Purchase sheep, goats from reputable breeder with similar management style

FREEPORT, Ill. — The best option for adding sheep or goats to an operation is to purchase from a reputable breeder.

“Do a little homework and figure out what breed you want,” said Teresa Steckler, University of Illinois Extension livestock specialist.

“You want animals from a breeder that has a similar management style,” said Steckler during a presentation at the Small Ruminant Feeding, Nutrition and Management Workshop organized by U of I Extension.

“If that breeder won’t tell you how the animals were raised, go to someone who will answer all your questions,” she said. “Figure out what your goals are and work yourself up to a larger number of animals because if you get too many animals to start, you’ll be overwhelmed.”

When bringing new sheep or goats on a farm, they should all walk through a footbath to avoid the introduction of diseases like foot rot.

“Make the footbath so they have to walk through single file,” Steckler said. “Don’t make the footbath short because they will jump over it.”

Although sheep and goats are similar, the livestock specialist said, they are not the same and they have unique differences.

“If you’re going to have goats, you should have an extensive perimeter fence,” she said. “I used 4-by-4 woven wire.”

High-tensile fence can be electrified.

“Goats like to munch and move on so they wander a lot and they are curious animals,” Steckler said. “Sheep don’t move as much as goats and they don’t test the fencing as much as goats.”

Subdividing pastures is important.

“You don’t want your goats eating the same pasture because if they have parasites, the larvae in the fecal material will climb up the stems of the plants,” the livestock specialist said.

“The goats will re-ingest the parasites and it’s a vicious cycle because the animals keep picking up more and more parasites.”

If there is not enough pasture, Steckler recommends a dry lot area without grass.

“Never let them eat off the ground in a dry lot because you don’t want them picking up parasites,” she said. “Always have the feed off the ground.”

Depending on the species of forages, Steckler said, graze sheep and goats when the plants are 8 to 10 inches tall.

“Don’t let animals out in the pasture when there’s a heavy dew because the parasites will crawl 4 to 5 inches up the stem,” she said. “Once the grass has dried, the parasites will go back down the stem.”

The number of paddocks in a pasture depends on the area available for grazing.

“Optimally, you want a 40-day rotation to minimize parasites,” Steckler said.

“Sheep are graziers so they have their heads down,” she said. “Goats are browsers and they love to have their feet up so use that to your advantage when feeding goats.”

For goats, hang the feeders and add a toe board so they can put their feed up.

“That keeps the feed in and the feet out,” Steckler said.

When goats are kidding, it is important to keep the kids out of the wind for the first couple weeks after they are born.

“Kids cannot take the wind chill,” Steckler said. “Kids don’t have the body mass or wool, so lambs have a little better protection for wind.”

“When they kid or lamb, it’s very important that they have time to bond,” she said. “After she has passed the placenta, pick it up and dispose of it properly because the placenta is a calling card for predators like black vultures.”

Rams and bucks need separate pens from the females.

“You want to make sure you have an easy way in and out of the pen,” Steckler said. “Never assume you are safe near a male because if you turn your back, rams will knock you down.”

Sheep and goats are prey animals.

“They are looking to make sure they are not going to be attacked,” Steckler said. “They have good eyesight and hearing, so always be on alert.”

They also find comfort and protection in groups.

“If you have a sick animal, always have a buddy with them,” Steckler said. “They will be less stressed and more apt to recover quicker.”

Predation is a problem for sheep and goat owners.

“We have a booming bobcat population in Illinois and they can get a lamb or kid very easily,” Steckler said. “An eagle can swoop in and take a newborn lamb or kid.”

Guardian animals for goat herds or sheep flocks have pros and cons.

“I love donkeys, but never get a male donkey because they tend to get bored,” Steckler said. “Donkeys don’t need a high intake diet because they can founder easy and they need their hooves trimmed periodically.”

Dogs are another guardian option.

“Dogs need to remain with the animals to do their job,” Steckler said.