The Rural Voice, 2001-08, Page 25"I can put that anywhere on the
farm," he says of the system's
portability. He has used the fencing
on pastures right beside bush areas
where coyotes are present and never
had any losses. The netting carries a
charge of 8,000 volts. It's designed to
last eight years if properly used. •
Currently there are 200 ewes with
their 400 lambs on pasture. Pasture is
allocated so the flock can eat it in
four days and move on to the next
pasture. The four-day rotation i'
designed to combat parasites which
require about seven days to hatch
after they are shred in sheep feces (he
uses a four-day rotation in case hot
weather might speed up incubation).
Boettcher likes to move them on
fresh ground, letting sheep graze
each area just once a year, though
sometimes taking a cut of hay in
between two grazings may be enough
time if tests of feces show an absence
of parasites. `
As well as designated pastures,
the sheep will graze some
second -cut hayfields, then
move into wheatand spelt fields that
have been underseeded with red
clover. He also likes to make use of
fall cover crops to make sure soil is
covered as much as possible, and a
cover crop like rye can provide
forage. The sheep can also graze the
stubble of the pea field he grows for
dry peas, picking up the leftovers.
As well as efficiently using crop
remnants, the sheep also fertilize the
ground for the next year, and since
sheep manure is 411 small pebbles, it
is easily broken down by the soil's
natural bacteria.
The sheep on pasture are watered
from a large nurse tank on a wagon,
going through 250 gallons of water a
day in hot weather. He adds
hydrogen peroxide at a rate of four
ounces per 100 gallons to kill algae
in the tank and prevent coccidiosis in
the sheep.
Though pasture is an important
part of the sheep operation, with
highly productive Rideau Arcott
stock which produce high amounts of
milk to feed their average 2.4 Iambs,
it's necessary to feed grains for the
first while when the Iambs are
heavily dependent on their mother's
milk, Boettcher says. "It's like
feeding a dairy cow. You can't
strictly be forage based."
4,
GEDDES
4
Purebred
Polled Dorsets
RAMS FOR SALE
EWE LAMBS
FOR SALE
Donald B. Bill & Judy
AC 519
395-5951 395-2218
R.R. #4,
Kincardine, Ont. N2Z 2X5
The Wonderful
World of Wool
It's all
waiting
for you at
The Old Mill
Wool Blankets, Wool Socks,
Wool Coats and Jackets,
Wool Sweaters,
Light -weight Wool Clothing
Highway 4, south of Blyth
(519)523-4595
www.lealherinp cam
BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK SALES
887-6461 887-6811
We appreciate our customers marketing their sheep and lambs at our
yards. Our excellent facilities allow for less stress and less shrinkage
due to selling within 2-3 hours of the animals arrival at our yards.
SHEEP ARE SOLD THURSDAYS AT APPROX. 12 NOON
Tuesdays 9 a.m. Fed Cattle, Cows, Bulls
Thursdays 8 a.m. Bob Calves, Veal, Lambs,
Goats & Pigs
Fridays 10 a m - Stockers
Confidence • Trust • Service
WESTERN STOCKERS AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE SALE
SHEEP SHEARING
GERALD TE VELDE
Sonrise Farm
R.R. 8, Owen Sound
Ontario N4K 6W4
e-mail: sonrisesheep@yahoo.ca
Breeder of
PUREBRED DORSET HORN
519-538-4704
AUGUST 2001 21