, this can help you to clarify your standards.  Associations standards do change so review them regularly. 

Today, we have the ability to obtain data and statistics that&

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Have you heard of mob breeding? If not this will blow your mind! Join Bjorn Johansson from Norway as he shares the concept, strategy and benefits behind mob breeding in sheep!!

In this episode we explore: 

What is mob breeding?

Why does it work? What does it achieve?

What can do wrong when you mob breed? 

What are the challenges with mob breeding?

How do you practically select your rams to mate? What do you do to set up breeding?

How come more people don’t breed using mob breeding?

How come we find it so confronting? 

Are the results different if you mob breed than if you breed in a more conventional way? 

What about things like predators? Should we intervene with nature? 

What other interventions do you use in mob breeding – any vaccines or drenches?

What about animal welfare issues if we are mob breeding?

Can you get a balance between mob breeding and breeding seed stock in a stud situation? Is there a hybrid method or approach to mob breeding? 

How do you know if mob breeding is working – are there signals or indicators? 

What do you monitor and what do you measure?

How long does it take for mob breeding to pay off? Especially as your cull rate might be very high initially and the challenge with getting rid of these animals and not have this negatively impacting your bottom line. 

What are the arguments that people give you against mob breeding? 

Where can someone start with mob breeding?

Get in touch with Bjorn or learn more via his Facebook page - Mob breeding for Holistic breeding of livestock

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Confused about your twist, barrel or tail set? 
In this episode we explore the basics of what a structurally sound sheep should look like and why these thing are important in a sheep with sheep breeder and enthusiast Ash Trebilco.

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Vaccination 

Why vaccinate?

Vaccination is the key to preventing some of the most serious sheep diseases. Vaccination stimulates the body’s defence system to build immunity to a particular disease, by exposing sheep to either the live organism presented in a safe form  (e.g. Scabby Mouth vaccine) or to a killed organism (e.g. Blackleg vaccine) or to an inactivated organism (e.g. Johne’s disease vaccine) or to part of an organism (e.g. footrot vaccine, most Clostridia vaccines).

Indeed, without effective vaccines, the control, prevention and management of many diseases in the large vulnerable populations that make up sheep flocks would be virtually impossible. So what vaccines are available, how are they used and what are the diseases that they protect sheep against?

The Clostridia Diseases

The most widely used vaccine in Australia is a vaccine called ‘5 in 1’. It is used to control a group of potentially severe diseases caused by several different species of a bacterium called Clostridium. The important thing to remember with the Clostridia diseases is that they are not something that is caught. The organisms are either in the soil or in the sheep’s bowel. Sheep are therefore exposed to them or already have them in their system virtually all the time. It is only when some trigger compromises the ability of the sheep to resist disease that the sheep become sick. When the sheep become compromised, these bacteria produce potent toxins that cause severe disease and often kill the sheep within hours. There are six diseases that are caused by Clostridium bacteria for which vaccines are available. These are:- 

1/Pulpy kidney

Pulpy kidney is caused by a toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium perfringens type D. The bacteria and the toxins they produce are present in the intestines of normal healthy sheep. The bacteria multiply slowly and are continuously swept out with the droppings so that the number of bacteria and the level of toxins never really build up. However, if there is highly nutritious food in the bowel as occurs if sheep are placed onto lush pastures or fed grain in higher levels than they are used to and the passage along the bowel slows, these bacteria are able to multiply quickly and produce lethal quantities of toxin. The toxin causes extensive damage to blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the kidneys (which makes them “pulpy” as they decompose after death) and also those in the brain. It is damage to the blood vessels in the brain that kills the sheep and is also the reason why they tend to die fairly quickly – often in hours, and also why there is no effective treatment. Essentially, these sheep have multiple “strokes”. The history of feeding lush food and symptoms displayed by the sheep arouse suspicions of this problem and it is confirmed by autopsy examination.

