Bonnie and I had a fabulous time at Felseck Farm this past weekend. We hung out with the animals, hiked in the snow (briefly), played a bunch of scrabble and even had a dance party to some of my parents old records - that is once we figures out how to work the record player.
One of the benefits of having the farm is that the wealth of knowledge and experience available to us through the people who work on the farm everyday. For example, this weekend I learned that Annie, who lives on the farm with her daughter, has tried to improve the health and nutrition of our herd. She explained that typically we have tried to get all the lambs out as soon as possible in the spring so they can eat the sweet fresh grass leaves. However, in her opinion this is the worst we could do especially for our new lambs. She says that sheep have a very sensitive digestion. So if you take a lamb that has only ever eaten grain and hay and expose them to the fiber of new grass, they are sure to have diarrhea. Above that, if you leave the lambs out 24hrs a day, then they are susceptible to parasites. The best time to have the lambs eat the grass is once the dew has evaporated from the grass blades, and to bring them in before sunset so that they don't ingest the little bugs and worms that come up during the night when it is cool and moist. We then supplement their diet with hay and oats so that the transition is gradual. Last year, the lambs were exposed to this diet regime and the difference in their health was remarkable.
Another health booster Annie says is to have a goat in your sheep herd. Apparently goats are disease sinks - they will attract all illness but their immunity is so strong that they will not be affected. It's like growing the tomatoes after the garlic! The natural systems work in interesting ways.
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