[Jacob-list] lilac
Jennifer
gotothewhip at aol.com
Fri May 25 17:33:57 EDT 2012
This is 100% correct. Before we added copper, we had liver biposies done on 6 lambs we butchered, and 2 yearling or above rams we butchered. We had also had 2 animals diagnosed with Cu Deficiency and had a rash of aborted fetuses, also linked to Cu a few years ago. There is some research that Jacob and other Natural Colored sheep have a higher Cu tolerance than other breeds.. it is also ASSUMED that they have a higher requirement.... perhaps related to the pigmented wool.
Jennifer Tucker
Moose Mtn Ranch
Bennett, CO
-----Original Message-----
From: Linda <patchworkfibers at windstream.net>
To: Jennifer <gotothewhip at aol.com>
Cc: olgasteig <olgasteig at gmail.com>; jacob-list <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>; fourhornfarm <fourhornfarm at frontier.com>; Jacobflock <Jacobflock at aol.com>
Sent: Fri, May 25, 2012 1:47 pm
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] lilac
I've seen some rather drastic changes in fleece quality - mostly handle and luster - in sheep I've sold. They've left here with luster and a nice handle and six months later, they have dull looking and feeling fleeces. I think it's probably related to minerals or a richer diet than Jacobs require. The sheep are healthy and growthy and often seem to have very heavy fleeces.
I believe some of the UK breeders have mentioned on the list that they have to add copper.
Obviously this is not something you would do without a little research and perhaps some analysis of feeds/soils/water.
Linda
On 5/24/2012 10:57 PM, Jennifer wrote:
Im noticing a difference in the amount of washing or graying out of the dark (lilac or black) color now that Iam adding copper (YES COPPER) to the diet of my sheep. While they are low, sheep do have copper requirements, but I have a high molybdenum in the soil, and high iron in the water, both tie up available copper....I was getting washing out of colors and brillo pad like wool on some... that is going away. I am feeding a loose mineral with 250ppm..
Jennifer Tucker
Moose Mtn Ranch
Bennett, CO
--
Patchwork Farm Jacob Sheep
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