2/Tetanus

Tetanus is caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. This bacterium survives in soil as spores wherever livestock are kept. These spores contaminate breaks in the skin such as those that occur with tail docking, grass seed penetration or an injury. Once in the body, if in healthy tissue the spores will sit there harmlessly, sometimes for months. If, however, the tissue is damaged, bruised or dead, the spores germinate, multiply and produce a toxin. The toxin then spreads to the nearest nerves and then to the spine and brain, causing a range of nervous symptoms including muscle spasms and convulsions, which get worse when the animal is disturbed. About 80 % of affected sheep die. Diagnosis is made by the typical symptoms displayed by an affected sheep. If the animal is already dead, an autopsy is done to rule out other diseases with similar symptoms.

3/Black Disease

This disease is caused by Clostridium novy

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What is mastitis?

Mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary gland (udder), is one of the most common reasons for culling ewes in sheep flocks. Mastitis is usually due to a bacterial infection but can also have non-infectious causes such as injury. It can occur any time in the production cycle of the ewe but is most common two to four weeks post-lambing. It can prove costly for breeders. In general, it usually occurs in animals raising more than one lamb or with an excessively high rate of milk production.
 
 Some cases occur when sheep are being grazed at too high a stocking rate, though the vast majority of all mastitis cases in sheep occur within a few weeks of lambing or just as weaning is due to start  The infection occurs when bacteria make their way into the udder of the ewe. It is most common in breeds that produce multiple offspring per lambing.
 
 Forms of the disease
 There are two main types of mastitis in sheep. Mastitis can be classified as clinical and subclinical. 
 
 Subclinical mastitis is a difficult one to identify and ewes tend to only show low growth rates when affected. Poor weather and a lack of adequate nutrition can cause subclinical mastitis to develop into clinical mastitis. Subclinical mastitis can also cause the death of twin lambs.
 
 Clinical mastitis refers to an infection that becomes obvious clinically. Mastitis can rapidly progress, eventually turning parts of the udder black, if the infection becomes severe enough to compromise the blood supply to the udder. Ewes usually appear lame and weak, with lambs also lethargic and depressed. Lambs can die because of a lack of milk when ewes have clinical mastitis and they can die from the infection gained from digesting the infected milk. Euthanasia may be considered in severely affected animals but best to consult your vet for advice.
 
 

Picture shows clinical mastitis.

 When treating mastitis, early detection is key and can prevent further spreading of the infection. Your Vet may provide you with an antibiotic and painkiller for your animal. or may make other treatment suggestions. Some cases of mastitis are due to yeast or fungi and giving these animals antibiotics makes them worse. It is important to get a diagnosis and treat appropriately.   It is a good idea to mark all ewes once treatment occurs, so they can be identified for possible culling at weaning. 

What causes it?

The primary cause of mastitis in cattle, goats and sheep are well-recognized groups of microorganisms, Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Pasteurella sp. and coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter sp., and Klebsiella sp. Yeast and fungus have also been found frequently infecting the udder, but usually go unnoticed because they produce a mild or subclinical mastitis.

Picture shows severe mastitis resulted in an erupted udder 

How to treat it?

Disinfect the teat end with chlorhexidine or iodine-based disinfectants and infuse a tube of mastitis antibiotic through the teat canal if the cause of the mastitis is a bacterial infection.  If the problem is a bacterial infection the ewe can be give an injection of an antibiotic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug as directed by your vet.

The udders of ewes should be examined physically for hard lumps after weaning and before breeding. Ewes with ‘lumpy bags’ may be considered for culling. The milk supply of these ewes will be decreased, and the amount of decrease will depend upon the amount of tissue damaged. 

How to prevent it? 

A strong immune system is the key to preventing mastitis and similar infections. Injectable trace mineral supplement products such as Multimin can help during times of stress such as lambing and weaning.

A good management

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So what is fly strike, what causes it and how can it be prevented and what do we do to treat it? Join Vet Dr Tim Gole from For Flock Sake (www.forflocksake.,com.au), a sheep consulting business as we explore the parasite paradise that fly strike is.

Contact Tim:
@for flock sake 
www.forflocksake.com.au

Transcript:

Parasite Paradise for flies

It's perfect. Welcome, everyone. In this episode of the sheep show podcast, I bring you someone very special. And you know, very funny too, I think because this is Tim and his businesses called For Flock Sake. I mean, how funny can that be? Hi, Tim, welcome to the Sheep show podcast.. So, Tim, you're a vet, you're a sheep vet that you really specialize in our topic as well. And you're running a sheep consulting services business, you just told me just turn once Happy Birthday to For Flock Sake, thank you. Just give them give the listeners a little bit of an idea about you your background and how you come to set up a business like this.

