Messages

31

All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Premier Shears Blade Compatibility

« on: July 30, 2017, 04:12:26 pm »

Thank you Shane!  It's for the shearing head.  I hope that I'll be happy with the Premier shears.  I've only used the Oster Shearmaster for shearing.  I have a Lister Liberty and a Lister Star for clipping. 

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Premier Shears Blade Compatibility

« on: July 29, 2017, 04:00:51 pm »

My big old Oster shears threw parts everywhere when my daughter was shearing a lamb.  We couldn't find everything that it launched.  I've put money into repairing the head several years ago as well as a tuneup but I think the motor may be worn out.  Even with sharp blades it starts to lug after a few strokes.  The thought of putting money into the heavy beast just sat wrong with me and I thought new one would be money better spent.

Anyway, I had a chance to buy a set of slightly used Premier 4000s for under $300.  After I made the purchase it dawned on me that I had a bunch of Oster combs and cutters that may not fit the new shears requiring a capitol investment in more combs and cutters.  Does anyone know if my Oster blades will fit the Premier?

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Slow Gainer, Suggestions?

« on: July 24, 2017, 06:41:16 pm »

He was sixth in his class, right in the middle.  Not a class winner but he was in the auction.  The lamb likes to stretch way out but drops his back.  I had forgotten to remind his showman to not stretch him out too far. 

The family wanted to know why we only feed twice per day rather than having feed in front of the lamb constantly like they do with dairy cows.  I didn't have a good answer other than it was just how it was done.  Does anyone no why?

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Slow Gainer, Suggestions?

« on: July 16, 2017, 02:05:12 pm »

I can't sing the praises of OG's Egg Drench loud enough.  I put the lamb on my scale today and it said he weighted 110.  He crossed the fair scale at 109!  He looks like a completely different lamb since he's been on the drench.

Thanks to you for all of of the other advice!

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Slow Gainer, Suggestions?

« on: July 14, 2017, 10:55:41 pm »

Thank you for the great advice!  I went over today to weigh him but the pen was locked and there wasn't a flat enough area for me to set the scale down. 

I had them start him on OG's Egg Drench and he slurps 10 oz 2x per day out of his feeder.  They put him on the hang scale and said he weighed over 100 lbs now.  I want to get him on my scale so I can really see if he has picked up that much weight.  The lambs out of my ram started out really slow.  I was worried about several of them but in the last three weeks most of them have put on an amazing 8-10lbs per week.  It's possible the egg drench jump started him.

The suggestion about not washing him is really good, something that I never would have thought of.  Unfortunately he has to washed and clipped tomorrow.  All lambs have to slick shorn prior to haul in (Sunday) and only touch up clipping is allowed, battery clippers only.

I really hope the hang scale is accurate and the anticipation of weighing him tomorrow afternoon is like waiting to see what's wrapped up under the Christmas Tree.  Of course I don't know how close the fair scale is to mine.

Do you drench with the electrolytes or just put it in the water?  How do we give the propylene glycol and will any of this test?  No drenching is allowed at our fair.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Slow Gainer, Suggestions?

« on: July 10, 2017, 05:32:40 pm »

Thanks Don!  We'll make some adjustments and say our prayers!  Weigh-in is Sunday.  I'll post his weight when I come up for air!

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Swollen Knees

« on: July 10, 2017, 03:34:50 am »

Well, time got away from and I didn't get him caught up to give him LA200.  A few days after the post one of his knees started leaking from a pinhole size opening.  The fluid was basically clear with a tinge of blood.  I didn't mess with it but I kept a close eye on it to make sure it didn't develop into an infection.  It took about a week for the skin to tighten up.  Yesterday, in the other knee, I put a 20 ga. needle into the lowest part of egg size lump.  It immediately started draining.  Aside from the needle stick he didn't have a problem with me squeezing it to get the last of the fluid to drain.  The fluid was the same as that of the first knee.

Thank you for all of the great advice!

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Slow Gainer, Suggestions?

« on: July 09, 2017, 11:40:43 pm »

Lamb Slam is 17.4% protein and 3.7% fat. 

Our fair is very tight at weigh-in.  No clothing, no halters, slick shorn from the knee up and hock up, no wet sheep, no drenching.  I took the recipe for OG's Egg Drench to them today and they said they'd start him on it right away.  Temperature is supposed to drop into the upper 90's.  They walk the lambs for about 15 minutes daily, no running. 

Three pounds of feed in the morning and again in the evening is the most they can get the two lambs to consume.  They also get a fistful of alfalfa each. 

I'll let them know about the vitamin B crumbles.  I haven't heard of Bluelyte, but I'll check into it as well.

Let me know if you think of anything else.  I'll let you know what happens.  Many, many thanks!

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Slow Gainer, Suggestions?

« on: July 08, 2017, 03:56:05 pm »

Our club started with several very lightweight lambs and we had concerns about making the minimum weight of 100 lbs.  Of course it would have been nice to have started with bigger lambs but we are where we are.

Weigh in is in 8 days.  The smallest lambs have put on an amazing 8-10 lbs per week and weigh 104-114 today.  We have one straggler that is just not putting on the weight.  He weighs 94, the same as he did 4 days ago.  He looks healthy and they said he is consuming 3 lbs per day of Lamb Slam.  His buddy is 114 lbs.  His condition is very good and he is one of the nicest lambs in our group.

We have had extremely hot weather (100+) and it looks like it will continue for the next couple of weeks.

I got the family to move the lambs into full shade about 10 days ago and the lamb was shorn 2 1/2 weeks ago. 

Its frustrating because the boy has put in a lot of time and he is doing a great job showing his animal.  This is his first market show and I know he would be so disappointed if his lamb didn't reach the 100 threshold. 

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Swollen Knees

« on: June 04, 2017, 06:25:00 pm »

Should LA200 be strong enough?

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Swollen Knees

« on: June 01, 2017, 12:39:52 pm »

He is structurally correct.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Swollen Knees

« on: June 01, 2017, 02:39:40 am »

No lameness at all.  I will give him LA200.  I'll let you know the results.  Thanks!!

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Swollen Knees

« on: May 31, 2017, 05:04:09 pm »

We have a 3 month old lamb that has swollen knees.  He shows no lameness, heat or pain, just soft puffy knees.  Any clue what would cause this or how to correct it?  I first noticed it a couple of weeks ago and the swelling has remained the same.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Biobag: Premature Lamb Artificially Gestated

« on: April 30, 2017, 11:49:13 am »

This is an amazing story!  The Biobag is being developed for premature babies.  There is a loop video clip at the end of the story.

http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/04/25/new-artificial-womb-technology-could-keep-babies-born-prematurely-alive-and-healthy/

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Mixing Corid

« on: April 16, 2017, 02:48:24 pm »

We just finished the 5 days of drenching with Corid.  I would prefer not to have to repeat the course and I'm sure the sheep would agree.  If the feed already contains Bovatech, would it cause harm to add Deccox?