Are sheep people welcome
- Thread starter Jeff T M
- Start date
Jeff, I am not familiar with animal unit month since it is a sheep term. Below is says an animal unit is equivalent to a 1,000 lb non lactating cow and represents the consumption of 25 lbs of dry matter. So it says that 5 ewes are equivalent to one animal unit. So when you see one animal unit for cattle, you can change that into 5 ewes. Below it goes into a little more info on how to figure the AUM.
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/sheep/410-366/410-366.html
Past experiences on the farm help provide a benchmark for stocking rate. However, for farms where there is no history of stocking rate, information may be obtained from the USDA Soil Conservation Service which lists soil types on the farm and guidelines for stocking rates described on an animal unit (AU) basis. One AU is equivalent to a 1000 lb non-lactating cow, and represents the consumption of approximately 25 lb of dry matter per day. The animal unit equivalent (AUE) for sheep is 0.2 or, put more simply, 5 ewes are equivalent to one AU. The AUE for a ewe and her lambs is 0.3. Stocking rate is often listed in animal unit months (AUM), or the amount of forage intake of one AU for 30 days. The stocking rate per acre on an annual basis for permanent pasture with a soil classification of 6 AUMS would be 6 AUMS divided by 12 months or 0.5 AU/acre/year (2.5 ewes). For most typical cool season permanent pastures in Virginia, a stocking rate of 2 to 3 ewes per acre can be used as a starting point. With attention to management and the use of controlled grazing, stocking rates of 5 to 6 ewes per acre are attainable.
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/sheep/410-366/410-366.html
Past experiences on the farm help provide a benchmark for stocking rate. However, for farms where there is no history of stocking rate, information may be obtained from the USDA Soil Conservation Service which lists soil types on the farm and guidelines for stocking rates described on an animal unit (AU) basis. One AU is equivalent to a 1000 lb non-lactating cow, and represents the consumption of approximately 25 lb of dry matter per day. The animal unit equivalent (AUE) for sheep is 0.2 or, put more simply, 5 ewes are equivalent to one AU. The AUE for a ewe and her lambs is 0.3. Stocking rate is often listed in animal unit months (AUM), or the amount of forage intake of one AU for 30 days. The stocking rate per acre on an annual basis for permanent pasture with a soil classification of 6 AUMS would be 6 AUMS divided by 12 months or 0.5 AU/acre/year (2.5 ewes). For most typical cool season permanent pastures in Virginia, a stocking rate of 2 to 3 ewes per acre can be used as a starting point. With attention to management and the use of controlled grazing, stocking rates of 5 to 6 ewes per acre are attainable.
bwranch
Well-known member
Might as well. Neighborhood's gone to he!! since we let the Canadiens back in anyway. Sheesh, 500 - 600 lb calves only bringing $1.25-1.35 yesterday. ;-)
I am not sure if we can help you a lot on treating your sheep, but I am sure that the nutrients of the pasture and grains, we both share. Yep, your welcome anytime.
A
Anonymous
Far as I am concerned - even though this is a cattle board - the answer is yes.
Maybe we can even convert you or should I say rehabilitate you!
We share a lot of the same probs and the animals certainly eat the same stuff.
Besides, I have been known to eat my share of woolly animals.
Bez'
Maybe we can even convert you or should I say rehabilitate you!
We share a lot of the same probs and the animals certainly eat the same stuff.
Besides, I have been known to eat my share of woolly animals.
Bez'
Thanks everyone..I'm not the sheep fan my business partners are{10 and 12 yr. old sons,who will be posting here as well}.We have been taring down old abandon hog buildings for the last 4 yrs. and taking the lumber and tin and building what were to be cattle sheds.But democracy being what it is,that plan was vetoed -not enough land was the cry-.I did try sulking,pouting and throwing myself on the floor in a fit that would make any 3 yr. in the toy isle at wal-mart proud, but, an unsympathetic stare is all I got.
So,here I am ,trying to figure out the best grass to plant on ground that has been in row crop for the last 100 yrs.Our extension man must be on a long vac. because we're not able to make contact with him for over 2 months.I have been all over the net and this site seems to have the most experience grazers .We hope to gain a lot of knowledge here.
So,here I am ,trying to figure out the best grass to plant on ground that has been in row crop for the last 100 yrs.Our extension man must be on a long vac. because we're not able to make contact with him for over 2 months.I have been all over the net and this site seems to have the most experience grazers .We hope to gain a lot of knowledge here.
Jeff, how many acres are you converting into pasture? In Iowa? I feel I shouldn't ask this question, but what crops have been raised on the land for the last several years?
Chuck,we are small potatos.I have about 15 acres.6 in pasture now and 6 that has been in beans and corn,the rest is tree line, ditchs,house and buildings.We do intend on grazing every square inch we pay taxes on.By the way thanks for the info. on the original question.I still don't understand it completely,some things I just have to see and do before I'll get it.Yes Iowa,it looks like I may be the only one here{?}.
Jeff, I thought you would say corn all the way. The bean land will do well. You will just have to up the fertilizer most likely on the corn land. The soil tests will always tell.
The extension man tried to change me over to Boer goats. He said they were cheaper to maintain and easier to take care of.
You should be able to get a few sheep on the land. It doesn't matter how many acres a person has to work with, they still want to make it work out to the best it can be.
One thing about small acreage, you can give it a lot more attention than you can many acres. The main thing is that you enjoy it and second, make some money doing it.
The extension man tried to change me over to Boer goats. He said they were cheaper to maintain and easier to take care of.
You should be able to get a few sheep on the land. It doesn't matter how many acres a person has to work with, they still want to make it work out to the best it can be.
One thing about small acreage, you can give it a lot more attention than you can many acres. The main thing is that you enjoy it and second, make some money doing it.
Susie David
Well-known member
Jeff T M...welcome, don't know much about sheep, do wear wool shirts though....seems like you could convince the kids to raise a calf or two just for "family use".
Good luck...Dave Mc (the david in the operation)
Good luck...Dave Mc (the david in the operation)