00:48

A great deal. So my background, I've been vet for about 14 years, worked in so Central West New South Wales, and then did did the stint in the UK, which I really, really loved came back and I just love being a vet. So bought a practice with a friend. And then it just kind of went a bit crazy, we bought one and then we built another one up the road. And then we got involved in the northern cattle industry. And we did a bit of fly in fly out bet stuff out to the you know, the real big kind of wild west stuff. And it's really interesting. So we had this really awesome team and I was looking around going, I'm in a massive shape area, but I actually wasn't adding a lot of value to my shaped clients. And that's when we started providing a pregnancy Testing Service. And then it was just the start, there's so many things you can do with shape that maybe you can't do with catalog, there's not, you know, 100 pregnant cows, you can't get any more than 100 calves, but cheaper, so much different you can, there's so many more little levers you can pull to get, you know, get better, we'll get better lamps. So that's how I started and then so I got an opportunity to sell my business. And some shape work. And I thought this is this is my time. And so I thought it was funny calling up for flux. And that was part of really because we'd come out of a three horrific three year drought. And it kind of felt it was a bit locked for flux, like, you know, you know, winds, the winds are gonna rain, but also, I just thought, I suppose, you know, trying to be a little bit funny, you know, you get a positive reaction and get it. And when we got positive mindsets, we were much more open to different ideas and different ways of doing things. So that's that lead in with flux sake. It's been a great, great journey one year. So it's been great.

Jill Noble  02:38

I really love that. And I think I think you you're aware of the numbnuts product as well, I can guess, are you using it? And again, it's sort of, you know, being kind of on that sort of funny journalistic, I think it's something we need to have in our industry lighten things up a little bit, you know, and be a bit more real and a bit more vulnerable. And I think that's really, really good. I love it. I really love it. Great job. Really? And um, I mean, when you were studying 14 years ago, and you're studying veterinary medicine, did you? Did you sort of think, did you start to do like sheep, then did you think that you would specialize the sheep? Because Because it's quite rare that we have a vet specializing and specializing in shape. Yeah,

03:24

I've always like shape joy. I went to body school and had spent a lot of my holidays with me to add sheep farms and in shearing sheds always kind of like the shape thing, but I suppose and this is suppose the thing for the Australian sheep industry,

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Foxes prey on animals and kill lambs, they seem to enjoy the head and organs! In this episode we explore strategies and tools and I introduce a new member of the farm who I hope will help with the fight against the fox!

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What to know why we tag, when to tag and when not to tag sheep - tune in to this episode to get all the info you need on tagging sheep!

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Do you breed sheep that shed their wool or hair? Want to get better shedability in your flock?  In this episode we shed light on shedding sheep and help you make better choices for your easy care flock of shedders! 

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They've done the hard work up until now so what can we shepherds to to help keep our ewes in optimum health post-lambing. 

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Scabby mouth or Orf in humans is a huge issue especially with lambs so what is it, where does it come from and what can we actually do about it? 

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Bloat in bottle fed lambs is one of the most horrible things I have had to deal with in my shepherding experience. You have a really close relationship with animals that you bottle raise and losing them suddenly is heart breaking for us but imagine the pain the poor lamb must be in with bloat.  So in this episode I am so grateful to Sez the Vet for helping us learn about preventing bloat in bottle fed lambs. 

A few clarifications to the content in this episode:
 - Sarcina Ventriculi is not covered in the clostridial vaccines 
- the Lactobacillus Acidophilus bacteria doesn't produce gas itself, it's another species that is often in the Acidophilus yogurt

We explore:

·        What causes this? 

·        How come it is generally bottle fed animals that get this? 

·        What can we do to prevent it? 

·        What can we do if it happens? 

·        Are there any tell tale signs to see if you bottle fed lamb is likely to get bloat? 

·        What about the bicarb solution? Does this work? 

