Sheep, the Killing Fields
September 10th, 2013 · 2 Comments · Posted in farming
Back in spring, when the rain never seemed to stop, I was handed the unfortunate task of burying one of my newly acquired Friesian sheep in the soggy earth. The ewe in question was the oldest of the bunch–she’d reached 14 years–and the farmer who’d given her to me expressed surprise. “We thought she’d at least make it through to winter.”
Since that time, a neighbor has dropped off 17 of his sheep to help mow the grounds. What I haven’t written about here is that three of his sheep have died while grazing my overgrown fields. First to go was an older lamb who arrived with a dirty bottom. I’m guessing it was suffering scours, a form of diarrhea. But the owner must have been aware, right? I didn’t think much of it, but in hindsight I probably should have insisted on calling a vet. The little sheep was actively eating and keeping up with the flock until one day it wasn’t. I found it dead under some vines near the perimeter fence.
Next to go was an older ewe who was hobbling about on three legs. Up to that point, I had never heard of hoof rot. But a little online research brought me up to speed on this particular malady that involves a bacterial infection of the tissues inside the hoof. Proper trimming of the hooves helps ward off the bacteria. But it’s highly contagious and needs to be treated fast. The poor ewe was hopping around the pastures trying her best to graze. Then one day I found her motionless in the grass. “She was really old,” said the owner when I informed him. She was eight.
Then last week I noticed that an older brown lamb who always had been a little slow was now lagging the flock like never before. She just got slower and slower until she was hardly responsive. I called the owner, who said, “Maybe she ate something that didn’t agree with her.” Next time I went out to the fields, the lamb was walking around eating and bleating. False alarm? Had I become paranoid about sheep dying on my watch? Hardly. I found the sheep dead the next morning.
In this case, there was no visible cause. Had the lamb been anemic for some time. Worms, perhaps? We’ll never know. The previous two sheep were buried in the trenches our crew was digging for new water and electric lines. How convenient. But in the case of this last sheep, it fell to me to dig a hole out in the pasture. It’s tough going, breaking through that thick sod, then fighting all the stones in the soil. I had to use a pick axe. I was exhausted before it was over.
We have one remaining old ewe I fear for. She’s 11. I visit the fields several times a day, looking for signs of distress, making sure the sheeps’ water bucket is filled. The old ewe appears to be a survivor: she leads a life apart from the others, eating when she wants to, burying herself in the tall grass for shade when she’s tired. The other sheep are as furtive and hungry as ever–attacking the grass when I open a new paddock, skittering away from me whenever I get too close. But sometimes I wonder if the job I’ve given them–mowing badly overgrown fields–is too stressful.
In just a short time, I’ve become expert at culling sheep. Got any you don’t need any more? Send them to me. But really, I don’t want to have to dig any more sheep graves any time soon.
That number of sheep don’t just expire in the field without cause. Get to a class at Cornell for sheep management. No sheep should have been put on pasture without a good worming and possibly antibiotics at/ before moving them from one farm to another. I feel you should not have to learn this from trial and error! There are so many Cornell experts ready to help. Quarantine all new sheep!
Thanks for weighing in, Candace. I think my biggest error was assuming that my neighbor, who’s been raising sheep for some years as a hobby, knew much more than I did about it and that his sheep would be in peak condition when they arrived. In fact, my home study on sheep has been quite extensive. And besides drawing on the local extension service I consult with the woman from whom I bought my Friesians–she operates a large sheep farm producing cheese and meat for the New York City market. Her operation is impeccable and she has given great advice. My main concern now is that the neighbor’s flock may have introduced hoof rot to mine. But I would note that there are lots of resources on these kinds of issues. Youtube, for instance, has a great video posted by the extension service in Maine on trimming hooves and dealing with hoof rot. I still believe experience in the best teacher.