tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046051871244694329.post2651111621272935900..comments2011-11-17T18:48:06.353-08:00Comments on Phelan Ranch Company: Salad Bar LambGrady Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236758444221525158noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046051871244694329.post-43886701925623003152010-09-16T06:29:20.182-07:002010-09-16T06:29:20.182-07:00Hey Jason,
Our "permanent" electric fen...Hey Jason,<br /><br />Our "permanent" electric fence has 2 wires, but the we sub-divid with one wire about knee high. We usually don't pen them up to tight, so they aren't pressuring the fence much. If you were to pen them in really tight, you might want to consider the net fence.<br /><br />GradyGrady Phelanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04236758444221525158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046051871244694329.post-66422324269458748192010-09-12T12:50:47.272-07:002010-09-12T12:50:47.272-07:00Can you use a one line electric fence like the Sal...Can you use a one line electric fence like the Salatins do for their cows or do you have to use a net from Premier?<br /><br />Thanks,<br />JasonColdburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13530987122469611582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046051871244694329.post-86169300384294428572010-02-01T16:58:59.554-08:002010-02-01T16:58:59.554-08:00Let me see if I can answer everyone's question...Let me see if I can answer everyone's questions.<br /><br />Squaw Creek,<br /><br />Joe is Awesome!! Enough said.<br /><br /><br />Rich,<br /><br />Handling facilities need to be tighter... that is you need to use sheep panels on the corral fences so they don't climb out. We also have a sorting shoot that makes sorting much easier. I'll try to get a pic soon, or you could come down and see it and I can walk you through our corrals.<br /><br />We don't ever trim hooves, but we are in a rocky environment so the ewes probably keep well conditioned hooves because of the rocks.<br /><br />We run all livestock on Native Tall Grass Prairie. As far as specific grasses or annuals, you'd have to ask an expert. They find more than enough on our native range.<br /><br />We have net fencing on our perimeter fences and we use two electric wires on our permanent electric fences, and one poliwire for our temporary electric paddocks. <br /><br />We don't have any special shelters for the sheep, but we do allow them access to the brush for shelter during bad weather. They handle our roughest weather great. Even the guard dogs look great during all this.<br /><br />Lindsey,<br /><br />Polyface didn't have sheep while I was there so I don't know much about the Rambler. What we do here is a little different. We use the same Rams that a couple other ranches use so they just travel around to everyone during breeding season. If they are hear during the off-season then we just put them on the other side of the 3000 acres. <br /><br /><br />Graham,<br /><br />We don't see any problem running sheep on pasture during the winter. Something to keep in mind is that we are grazing all year around and don't need to feed hay the way Polyface does. So putting our sheep in a barn and hauling pasture to them would be silly for us but essential for the Salatins. Remember... Different environments = different strategies.<br /><br />Our cubes are 3/8 in. in Diameter and the sheep don't have a problem eating them.<br /><br />Keep it up. We need more people like you.Grady Phelanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04236758444221525158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046051871244694329.post-51904651534377932672010-02-01T09:44:10.521-08:002010-02-01T09:44:10.521-08:00After the recent ice storm and snowfall in OK, how...After the recent ice storm and snowfall in OK, how do hair sheep handle these types of weather conditions? <br /><br />Is some sort of covered shelter a must for them?Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11412944120622315804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046051871244694329.post-58017187532870341732010-01-30T09:26:09.778-08:002010-01-30T09:26:09.778-08:00I am a thirteen year old homeschooled boy in Virgi...I am a thirteen year old homeschooled boy in Virginia. My family has a small farm (5 acres) and I am raising sheep and chickens and will be taking the last of two pigs to the butcher soon. Anyway, if you don't mind I have a few questions:<br /><br />Do you see any problem with manure management when wintering sheep on pasture as opposed to putting them in a barn as they do at Polyface? <br /><br />Also you said that you give the sheep alfalfa cubes. Do you give those to them whole? Mine can't eat them whole, I have to grind them up. <br /><br />Thanks for the help. <br /><br />By the way, I know what you mean about the cuteness of lambs. I get told by visitors all the time, "Oh it must be so hard selling the lambs. I could never do it." Almost everyone who comes tells me that. But I like what you said. <br /><br />Graham <br /><br />P.s. Feel free to take a peak at my blog.thedonahues7@verizon.nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04786119673237308904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046051871244694329.post-13671419234558429472010-01-27T17:35:18.150-08:002010-01-27T17:35:18.150-08:00Future post suggestion - a post on ram logistics w...Future post suggestion - a post on ram logistics would be great!<br /><br />I remember a presentation by Joel Salatin (Acres conference, maybe??) where he said that he put his ram, when he had sheep, in the "RAMbler" and used that to mow around buildings, etc. I'm wondering if that was far enough from the ladies so that he didn't escape and get one into "trouble" before breeding season. And how a successful RAMbler might be constructed.<br /><br />Thanks muchos,<br />LindseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046051871244694329.post-78510410671376623842010-01-22T17:04:13.319-08:002010-01-22T17:04:13.319-08:00I live in Oklahoma, raise cattle and winter wheat,...I live in Oklahoma, raise cattle and winter wheat, and have thought about grazing a few hair sheep along with our cattle.<br /><br />But, I have had a number of questions about adding sheep. <br /><br />What handling facilities are needed for sheep compared to cattle? Is hoof trimming necessary or a problem with hair sheep? What type of pasture is needed for sheep compared to cattle? Will typical cattle fencing work for hair sheep?Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11412944120622315804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046051871244694329.post-68713374272698948792010-01-21T12:37:20.081-08:002010-01-21T12:37:20.081-08:00Great post! We have been considering sheep for the...Great post! We have been considering sheep for the last year(just for our family) and were encouraged by this post. Loved the wisdom you taught and the phrase "God would not like it if we were lazy and offered a poor product to his people" Wow. We have neighbors growing calves in a dark windowless barn, stanchioned at all times until they reach a certain weight. Its terrible, and this goes to our stores. If people only knew. <br /><br />On a lighter note, we live in a small world. We met a former Polyface apprentice right here in our own backyard! ;) J. Murphy and his beautiful family(hubby mentioned your name and he said he knew you!) just sold their home here to move to Joel Salatins(?) Buxton Farm in Virginia. We look forward to reading their blog of adventures, too. ;) Congratulations to you and your bride-to-be, marriage is beautiful and only gets sweeter with time.Squaw Creek Ranchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08965889531509544803noreply@blogger.com