SageHill Ranch Journal

[SageHill]

All loaded up and ready to roll. Decided to add in one brown ewe lamb. Actually the one that got stuck with the bunk feeder on her neck. She's on the far right. With the two black ewes about to pop any day/week now - I decided there's no need for that ewe lamb. She is the smallest of the lot, other than that seems no worse for wear given her near death experience.
As predicted, Silver - the I don't wanna feed my lambies ewe - was a pill to load. Once in, she was fine.

 

[drstratton]

I'm so glad you didn't have too many problems loading them. Good luck with everything!

 

[SageHill]

Last time we took sheep up to the auction, getting them out of the trailer was a PITA. They did not want to get out. Took a lot of shoving, pushing, pulling, coaxing. Wished back then we'd taken a dog. SOOO this morning Obi came with us. He was definitely needed to get the mob out. He was SO good at it, and then moved them down the aisle - which again would have been a huge chore. Bring the right "tools" and life is easy and good. He also got a lot of compliments and folks asking what breed he was. Obi loved the work and loved the attention. Score for Obi!

 

[Baymule]

When I take sheep to auction, it's the responsibility of the yard hands to unload.

Good on Obi! He got to be useful and show off what he can do.

 

[SageHill]

When I take sheep to auction, it's the responsibility of the yard hands to unload.

Good on Obi! He got to be useful and show off what he can do.

It is here as well. They've got signs posted all over. As long as things look safe - I just do what needs to be done. First time there years ago one of the workers had a fantastic Aussie that helped with the unload. Since then I haven't seen the guy or the dog. The last time it was a semi-rodeo and I didn't like what I saw, should've had a dog with. So this time I did, and on the off chance something wasn't right I had Obi on lead (didn't need him freelancing OR putting his sheep back in the trailer ) to have 100% compliance on his part. Worked smoother than snot. They weren't busy or in a rush. If they were I would've just unloaded the trailer and put him away. Don't need my dog upsetting any other livestock or getting in someone's way.

 

[Ridgetop]

There are a lot of times we have wished for a trained herding dog. On the other hand, having the LGDs have ssved us a lot of $$$ in dead sheep and a lot of sleeless nights so it is kind of a push. We use ur portable paels to make a chure to ad the trailer too and with grain in a bucket or in a pan in the trailer it seems to work.

 

[SageHill]

There are a lot of times we have wished for a trained herding dog. On the other hand, having the LGDs have ssved us a lot of $$$ in dead sheep and a lot of sleeless nights so it is kind of a push. We use ur portable paels to make a chure to ad the trailer too and with grain in a bucket or in a pan in the trailer it seems to work.

I know people who have both LGDs and good herding dogs. I still toy with getting an LGD - but I also know time. effort, etc - and don't know if I could follow through. My brain works so solidly in herding dog brain mode, I'd have to be able to switch over to LGD mode. LOL I should hire Murphy!

 

[Ridgetop]

You have to do what works for you. We move our sheep so seldom that having a fulltime devoted herding dog like a Border Collie would not work for us. A less devoted one like an Aussie might, but then we would have the long hair all over the house. We used to have an Aussie. Wonderful dog - she trained fast, and never forgot her training. BUT the hair she shed was unbelievable and I really don't have time (or inclination) to clean it constantly.
LOL

Anyway, Murphy provides protection on your borders now so it's a win-win.

 

[Baymule]

I’ve had Aussies in the house. That fine undercoat fur floats on the ceiling fan air currents like cat hair. It balls up under heavy furniture that I never moved—until I moved. Now I have Carson. He brings in dirt by the bucket loads, plus black hair. At least the lambs don’t shed and by the time they do- they’ll be outa here!

 

[SageHill]

Grazed the roadside. Actually have been doing roadsides for awhile lately. Trying to cut down on having to weed whack those areas. Just Obi on duty with Zo on injured reserve (sore toe - will probably be back working next week).
I'm seriously thinking (maybe even more than seriously) of selling the California Red ewe and the CA Red - Dorset cross ewe after shearing. They're nice enough sheep, but they don't flock well. They hand out with the rest well enough - but go do something more specific and they have a mind of their own. The dogs do well making sure they stay with the rest but it's always a make me do it attitude from the woolies. Neither are looking like they're pregnant either. Nice "experiment" but I think I'll stick with the hair sheep.

The CA Red and the cross woolies Going the direction they want. That draws the others at times