Being There Pays
"Big"
Doris and James Goettle
Donnybrook
Twinning helps to some degree but being there when a ewe drops a lamb...that's when you save your lambs. "Being there with a ewe can decrease lamb losses by 20 to 30 percent. And the number of lambs dropped depends largely on fall flushing. Twins are determined mainly by condition at breeding, not how ewes are fed all winter."
That's the belief of James and Doris Goettle, Donnybrook. They were named one of North Dakota's Master Sheep Producers at the annual meeting of the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association. The Goettles keep from 200 to 250 head of Columbia ewes and market feeder lambs. Jim likes the hardiness of the breed, their gentleness (they don't crawl fences), the average of 10 to 11 pounds of wool ... and the fact that Doris also likes Columbias.
Doris has always been an active part of the operation, but never more so than this fall when Jim decided to do some "cowboyin"' from the rear end of a pickup. The result of his brother driving across some plowed ground was that Jim was flipped over the tailgate and not only cracked a rib but "tore heck out of a knee." (He was looking forward to the annual meeting in Mandan because he was supposed to be out of a cast and off crutches by that time. He vows next time he will use a horse to catch a calf.)
But back to the sheep business. The Goettles must be doing something right. Their weaning percentage has been as high as 184 percent but averages from 140 to 160 percent. Strong believers in a ewe's condition at breeding as a basis for success, the Goettles flush ewes on new pasture and stubble ground. In the spring there's plenty of alfalfa or prairie hay and pasture. First cutting alfalfa is fed during the winter usually on a clean side hill after big bales have been through a shredder. This helps keep hay out of fleece. Highest quality second cutting of alfalfa is used during lambing. Ewes that need a little help to milk well get up to one pound of oats per ewe. Ewe lambs get some grain to help them cycle and breed since the Goettle's lambs usually arrive in April. Ewe lambs tend to be slow to cycle.
The Goettles use five registered Columbia rams on 170 ewes and three rams on 90 ewe lambs, keeping the two groups separate. Lambs from ewe lambs are usually sold and replacements kept from older ewes' lambs based largely on whether the lambs were twins or triplets, and on mothering ability. The Goettles keep records on performance and multiple births based on ear tags. Based on records, a ewe may be culled before the usual six years. Jim says they're in for twins but more can be a bother. The extra one of triplets can be grafted onto a ewe with a single lamb, but it means being there when lambing occurs. The Goettles haven't had a "bum" lamb in over three years.
Either Jim or Doris--sometimes both--live in the heated room in the lambing barn, a ventilated metal shell with water available and a capacity for 120 lambing jugs. The lambing barn also has a perimeter rack for feeding second cutting alfalfa in small square bales. Ewes are kept for up to a day and a half before moving to another barn in small groups of 10 to 20 ewes and lambs. Docking is done at four to five days with an electric tail docker. Castration is done with rubber bands. The secret to success with bands is applying them early, says Jim.
Doris' training as a registered nurse comes in handy at lambing time. She finds an NG (nasal gastric) tube an ideal way to get colostrum into lambs that are hesitant about nursing. And with smaller hands than Jim's, she can straighten out a lamb and ease its birth. One reason for not keeping more than 200 to 250 ewes and ewe lambs is that calving takes place at about the same time as lambing. The whole family can be involved in either lambing or calving, either directly or babysitting younger members of the family. A portable telephone system links the house with the lambing and calving barn. The three oldest Goettle children--Shane, 14, Jolene, 12 and Elaine, 8--are members of the Mountrail Mavericks 4-H Club with sheep and other projects. Doris and Jim are leaders. Justin, 3 and Wyatt, 1 year round out Doris' and Jim's helpers.
The Goettle flock had its start in 4-H. Jim's father kept the flock together while Jim was in Vietnam. After service and while building the flock, coyotes weren't too bad but when 1080 went, coyotes increased and losses mounted. The Goettles tried boomer guns and other tactics without success before getting a Great Pyrenees pup in 1978. Even at $300, the dog paid for himself in the lambs saved the first year. The three dogs now used keep coyotes away as well as other dogs.
Except for blinding snowstorms, sheep stay outside when in full fleece. Ewes are sheared about three weeks before lambing. At this time tick powder is applied, and shots are given for white muscle disease and overeating. Before going to pasture in the spring and also in the fall, ewes get shots for worms. Shots for hoof rot are given as needed.
The Goettles market feeder lambs at 90 to 100 pounds through a livestock ring. The North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association has discussed--but has taken no action--on a marketing system for ewes and lambs. Wool is marketed through the Tri-County Wool Pool of which Jim is a director. He is also a member of the Mountrail County Agricultural Improvement Association, American Legion, VFW, North Dakota Stockman's Association, St. Anthony Church Council and Knights of Columbus.
Sponsors of the North Dakota Master Sheep Producers award are the North Dakota Cooperative Extension Service, North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, Bowman Wool and Livestock, Hettinger Ram Sale and the North Dakota Sheep Testing Program.
