[Jacob-list] Trimming hooves and vaccinating

[Betty Berlenbach]

Our sheep sometimes need trimming once a year, but not all the time.  A lot depends on the line...those from the later importations with the striped hooves tend to need it more often than the smaller ones with black hooves and horns, whose hooves are hard as nails.  The shearer trims them IF they need it.  By contrast, the couple of coopworths I have definitely need trimming at least once, if not twice a year.  I think much has to do with line, and with diet, and with terrain as well. We have lots of rocks in the pasture, which they use as emory boards, I think, inadvertantly.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: BIDE WEE 
  To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
  Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 1:24 PM
  Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Trimming hooves and vaccinating


  In a message dated 03/24/08 08:27:18 Pacific Daylight Time, jacob-list-request at jacobsheep.com writes:
    Jacob's hooves don't usually need trimming. I've got ten year old ewes whose feet have never been touched and they are perfect. While my neighbours' Dorsets need doing annually. Jacobs are essentially a wild sheep - who'd be trimming their hooves in the wild? 
  I disagree.  In some areas (rocky or dry and sandy) Jacob hooves might not need regular trimming but in most environments they will - at least once or twice a year.  When Jacob hooves get long they have a tendency to grow under the foot so you rarely see long 'genie' style toes but it doesn't mean they don't need trimming.  It's important to check the feet by lifting them occasionally to be sure they're not getting too long.  

  Also, back to the vaccination conversation, I'd just caution those that choose not to vaccinate with CD&T to let buyers know that when selling sheep so the new owner can decide if they want to vaccinate.  The environment at the new home may be such that CD&T vaccinations are wise.  Also, the 'T" (tetanus) protection can be important if the sheep are attached by dogs.  We sold some lambs several years ago to a new sheep owner whose farm dogs attacked her sheep.  She was able to patch all of the lambs up but she ultimately lost one that she'd bought from another breeder (who doesn't vaccinate with CD&T) to tetanus.  Being new to sheep she didn't know enough to ask whether or not the lamb had been vaccinated.  If she'd been told it had not she might have made the choice to vaccinate it.

  Karen Lobb

  bide a wee farm
  registered Jacob and Navajo-Churro sheep
  19562 NE Calkins Lane, Newberg, OR 97132
  503-538-7987 ~ karen at bideaweefarm.com 
  www.bideaweefarm.com 

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