Contact Sez at:

https://www.facebook.com/SeztheVet/

Subscribe and give a thumbs up to Sez on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/SeztheVet

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Another action packed lambing diaries episode with all the challenges of lambing laid bare! 

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Another lambing diaries installment - a week is a long time in lambing!!

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Welcome to season 3! Here is the first installment of the lambing diaries for 2021! Happy lambing!

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So what is rumen acidosis? What causes it? What are the signs and what can you you do about it.  Enjoy this last episode of season 2! 

What is acidosis?

Grain overload (acidosis, grain poisoning) occurs when cattle, sheep or goats eat large amounts of grain. The grain releases carbohydrate into the animal's rumen and this rapidly ferments rather than being digested normally. Bacteria in the rumen produce lactic acid, resulting in acidosis, slowing of the gut, dehydration and often death.

What causes it?

Wheat and barley are the most common causes of grain overload, but it occasionally occurs with oats and lupins. Crushing or cracking of grain by a hammermill increases the likelihood of grain overload, because these processes result in quicker release of carbohydrates.

Cases are often seen when:

• stock are suddenly grain fed without being gradually introduced to the grain or pellets
• there is a sudden change in feeding regimen or in the grains being fed
• stock graze newly harvested paddocks (where there may be spilled grain or unharvested areas)
• stock get unplanned access to grain or pellets, such as around silos.

How can I prevent acidosis?

Acidosis can be prevented by gradually introducing animals to grain or pellets. The amount of grain and the time taken to adapt sheep to grain depends on:

• availability of hay and other feed
• type of grain being fed
• aims of feeding (such as for weaners for sale or for lactating ewes).

Some useful guidelines for preventing acidosis in stock are:

• Use oats and lupins in preference to, or before transitioning to, wheat or barley.
• During the introduction phase, feed grain daily.
• Introduce oats to sheep by starting with 50 grams on the first day, followed by increases of 50g per head per day until the required ration is reached.
• Ensure sheep always have access to roughage as well as fed grain.
• Introduce oats to cattle by starting with 500g per head per day, followed by increases of 500g per head every fourth day until the required ration is reached.
• Monitor your herd or flock for signs of scouring, depression, lethargy and lameness, which will indicate that the amount of grain being fed is being increased too fast.
• Check pulpy kidney vaccinations are up to date and vaccinate if necessary before grain feeding.

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So what paddock do I lamb in? What do I need to consider when I'm lambing in a paddock? In this episode we explore the options and factors we need to consider.

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I've been exploring some new opportunities for selling lamb meat recently and what do you know - we need to educate customers and think differently ourselves to make it work!

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How wonderful the concept of 4H is! Join me as we meet a group of 4H kids and their leaders from Ontario Canada. Their questions just blew me away - I loved meeting them all! 

Learn more about 4H here:

https://4-h.org/

Happy Listening!

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So much is said about sheep and minerals but what really matters most? In this episode Stefanie Hildmann from https://stefaniehildmann.com/ helps us to get a handle on the most important things and what we can do to help our sheep be as naturally healthy as possible. 

In this episode we explore:

The difference between vitamins and minerals and macro and micro minerals? 

 What three mineral deficiencies do your customers frequently ask you about when it comes to sheep?

Pat Coleby’s work on sheep and minerals for sheep

What do each of the lose lick minerals help with? 

How might you identify a mineral deficiency in sheep?

Tell me about the relationship between lime/calcium and dolomite? 

What about salt and sheep? How much do they need and do they need it all year round?

What mineral do you need to be careful with when it comes to sheep? 

Is there a difference in the quantity of minerals needed for wool sheep, or young sheep or pregnant and lactating sheep?

What is the best way to administer products to sheep? Drench, licks, on the pasture? 

Can you give a sheep too much kelp – either min-kel or the seaweed meal? What about the cod liver oil? 

Can your sheep help to spread these minerals across your farm through their urine etc?

We are approaching lambing or the final stages of gestation with our sheep? What do you recommend to help with ease of lambing? \\

What recipes (with minerals) are you aware of/do you use with sheep when an issue arises? 

Check out Stefanie's work and contact her directly for an on-farm consult at:

https://stefaniehildmann.com/

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Enjoy this chat with Gary and I as we explore who our mentors are, what to expect from a mentor, how to find them and how to get the best from a relationship with your mentor. 

