[Jacob-list] Question

[Ralene Mitschler]

Hi Sue and ListersIt may well be a 'lag' effect from our drought year here
in PA.  I had some problems too this year with that.  Talked to my vet after
losing a few ewes this winter.   When supplemental grain feed increase
seemed to fix the problem we decided that the hay/pastures and grains were
lower in nutrition than usual.  More grain than usual was needed to
counterbalance.  I suspect one of my hay purchases was worse than the other
so have had to be careful to mix.  Between the nasty wind chill, the
challenge of lower quality feed etc my flock saw the first real losses of
deaths and wool issue in my five years so far.  (We did eliminate worms etc
too; my fecal exams showed nothing)   Thank goodness the pastures are
recovering nicely; am working hard to spread compost better etc to avoid
this problem in future (I hope)     Most of the fleeces of the 'scruffy'
girls here have improved greatly (we sheared in february) so it may be very
little problem for next year's fleece harvest!

not sure whether the fertilizer had an effect or not.  Didn't have that
factor here.
Ralene

On Sun, May 17, 2009 at 9:38 PM, Susan J Martin <stcroft at ptd.net> wrote:


>  This spring several of my ewes have been looking pretty scruffy with a

> lot of wool break and sloughing off of the fleece.  I wormed them, although

> not all of them really needed it as per eyelid checks.  They appear healthy

> in every other way.....no sign of lice or excessive scratching.  We had

> fertilized the meadows with 20-10-10 about two wks. prior to putting them in

> the meadows.....and there was a lot of rain following the fertilizer

> application, resulting in lush pasture.   Can the high nitrogen cause

> sloughing of the fleece?  We also have had a lot of rain here in southeast

> PA.....could it be due to the rainy weather?  The ewes were sheared in March

> and they lambed in April.....and the lambs are doing well and look fine.

> Thanks for any thoughts you may have.

> Sue Martin

> Stonecroft

>

>

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-- 
Ralene R. Mitschler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
PreMed Advisor
McDaniel College
2 College Hill
Westminster MD  21157
410.857.2406

Ralene Mitschler
Chicory Lane Farm Jacob sheep
687 Oxford Ave
Hanover PA  17331
rmitschler at gmail.com
717.630.2988
717.817.3794 cell
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