Our Sheep careSimply Natural Organic farm, home of coloured sheepie, is an organic property using Permaculture, Organic and Biodynamic management practices. The pastures and our coloured sheep are managed using organic natural practices. The soil is nurtured and balanced by using pH correcting minerals, rock minerals and certified organic fertilisers. The pastures are clean, we hand weed. We use rotational grazing, having several small paddocks, where paddocks are rested for regrowth and clearing of parasites. We do receive winter frosts therefore we stock to the winter stocking rate. Pastures are over sown (on current vegetation) with winter herb and grass seed. Our sheep are supplementary fed daily certified organic mineral licks in their shed and certified organic salt lick blocks in the pasture. Weekly they are supplementary fed a mixture of chaff and rolled grains with seaweed, vitamins and megamin minerals. Our coloured sheep are fed by hand fresh herbs and vegies from the vegetable gardens. During the winter months when they are strip grazing the orchards they browse on fresh herbs, their favourites being French sorrel, chickory, dandelion, parsley, borage and endive. Extra plantings of kale are done in the vegetable gardens to offer the ewes and their lambs, healthy kale throughout winter and spring. The ewes before lambing (2 weeks before) are fed daily and 3 days before lambing,...until lambing, they have certified organic apple cider vinegar to assist with lambing and the release of after birth. After lambing the ewes and their lambs receive daily supplementary feeding. This means the ewes and the lambs are getting the best nutrition for health and growth. The ewes are also growing and maintaining health, quality fleeces. All our supplementary feeding and pasture management is about good, healthy ruminant functioning. This fosters the best fleece growing conditions. Our organic pasture are alive with biological life, fostering billions upon billions of microbial activity. As our sheep graze they are grazing over benefical microbial activity, another aid to healthy sheep, healthy wool production. Monthly our sheep are wormed using natural remedies and herbs in their supplementary feed. This is for the prevention of both internal and external parasites. Every 3 months our sheep are drenched with a homeopathic, specific to this farm, again for internal parasite control. We are in a high fly and tick zone. For Fly prevention (we have never had a problem) We hand crutch all our sheep as needed, approximately 2x per year. Ewes are crutched again 2 weeks before lambing. For ticks we hand groom their heads and under arms in tick season, yet our sheep paddocks are free of ticks, but it never hurts to be cautious. Our sheep having lustrous long wool and the diets they are on, have never had ticks on them. Healthy soil, Healthy pastures, Healthy sheep. Choosing good genetics in your breeding is important. Our sheep are visited daily and because it is a small stud flock they are treated like royalty. We love our sheep dearly so they are cared for in the best way. All paddocks are well fenced with the main aim to keep wild dogs, dingos and foxes out. All paddocks have shelter belts. Shade is a must for sheep. All paddocks have a comfortable night house in them for night sleeping or protection from the elements. Our coloured sheepie love to be hand fed, love pats, scratches and cuddles. Yes! They are sheared every year at the end of August. They could grow two fleeces per year on this property and in this climate, especially the wethers... yet we only have breeders in our flock, so one shearing is enough. |
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