Some of the mentors mentioned include:
Gabe Brown
Greg Judy
Joel Salatin 
Pay Colby
William Albecht 
Gerhard Grasser
Jason O'Loghlin
Gavin Wall 

Check them out online via YouTube or Facebook. 

Show Gary some love at Hallston Valley Farm on Facebook, Instagram or via jill@hallstonvalleyfarm.com.au and I will make sure he gets your email! 

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Lambing is the most important time of the shepherd's year. The sheep's, too. So, it's important to be prepared. Preparations include managing and feeding the sheep properly, getting the lambing facilities ready, and gathering necessary supplies.
 
 Preparing the Ewes

 Feeding and management during late gestation can determine success of the lambing season and sheep enterprise. While random problems occur, most problems can be prevented and result from improper feeding and management, especially during the last third of pregnancy.
 
 What's Happening During Late Gestation?
 
Approximately 70 percent of foetal growth occurs during the last 4 to 6 weeks of pregnancy. Most of the ewe's mammary (udder) growth is occurring during this period. In addition, her rumen capacity is decreasing. The primary result is the need for increased feed, primarily a more nutrient-dense diet. 
 
Extra nutrition is needed to support foetal growth, especially if there are multiple foetuses involved. Extra feed is needed to support mammary development and ensure a plentiful milk supply. The quantity and quality of colostrum is affected by nutrition. Extra nutrition will prevent the occurrence of pregnancy toxaemia (ketosis). It will ensure the birth of strong, healthy lambs that aren't too big and aren't too small. Birth weight is highly correlated to lamb survival. There is usually a quadratic relationship between birth weight and lamb survival.

Nutrition During Late Gestation
 
During late gestation, energy (TDN) is the nutrient most likely to be deficient. The level of nutrients required will depend upon the age and weight of the ewe and her expected level of production, i.e. singles, twins, or triplets. 
 
To meet the increased energy needs during this period, it is usually necessary to feed concentrates (grain). In addition, if forage quality is low, it may be necessary to provide a supplemental source of protein and calcium. 

 Examples of late gestation feed rations
| Forage | Grain
| 3.5 to 4 lbs. of medium to good quality hay  | 1.25 to 1.5 lbs. of concentrate
| 4 to 5 lbs. of medium quality hay or pasture equivalent  | 0.5 to 1 lb. of concentrate
| Limit the roughage intake of ewe lambs and mature females carrying 3 or more foetuses | 1 lb. of grain per foetus 

It is important not to under- or overfeed ewes during late gestation. There are consequences to both. Inadequate nutrition may result in pregnancy toxaemia, small and weak lambs, higher lamb mortality, reduced quality and quantity of colostrum, poor milk yield, and reduced wool production (in the offspring) via fewer secondary follicles. 
 
 Fat ewes are more prone to pregnancy toxaemia. They experience more dystocia (birthing difficulties). Overfeeding can result in oversized fetuses that the female cannot deliver on her own. It costs extra money to make ewes fat. 

Feed Management
 
In addition to feeding the right ration, you must also practice good feed bunk management. All ewes should be able to eat at once. If there is inadequate feeder space, some ewes, especially the small, young, old, and timid ones, may not get enough to eat. 
 
Pregnant ewe lambs should be fed separately from mature ewes. Their nutritional requirements are higher than mature ewes because in addition to being pregnant, they are still growing. They may also have trouble competing for feeder space. 

Pregnant ewes should generally not be fed on the ground. This is one way that abortions are spread. An exception might be feeding on frozen ground.

Selenium and Vitamin E
 
Selenium and vitamin E are critical nutrients during late gestation. Low levels of selenium (Se) and/or vitamin

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If you plan on showing your sheep then teaching your sheep to lead will be very helpful. Start off by purchasing a good quality Halter and lead rope, we use the following Halter which can be purchased online from The Farm Store. This halter is great as it can be adjusted both behind the poll and over the nose.

 | www.thefarmstore.com.au Bainbridge halter for sheep and goats $26.95 Product Code: A2131   

For a lead rope try and get one that will not stretch too much, The cotton ones tend to stretch a bit and make it hard to undo when you have the sheep tied up. We use a Marine/Yacht rope. 

