[Jacob-list] More questions

[Jim Millar]

Lisa and all,
I would guess that in Florida with no pasture you will have a very hard time
breaking even with your sheep.  The most efficient way to keep sheep is to
have grass for them as long as possible during the year.  Anytime you have
to bring in feed, keeping the animal can get expensive.  Could you lease
pasture area?  Could any of your wooded areas be converted to grass over
time? The more animals you keep without rotating to new pastures, and
without a solid freeze means that your worm load will really have to be
monitored.  This is another expense.  However, I'm sure a creative person
can think of all sorts of "value added" sheep items to keep your income side
equally high. It will take time to find markets, so give yourself a "five
year plan" . You can figure out your expenses easily enough.  Good quality
mixed legume hay should be fine most of the year for rams and ewes.  Some
use grain to flush at breeding time, during the last trimester and during
early lactation.  If you could have your ewes and lambs on good grass at
lambing time, there should be no need for supplemental grain.  Pam Millar,
ZuZu's Petals Farm

ps Thanks for the sick lamb advice.  He seems to be on the mend.
-----Original Message-----
From: Lisa P <bludoglady at hotmail.com>
To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2000 2:30 PM
Subject: [Jacob-list] More questions


>Okay, I have been holding off my tough questions so that I might read and
>learn. Now I have more questions to go along with my little knowledge! :0)
>My animals will not have a pasture. We are moving to a wooded lot, and have
>a lot of clearing to do. Grass does not do well on wooded lots here in
>Florida, so I will have to feed hay year round.
>What kind of hay should I look for? How much hay does one ewe need for a
>year? (approximately) I am thinking with hay only to feed, I should grain
>feed during breeding season (at least the ram) and keep grain feeding
>through lambing. Is this correct?
>  Also, how long should it be before my herd can sustain itself i.e. money
I
>bring in from fleece, lambs, etc. goes back into the herd with no out of
>pocket money from us. How many sheep does it take to have a herd that
>sustains itself?
>  If I am feeding hay, how many sheep can I expect to put on one acre
>without overcrowding probelms that lead to disease and parasite problems?
>
>Thanks!
>
>In His Hands,
>Lisa P.
>Aussie Heaven
>www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lane/5147/
>
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