This IS true - it`s possible to spot more foot problems in lambs by certain tups. Hopefully the pedigree guys watch for this.....HOPEFULLY!Breeding also helps
This IS true - it`s possible to spot more foot problems in lambs by certain tups. Hopefully the pedigree guys watch for this.....HOPEFULLY!Breeding also helps
This IS true - it`s possible to spot more foot problems in lambs by certain tups. Hopefully the pedigree guys watch for this.....HOPEFULLY!
That’s why I said each to their own.yes i agree as well there is a 'danger point'
but this is about sheeps feet and i will buy sheep/breeding that don't get bad feet buggered if ill see lambs pitching and being held back from sale because theyve got strip or pishing about with ewes rams et al trimming footbathing and hobbling about ie suffering, no way.. No pampered trimmed and foot washed bloom dipped pets no sir.
I have better things to do in life, so have the sheep .
Exactly, we have mules and run sheep through the footbath every time they come in. Cost bigger all in the scheme of thing and have lambs that buyers don’t wonder off when they come to sell.I don’t think so. Zinc sulphate costs me a few pence, shedders would lose me many pounds.
Probably considered an old fashioned view, and cited as a reason UK ag has to change, but I agree. Obviously functionality is key but there is a lot of building up problems to be far bigger than they need to be in order to try and sell you the “solution“ i.e. different sheep. Not getting at any body who has posted on this thread, but some of these converts can be like vegans sometimes, in their attitudeMOST important that he keeps something that he likes to have a look at when he gets up in a morning because there`s too much hassle with them to keep something you don`t like!
but some of these converts can be like vegans sometimes, in their attitude
Be interested to know more about your system re the good v bad bacteria if you are able to help in a few words, please.To be clear though, we’ve changed our management and have slashed lameness by concentrating on the population of good v bad bacteria. It starts when the ewes come in to the shed pre-lambing
Profit has to be involved obviously and the sheep kept must do the job on the farm concerned but it is a fact that traditional breeds/systems can work if the management is right - it all hinges on keeping costs down and producing a good product that someone is happy to pay a good price for.....The reason I replied to this was because I was having this discussion with somebody yesterday, and she said almost word for word what you’ve said. Old fogey? No, 20 year old very skilled sheep person
All im saying is that good feet less susceptible to damage can be bred for (and doesnt matter what their name is)That’s why I said each to their own.
To be clear though, we’ve changed our management and have slashed lameness by concentrating on the population of good v bad bacteria. It starts when the ewes come in to the shed pre-lambing. The footbath now is a “re-set” only used if it becomes clear we’ve got the balance wrong.
But, by all means, you chose to make different compromises if you wish. Don’t pretend there aren’t any though.
I`ve seen many threads go much further off the point than this one has....Anyway, The topic here is Sheep's Feet so stay on it please.
Forgot to reply to you, I should have tagged you in the post rather than the third person. I wasn't talking about shedders at all in my initial post rather the mindset and how that might change under different circumstances. I'm too lazy to type long posts that might be clearer.I can read you know.
The two things are not unrelated. I can’t afford to play the numbers game on a small run.
But I see plenty of full time sheep farmers and what they get up to, and shall we just say, perhaps they might benefit from leveraging their fixed costs a bit harder.
Yes it can be bred for, but that’s another form of prevention. It’s not the only form of prevention. We had got into a rut where we were using cures as prevention without really understanding what was going on. Effectively we were disinfecting the sheep’s feet then putting them back in exactly the same environment where the problematic bacteria then had free rein. In that regard putting non lame sheep through a footbath is nuts. If we can prevent it, but have the footbath as a tool to help get us back on track if needed, we think that works. Also, problematic ones then tend to stand out, and if they need to be culled it’s Blydi obvious.All im saying is that good feet less susceptible to damage can be bred for (and doesnt matter what their name is)
(having to) treating ie footbathing, trimming footvaxing etc masks the problem /most problematic ones.
Wide cattle size plastic one here - we put a bit of straw in the first time or two and once they`ve been through a time or two it`s a doddle. VERY bad memories of a narrow footbath with lambs, and formalin and REALLY bad language heavy in the air... Ours are mainly swales though and they do seem good to do with compared to some sheep I`ve come across.Anyone got any tips for getting lambs to go through a footbath? Mine are rather reluctant to
Be hundreds lame tomorrow now.For some reason we’ve had very low levels of lameness this year,I put it down to weather rather than breeding.
Thanks for your reply, it's a cattle sized one I'm using here too. I'll try some strawWide cattle size plastic one here - we put a bit of straw in the first time or two and once they`ve been through a time or two it`s a doddle. VERY bad memories of a narrow footbath with lambs, and formalin and REALLY bad language heavy in the air... Ours are mainly swales though and they do seem good to do with compared to some sheep I`ve come across.
Sometimes chuck wool inThanks for your reply, it's a cattle sized one I'm using here too. I'll try some straw