Once you get a halter on them, tie them to a solid post or rail, Making sure to use a quick release knot and walk away to let them figure out for themselves about pressure and release on their own. Most sheep will catch on quick. Make sure you stay within sight just in case they get into trouble getting hung up or flipped over. Find something else to do, close to them and every now and then walk around them to get them used to activity.  

When left tied, they will pull for a while. After a bit, they get tired, they take a step forward and discover they get relief from the pressure.  

Once they have been tied for 10 mins untie them and start by firmly putting pressure on the rope till they take a step forward, remembering to let them feel the release of pressure when they take a step. Keep repeating this 

until you can get a few steps forward from them, Every time they take a step back make sure you ask them to take a step forward to where you asked them to stand. I find that standing slightly to the side and not directly looking at them helps as it gives them somewhere to go and they don’t feel as pressured with someone eyeballing their every move.  

The next step is to be able to stand beside them as you would in a show ring, Step towards their shoulder holding the lead firm so they can’t run away, they will run around you in circles to start with so just keep taking one step towards the shoulder until they stand, When they stand release the pressure on the lead, step away and keep the lead slack so they can rest, if you notice your sheep starting to lick their lips or chew a bit this is a good sign and usually means they are thinking about what you are asking them. 

After you can stand beside them at the shoulder you can start touching them as a judge would. Start by grabbing the halter where the nose and cheek strap meet and holding their head slightly tilted towards you so you have control and they can’t run away or over top of you. Then using firm touch place your free hand either on the top of the shoulder and pat or feel your way down their back, keep repeating this until they stand still as you do it. 

When letting your sheep go always get them to stand still before taking the lead off so they don’t learn to run as soon as you reach for the clip. 

Doing this daily or twice daily in short lessons over a few weeks should have them quiet and leading well. If you are hard feeding them try and leave the feeding till after the lesson as a reward.

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For those new to showing or those who are thinking of showing in the new future I've put together my top dos and don'ts many of which I have learned the hard way!

Let's start with the positives!

Do

·     come ready to learn, meet new friends  collaborate and ask questions. Being part of a show is very collegiate. We all help where we can, sharing advice and resources that we have in our show box. I had a few scouring rams and Darren stepped in recently with a great remedy mentioned below.

·     attend to the food and water for your sheep before the public arrive each morning

·     clean each pen and replenish the straw at least once a day

·        hold your sheep close to their face when you are standing with them so you have as much control as possible 

·        watch the judges at all times and turn to face the judge if they are walking behind you

·        congratulation your fellow breeder including shaking their hand if appropriate 

·        thank the judge including shaking their hand if appropriate 

·        get your sheep used to the food you will be giving them at the show, grain will need weeks for the rumen to adjust

·        have all your paperwork in order, you OB cert, your sheep health declaration and your NVD for inspection 

·        attend to your sheep's feet at least a week before the show. The better and shorter the hoof is the better your sheep will stand and look.

·        do a full health check of your sheep before they leave your property, are their eyes clear, are their feet all clean and healthy, are their gums nice and pink, is your animal free from any signs of inflammation. 

·        scrub your sheep's horns - they come up a treat! 

wash your halter before the show or have a set for showing and another for halter training

·     get your sheep out to walk around if you notice they are not themselves, ideally do this before the public arrive.

·     if you are someone else's sheep is being stubborn use 'gooseing' which is where you grab their tail area to encourage them to move forward

·     be ready to help with general set up and take down like the association banners, displays and flags

·     manage your bio-security when you return to your farm, drench your sheep and quarantine them for 5 days if you can after an event

·     be ready to help other's unload and load their animals, this includes other breeders

·        The general etiquette here is that those who have a longer distance to travel go first. 

·        get to know your breed captain and check with them if you have any questions or doubts.

To bring in your show kit: 

·     pins for your scan data cards

·     a marker 

·     cordial or apple cider vinegar to mask the chlorine in the water

·     halters and lead ropes, you will need one halter and one lead rope for each animal

·     D scour horse paste or berg oil for tummy upsets in animals

·     rags to wipe noses and clean your sheep 

-a curry comb or similar to brush your animals. Kristy was raving about a pet mit kit recently! The options are endless here so find whatever works best for you. 

