wertthelert":22syfdms said:
we believe that a goat is suitable for our requirements. a sheep perhaps also. i am asking which requires less maintenance. goat or sheep? we require an efficient pet.
do not get both a sheep and a goat as they do not get along well together and have different maintenance requirements.
Both need a very good fence, and shelter, and if you intend to let them have babies, they need a safe place (stable or shed) to be locked into at night to keep them safe from predators.
If you get a wooly breed of sheep, you need to have a shearer come out to your property twice a year; once to crutch them and six months later to shear them.
If you get a hair breed (eg katahdin) you wont need the shearer as they dont grow wool.
The type of goat you get will determine its maintenance requirements. If you get an angora or a cashmere goat, you will need the shearer four times per year (shearing every six months and crutching every three months). If you get a dairy goat you will need to milk her twice a day.
A pair of meat goat (Boer x spanish, boer x kiko, boer x myotonic etc) wethers (desexed boys) or katahdin wethers would probably be the easiest for you.
Maintenance as follows:
Daily - check animals for signs of ill health/injury, check water source (clean if necessary), check feed availability (is there enough grass for them, if not give them some meadow hay or oaten hay)
Every two to three months - drench with a worm treatment (available from farm stores, vets, farmers etc. this is a medicine you have to put into their mouth and make them swallow. You need to catch the sheep to do this.
Every four months - trim their hooves oterwise they will grow too long for the animal to walk comfotably. You need to catch them to do this.
Every six months- vaccinate them. This prevents them from getting certain nasty diseases. Again, catch them and give them the vaccie via a needle. Get it from the vet, farm store or neighbour.
Once a year - get the vet to come out and give them a general health check up