Backing into the Sheep
Business
Robert and Mary Amundson
Larimore
Before attending college, sheep were something Bob Amundson of Larimore had to judge in 4-H Club work.
Today, 10 years after a "liberal education" in sheep formally ended, Bob and Mary Amundson were named North Dakota Master Sheep Producers by the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association in its annual meeting in Mandan.
Three years after enrolling at North Dakota State University, Bob's 4-H project money--purebred Angus--ran out. A fraternity brother had worked at the sheep barn so Bob applied and got the job, stayed two years and showed sheep, fed the University flock and handled lambing. He then held the shepherd's position for seven years before returning to Larimore and getting into the sheep business.
Like many young farm families today, both Bob and Mary have part-time jobs. "But when it comes to sheep, it's a full-time job for both of us and a 50-50 proposition," says Amundson.
Right now the purebred ewe flock numbers 140 with 120 Suffolk and 20 Rambouillet. The Amundsons are trying to disperse the Rambouillet to avoid the hassle of two sets of records. They especially like the milking ability of Suffolks along with their aggressiveness and popularity.
One of the things Bob learned at NDSU was the necessity of shearing before ewes started lambing. It helps get rid of wet pens and lambs find their mothers faster. The Amundsons shear 30 to 60 days before lambing and house the ewes in insulated or double walled barns. Lambing starts about mid-January because early lambs do better in the show ring. Amundson figures he could increase his respectable lambing percentage--148 percent--another 30 to 60 percent by lambing later but showing is an important phase of advertising.
The Amundsons use a lean-to on an existing barn as their drop barn. This is kept at 30 to 32 degrees F to avoid problems with bacteria and respiratory problems. After birth, lambs and ewes stay 24 to 48 hours in jugs then are moved to pens in the barn where 10 ewes and their lambs are grouped. Then later no more than 20 ewes and lambs are put into groups.
Unclaimed lambs have not been a problem, mainly because of what Amundson calls the management center. A heated room with a bed--and a window--allows the occupant to see what's happening. Ewes are checked every two hours 24 hours every day during the lambing period. When a ewe can't handle two lambs at birth, Amundson uses milk goats for two to three days and then back to the ewe with no mothering problems.
With the high value of a purebred flock, the Amundsons don't use pasture to any great extent except fall stubble grazing when someone is present to watch. They recall one example when ewes were in a pasture when someone opened the gate and the flock was located three miles from home. Talk about anxiety!
But even in drylot, coyotes and dogs, especially dogs can be a problem. The Amundson farm is located less than 10 miles from the Grand Forks Air Base where everyone apparently feels they "have to have a dog." Many run in packs. "A coyote will kill a lamb and go, but a dog will mangle 30 or 40," says Amundson. "Two-legged predators" also have been a problem with market lambs, gasoline and tools disappearing in the area. Coyotes are being caught by predator control agents but are being replaced by others about as quickly as caught, Amundson believes.
He thinks the answer to predator problems--of whatever nature--lies in guard dogs. The Amundsons now have a breeding pair of Okbash guard dogs which are even larger than Great Pyrenees. A year-old Okbash measures 30 inches at the shoulders and doesn't mature until three years old. The breed resembles a Labrador but is about 30 percent larger. The Okbash stays with the flock and nothing comes through his domain. The Okbash is "easy going" but aggressive when challenged. The breed comes from Turkey originally. Amundson feels the new breed will "catch on" as a guard dog. He has orders already.
Amundson admits "I don't like to put any more needle holes in a lamb than I have to." Several years ago a problem with white muscle disease arose and he used the standard vaccination of selenium, Vitamin E and the like. He has since started feeding selenium, minerals and vitamins and cut white muscle disease down to zero.
Presently, the Amundsons worm three times a year and vaccinate for chlamydia, vibrio, soremouth, blackleg and overeating. Although it's too early to tell, he thinks balancing a ration with trace elements may lick enzootic abortion. They would like to see necessary elements combined in feed rather than so many injections.
The Amundsons believe that nutrition is almost as important, if not an equal factor, as twinning ability in selecting of purebred stock. They base their selection on gainability rather than twinning ability.
The Amundsons prefer feeding chopped alfalfa hay. Barley or corn is fed in lactating season and flushing. Wheat screenings may be used at other times if needed. Lambs are fed barley, corn and-or a commercial custom-made feed. All alfalfa is home grown. The Amundsons put up about 300 tons and feed about one-third and sell the rest. Ewes have a select quality of hay.
The Amundsons market their sheep through a production sale, North Dakota Ram and Ewe Sale, Midwest, Newell and private sales.
Amundson serves on the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association, the Minnesota Sheep Production board, North Dakota Suffolk Association board, is chairman of Wheatfield township and past president of Our Savior Lutheran Church.
He sums up the Amundson sheep experience with this: "I feel you can do better with any job if it is in priority and sheep are our main business. We treat it as such, not as one of many jobs."
Sponsors of the North Dakota Master Sheep Producers award are the North Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service, North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, Bowman Wool and Livestock, Hettinger Ram Sale and North Dakota Sheep Testing Program.