·     a small bucket for hot water

·     pet shampoo for dirty bums or similar

·     a scrubbing brush 

·     one feed containe

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So what are the different cuts of lamb? 

·       There are nine basic or primal cuts from different parts of the lamb.

·       Each of these Primal cuts can be cut up different ways.

·       For example, the loin primal cut can be made into 

o   Individual cutlets or

o   French rack or

o   Barbeque rack or

o   Backstraps

·       You can select either of these options but only one of them because they all come from the same part of the lamb.

·       A good butcher can be very creative and can accommodate many special requests such as taking the bones out of the legs or making rolled roasts or sausages. Some of these options cost extra as there is more work involved.

Sausages

Sausages are a signature specialty for many butchers and we’ve had people who say they usually don’t like lamb, try our sausages and come back for more! You can have any part of the lamb made into sausages and you can request different flavours such as lamb and mint etc.

A common choice for sausage lovers is to order the cutlets and leg roasts and then have the rest of the lamb made into sausages. It’s completely up to you, just let us know. We often have lamb sausages and lamb mince available from other animals so we can often top up your order with these if you like. 

1. LEG

Like the two shoulders, the two legs on a lamb work hard, which means that this cut has a good, strong flavour. A leg of lamb is great roasted whole on the bone, or boned and barbecued. It’s a fairly lean muscle, so take care not to overcook it. 

2. RUMP

The rump comes from the back of the lamb. This cut is lean, tender and full of flavour – just be careful not to overcook as it will become tough if left to dry out.

3,4. LOIN CHOP

These are mini T-bone steaks cut from the waist of the lamb. On one side of the chop is the lamb loin and on the other side is the fillet. Just like chops, they’re great for grilling or barbecuing. Again these cuts can be cooked in the slow cooker or pressure cooker where the fat adds great flavour to the dish! If this cut of meat is left whole and boned you get the eye of shortloin, fillet or backstrap. Choose whatever cut is your favourite!

5. CHOP/RACK

Lamb chops or cutlets are the most expensive cuts of lamb, but are incredibly delicious and tender. They are taken from the ribs of the lamb and cooked individually, normally over a grill or a barbecue. When a number of them are left together and cooked as a whole, they’re called a rack of lamb. The backstrap comes from the same area, it is the meat that run through the rack. Chops and cutlets are often barbequed, grilled or fried, however chops are also great in curries and in any slow cooking recipe. 

6. SHOULDER/FOREQUARTER

This part of the animal works hard, so the meat from a lamb’s shoulder is full of flavour. It takes a while to become tender, but this means it’s a great choice for stewing and slow-roasting. To maximise the flavour, cook lamb shoulder on the bone so the meat simply falls apart when pulled with a fork. The shoulder is often cut into chops and braising or stew works well if you are cooking shoulder chops. 

7. SHANK

Lamb shank is a super-simple and very tasty cut that goes a long way. Taken from the lower part of the back legs, there is a lot of collagen in the shank, which, when cooked slowly, gives the meat a lovely soft, melting texture, making this another cut that’s perfect for stews and slow-cooking.

8. NECK

Lamb neck can be cooked slowly on a low heat, it can also be treated like a steak and cooked quickly over a high heat until pink.  Sometimes the neck is left on the shoulde

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Condition scoring sheep is an easy and accurate method of estimating the condition or 'nutritional well-being' of your sheep flock. It is particularly useful for monitoring pregnant and lactating ewes. It requires you to assess the amount of tissue and fat covering the backbone and the short ribs of each sheep. Each assessment should only take a matter of seconds, and condition scoring enough sheep to get an assessment of the mob will only take 20 minutes or so and can be done while sheep are in for other husbandry activities. 

Condition scoring a mob twice over a month can give a reliable indication of weight loss or gain. This is useful, particularly in the lead up to mating, as condition at mating can have a significant impact on lambing percentage. Condition scoring during the dry period will give much more accurate information on how the flock is travelling compared with pasture assessment, as pasture quantity and quality are difficult to assess at this time.

