[Jacob-list] Catching Rams Part 3

[ranchrat]

For reasons beyond my understanding, my reply to Linda never made the
Jacob list.so I will resend it in three parts.maybe it was too big a
file?

Tara

Part 3 of 3

		-----Original Message-----
		From: Linda [mailto:patchworkfibers at windstream.net] 
		Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 3:43 PM
		To: ranchrat
		Cc: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
		Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Catching Rams


There is no "only way" to do it successfully or to properly look after
our flocks, just as there is no "perfect" Jacob Sheep.

Linda


Personally, I cannot possibly care on how all the others look after
their flocks, that is the duty of organizations like the SPCA to
enforce.  I'd become a blubbering idiot if I empathized too much with
the plight of some animals.  I drive by square fields, barb wired with
cattle living day in, day out.no shade, no wind protection, no real
comforts past the skin on their backs.  I am psycho when it comes to
life's comforts for creatures.  I feel that I chose to own this animal,
so it has the right to have the best life I can afford to bestow upon
it.  My standards are high because I am willing to make great sacrifices
to ensure my critters receive nothing but the best.  This is a balancing
act too, as you do raise some animals for meat (love my steak!), for
skins, for by products like milk, eggs, fiber, feathers.  It can be
difficult at times because you do have to have tough love to doctor or
even euthanize when the quality of life is looking very bleak.
Ethically and morally, I have no way EVER to say this is the "only way"
to raise your Jacobs.  I do however have the right to state that part of
being a good shepherd is handling your stock every day, otherwise, you
are not going to find ME calling you a "good" shepherd.  Just my long
two cents worth.

Doggone,

Tara Lee Higgins - still working on the "good badge" in Good Shepherd
Rat Ranch, Alberta, Canada
 
ranchrat wrote: 
		All ours are halter trained, will stand quietly to have
toes trimmed, stand quietly tied high on a fence if required, draft
trained to pull our covered wagon in the Bighorn Rodeo Parade, and you
pretty much hafta tell'em to MOVE outta the way when changing their
water or adding more bedding.  Not that I'll ever totally trust an
intact male (we never turn our backs on one nor do we "pat" them on the
head to encourage butting!), just really nice to have good mannered boys
about.  Now because the boys get chin scratchies, it is just a matter of
leaning over the corral and rubbing my fingers together and they'll
saunter on over to see what's up.
		Can't stand spooky critters, so it ain't uncommon to
find me with a chicken perched on my arm.or head or pulling on my shoe
strings trying to make me trip up.  If you can't work on your livestock,
you can't keep them healthy.  When I first began doing the fun stuff on
the Jacobs, I'd carry around this small nylon bag of grain.  Anytime I
"captured" a victim, they'd end their ordeal with a treat.  Sometimes
I'd just catch them to give them a treat.  Keep 'em guessing!  If your
animal is stressed over being caught, you really do have an ordeal on
your hands before you even get started.  In sheep, because of the fiber,
you hafta put your hands on them to condition score them.if you don't
handled your animals, you are not going to catch the first signs that
something is wrong with them from parasites to weight loss.  Mine get
pats every day.only way a good shepherd can do their work & look after
their stock.
		Chicken UP!
		Tara Lee Higgins - Rat Ranch, Alberta
		Home of Canada's 1st Grand Champion Jacob Ewe Melody
		END of Part 3 of 3





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