Possible Signs of Illness, Additional Resources CARING FOR
Neglect, or Intentional Sheep (NH)
Cruelty http://extension.unh.edu/Agric/AGDLEP/Sheep.htm SHEEP American Sheep Industry Association Appearance of Animal www.sheepusa.org Thin (Note: An unshorn (unclipped) sheep, the body of the animal must be Housing and Space Guidelines for Livestock felt to determine if it is underweight.); extension.unh.edu/resources/category/Agriculture maggots in genital area of unshorn female sheep; excessive hoof length (Sides of hoof should be checked to see if overgrown and curled under the bottom of hoof); limping; animal “walking” on knees. Housing Conditions The lack of food, water, or shelter (natural or man made) are not acceptable practices. Overcrowding or Recommendations insufficient feeding area may cause the less aggressive sheep to be excluded from the food source. Sponsored by Behavior Dull, minimally responsive; drooping head; animals rubbing up against objects in an effort to relieve itching The Governor’s from lice and wool on objects that sheep rub against. Sheep are flock Commission animals, animal off by itself would indicate possible problems. Note: on the Sheep are naturally fearful of strangers. Humane Reporting Cruelty Treatment Animal cruelty should be reported to For more information about of animal cruelty, visit the police department of the town in which the animal lives. Please leave www.humane.nh.gov Animals your name and contact information so that a follow-up response may be Be sure to view the Interactive made. Presentation on the Welcome Page. Template Courtesy of Vermont Humane Federation Sheep: The Basics have too much copper. Additional Recommendations • White salt or “sheep salt” block should be available at all times. Terminology Red salt blocks or salt blocks • Sheep should be de-wormed 2-4 Female - Ewe times per year, or as needed, to formulated for cattle and/or horses Male - Ram should be avoided because they prevent disease. Castrated male - Wether contain excess copper. Loose salt is • Lambs may need routine worming Young sheep, either sex - Lamb recommended for lambs. over the summer, about every 4-6 weeks, based on veterinary advice. Sheep Care • Veterinary care should include being • Fresh, clean water should be vaccinated for rabies, enterotoxemia available at all times. About 1-2 (over eating disease), and tetanus gallons of water per day per adult once a year. animal should be provided. • Sheep must have their hooves • Sheep are natural grazers, trimmed once a year. pastures are highly recommended. • Sheep must be sheared each spring Approximately 0.2 – 0.3 acre of to prevent matting and infestation pasture per mature animal per with maggots, known as flystrike. year is sufficient. It is essential to section off the pasture into paddocks and move animals from paddock to paddock and let the pasture regrow for at least four weeks. Shelter • Sheep should have good quality • Even though sheep’s wool allows forage or mixed ration available. them to endure much lower Supplemental grain should be temperatures than humans can provided if needed to meet the tolerate, they should be provided additional nutritional demands of with shelter that affords them lactation, gestation, growth, cold protection from heavy rain, snow, weather, or to compensate for poor high wind, and intense summer sun, forage or pasture quality. and provide a dry place to rest. • Sheep are sensitive to copper • A three-sided shelter with an poisoning. Sheep should not be open front facing south away from grazed on pastures fertilized prevailing winds will meet the needs with pig or poultry manure as of sheep. The shelter should be these manure contain potentially located on an elevated, well drained dangerous concentrations of site. copper. Mixes of commercial grain • It is recommended to have 20 -25 can include various grains but the sq. feet of space per mature animal mixture must say SHEEP feed. in enclosed housing and 50 sq. feet Grain mixtures for cattle and horses of exercise yard area.