Condition scoring is often more useful than live weight in that it:

• Doesn't rely on a weigh crate being set up - can be done anywhere a sheep can be yarded 
• Can be done without having to correct for wool growth or the influence of wet wool on live weight 
• Needs no correction for weight of the foetus in pregnant ewes or the weight of fluid during lactation 
• Can be used on a mob of sheep with different frame sizes 

How to Condition Score

The animal should be standing in a relaxed position. It should not be tense, crushed by other animals or held in a crush. If the animal is tense it is not possible to feel the short ribs and get an accurate condition score. Place your thumb on the backbone just behind the last long rib and your fingers against the stubby ends of the short ribs. Use the scoring system described below to assign a score. Many people use a system of half scores such as 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5 etc. 

Randomly draft 25 sheep into a race or choose a random group from the middle of the mob. Many people choose a couple of animals from each race full when drenching or doing some other animal husbandry task. Be sure to record the scores so that you can calculate the average. 

This not only gives you a middle point but also shows the range of scores and whether there is a significant tail in the mob.

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Happy Birthday to The Sheep Show Podcast - we turn one this week! Thank you for being good sheep and  following loyally and staying tuned for 12 whole months! 

Enjoy this episode with Amanda and Scott from Tillara Park Suffolks in NSW, @tillaraparksuffolks as they share their inspirational story of participating in 30 shows over 2020. 

Stay tuned for more episodes on showing sheep over the next few months! 

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Sheep framing is always a balancing act and getting ready for joining is no different. What do you need to balance and get right with your rams and ewes before joining - in this episode we explore this along with the other challenges we need to balance with sheep farming and breeding. 

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Line breeding is a fascinating topic which can offer some amazing results but as we will learn it comes with potential consequences which are not for the faint-hearted. Enjoy this extra long episode! 

In this episode with Jason we explore:

What is line breeding?

Why do it? 

Why does it work? What does it achieve?

What can do wrong when you line breed? 

How can you learn to line breed? How did you learn to do it so well?

What lines can/should we use? – Cousins? Grandparents/grandlambs??

What lines should we not use? 

Are the results different if you line breed with the maternal or paternal lines? 

How to do analyse the lines to know what will work with what? What are you looking for or aiming for? 

How to do you keep a record of the pedigrees? 

What happens if you line breed too close? In-breeding issues? What are the risks?

How do you know if your line is too close – are there rules? 

Why don’t more people/breeders do it? 

Are there calculators you can use to help you make line breeding decisions? 

When you have ram customers ask for a new blood line or choose a different line that yours? What do you say to them?

When you have a customer buy a starter flock, they often ask for an unrelated male – are they misinformed here? 

What are the argument for an against line breeding? Advantages and disadvantages 

Contact Jason via Facebook @O'Loghlin Wiltshire Horn Stud

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Why do sheep suffer from internal parasites so much? 
What different types of sheep worms exists? 
What do the different worms do? How do you spot them?
What are your options when managing worms in sheep? 

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Ever though about milking sheep? Join Becca from Hidden Hollow Idaho to learn about raising dairy sheep, milking sheep and making sheep cheese!! Yum!

In this episode we explore:

What breed of sheep is good for milking? 

Why have a sheep dairy? What are the benefits and key dairy products that are in demand? 

Where do you start if you wanted to breed and milk dairy sheep? 

What are the sheep health challenges when breeding and milking sheep?

How different is it to dairy cows? Do you take the lambs of the sheep? How do you raise the lambs if you do? How long to the sheep milk for? Can they get pregnant when they are still lactating? How do you keep condition on the ewe? What do you need to feed them? How long does a dairy ewe live/breed for? Do you use a different breed ram if so what breed do you use? 

What is the process like for the actual milking? 

What infrastructure do you need for a sheep dairy ?

What are the local regulations or compliance requirements? 

What happens the milk to make it into cheese or pasteurize the milk? 

What quantity of sheep do you have to milk to make it a viable commercial business? 

What is your route to market? How might you market your milk and cheese? Where do you sell to/or plan to sell to? 

What advice would you have for someone interested in setting up a sheep dairy? 

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