Dorpers Get a Haircut

We are fully into the summer cycle. We have had one of the wettest springs this year and it has continued into summer. Hopefully we are to get dryer weather mid-month. We need this break so we can get our hay baled. In this video we take you along as we evaluate pastures and make rotations from one paddock to the next. We continue to wean our lambs as they reach 3 months of age. We remove the ewes from the lambs and move them to a far field where they cannot hear their lambs and their lambs cannot hear them. This greatly reduces the stress of weaning. The lambs remain in familiar group (minus their moms) and continue their familiar routine. The stable influence of our Guardian Dogs is also a stress reducer. About 5 of our White Dorper ewes did not completely shed. They were carrying varying amounts of hair/wool, mostly on the top of their backs. With all the rain, we are concerned that they may suffer fly strike (flies lay their eggs in wet wool and the larvae hatch and begin to feed on the skin of the sheep). This is obviously very painful for the sheep and, in severe cases, can lead to death. So, a little bit of everything in this video. Once again, thank you for joining us at Norwal Farm.
Michael Walsh and Roger Norgel
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