[Jacob-list] Tree-killing sheep

[gotothewhip at aol.com]

I have seen sheep go to trees for no reason, but often I have seen them go to trees when they are lacking something.. 
 
The most obvious is Dietary Fiber.... How is the feed supply of roughage?
 
Other times it is a mineral deficiency or vitamin issue.  Do you offer minerals?  While we have a primitive breed that has minimal requirements compared to other breeds, we have to recognize that we are keeping them in an artificial (fenced) environment, on a continent that is not their native range.  We feed multiple sources of mineral/vitamin supplements (free choice) 
 
Jennifer Tucker
Moose Mtn Ranch  


-----Original Message-----
From: Jaci Siehl <sugarpinejacobs at yahoo.com>
To: JacobList <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Fri, Feb 5, 2010 1:15 pm
Subject: [Jacob-list] Tree-killing sheep




Within the past couple of weeks my sheep decided to eat trees.  They are tearing off the bark on pine, madrone, cedar, oak, and fir trees.  The trees range from saplings to 2 ft across.  It doesn't matter, they are after them all!  We have not changed their diets or location so everything is the way it has been for 8 years, but they just started this.
 
We've spray the trees with vinegar, bleach, and deer-away.  None of this seems to deter them - and we have 200+ trees on the property so wrapping the trees is not practical.  And there is no place to put the sheepwithout trees. 
 
Any suggestions as to why they started this or how to stop them?  I heard spanish halters (whatever they are) is an idea.  I only have 7 sheep but that is too many halters to buy, but I might try making one, if I knew what they were.
 
Jaci Siehl
Sugarpine Jacobs
530-538-9474





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