filthy sheep.

[RamahRanch]

I'm new to sheep but not to livestock, but I think I have the dirtiest lambs in town. I have 5 white dorpers and their faces are just filthy. Their ears and faces are black with an almost sticky grease. They have been pastured all summer and kept in the barn at night with a dirt floor. I've tried to clean them with a wet rag but doesn't seem to come off. Pictures in the morning. Any ideas why they are so dirty?

 

[IndigoFoxFarm]

One of the weeds in our field will do that to the steers or sometimes the horses. So the culprit may be a sticky type of weed?

 

[RamahRanch]

Before

 

[RamahRanch]

After

 

[purplequeenvt]

Looks like you have a lot of sand or dirt around. What is your insect population like? My guess is that there is a biting bug going after them and they are rubbing their faces in the dirt to keep the bugs off.

 

[alsea1]

My guess is the lanolin causes dirt to stick to them.

 

[RamahRanch]

I'm sure there are bugs out there but I've never seen any on them and noe bother me when working out there. I've never seen them rubbing or scratching in the dirt.

 

[RamahRanch]

I just feel bad for them. They almost feel sticky to the touch tho. Any recommendations for anything or just let them get clean naturally?

 

[babsbag]

When I had horses we had a weed called Tar weed. It would cause a build up of black sticky "tar" on their nose, their lips, and their whiskers. The only way to get it off was with vasoline (petroleum based cleaner), just like trying to remove tar. I only did it at the end of summer when the plants would die; it was a horrible weed.

 

[alsea1]

If it is far weed,should sheep be ratting it?