He is a pretty great guy to talk to. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to speak with him. Thank you for watching our video and thank you for taking the time to leave a kind remark!
Thank you for watching and thank you for the kind comment. Hopefully you are able to use our channel to help you get better prepared. We hope you have a great time on your new sheep adventure!
I feel that nutrition needs to be more put out there for ppl to learn. Whatever kind of livestock u have their is more to it then just putting corn in the feed trough.
You should be able to download/purchase a digital copy on Amazon if you have access. The “kindle” version is a digital copy and can be read on most computers and smart phones as well as a kindle device.
One thing I don't understand is, sheep and goats have identical natural diets (browse and graze) yet their commercial feeds are completely different because apparently sheep can't tolerate copper while goats require it... like, how is that even remotely possible? I discovered by chance that my Icelandics are a hair sheep :) every year I just comb all their fleece off with my fingers, it's gorgeous!
Sheep have a limited tolerance for excess amounts of copper in their diets, which is due to their unique physiology and liver function. Copper is an essential mineral for many bodily functions, but when it accumulates in excessive amounts, it becomes toxic to sheep. This condition is known as copper toxicity or copper poisoning. The reason sheep are particularly susceptible to copper toxicity lies in their liver's ability to excrete copper. Unlike some other animals, such as cattle, sheep lack a functional mechanism to excrete excess copper efficiently. As a result, copper can build up in their bodies over time, leading to various health issues. Copper toxicity in sheep can manifest in several ways, including liver damage, hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells), kidney damage, and even death in severe cases. The symptoms of copper toxicity can be vague and may include lethargy, loss of appetite, weakness, and pale mucous membranes. It's essential for sheep owners and farmers to manage their sheep's diet carefully to avoid copper toxicity. This includes providing a balanced diet with appropriate levels of copper and other minerals. It's also crucial to avoid feeding sheep foodstuffs that are high in copper, such as some types of feed supplements and minerals. Regarding specific sheep breeds, there are some variations in copper tolerance. Some sheep breeds, such as the Suffolk and Hampshire, are more susceptible to copper toxicity. On the other hand, certain sheep breeds, like the Texel, appear to be more resistant to copper toxicity and can handle slightly higher levels of copper in their diets. However, it's important to note that even in more tolerant breeds, excessive copper levels should be avoided to prevent potential health issues. To ensure the well-being of sheep and prevent copper toxicity, it is best to work with a veterinarian or an animal nutritionist who can help tailor the sheep's diet to meet their specific needs and manage copper intake appropriately. Water sources should also be checked for copper content, as water contamination can contribute to copper toxicity in sheep.
@@LinessaFarms Thank you, yes, I learned about that the hard way :( But that doesn't explain how they share the same wild diet as goats if their needs differ... Like, do they somehow tolerate copper in forage because maybe it's combined with some other element that allows the sheep to better eliminate it, or are there lower amounts and the goats just happen to be fine with that? I find it puzzling.
@@AgnesMariaL Sheep and goats do not have the same diet in the wild. Sheep are grazers; goats are browsers which means that they reach upwards and prefer to eat bush and tree leaves although they will also graze grasses and other forages in a field. Sheep tend to graze plants like grasses, legumes, and other species that are low-growing. Goats also have some compounds in their saliva that detoxify some common toxins in plant leaves, like the hydrolyzable tannins in oak leaves. And in nature, both species consume forages over a relatively wide area where they can eat many different species that grow on different soils. This does not happen in fenced pastures that confine animals to a relatively small area.
@@woodylane8046 Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate it:) While I've only had sheep for two years and my neighbour's goats for one year, my observations are otherwise. The ultimate candy for both species is maple leaves and maple bark, and they also both love to eat evergreen needles, alder leaves and shoots, other various hardwood tree species. The sheep also browse the underbrush, which the goats do as well. Grass is the lowest on the list for both when it comes to their diet preferences when exposed to the wild (we have 335 acres of woodland). The goats, on the other hand, will eat every last scrap of hay given, whereas my sheep complain and bleat for their "crack" (commercial feed) or tree hay instead, no matter how much fresh hay I give them! So idk, but maybe my sheep are freaks, or it's a difference due to the breeds? Because 100%, the ones I have are browsers, not grazers... I had them in a pasture once, and they'd escape because there were no trees or bushes to munch on, only the grasses and weeds. I have Icelandic, Romanov and one Dorset horn.
