Appendix to Treecropper 51
RENNAISSANCE FOR THE SHROPSHIRE SHEEP BREED
By Lorne Kuehn
I have just returned from a visit to England where 1 attended the first-ever World Congress for the Shropshire Sheep Breeders' Association, held June 10 to 15, celebrating 125 years of the existence of the Shropshire sheep as a stud livestock animal. Shropshire sheep are the oldest studded sheep breed in the United Kingdom (and thereby the world).
The Congress Tour consisted of visits to eight farms throughout central England that specialize in Shropshire sheep. Visits were also made to an abattoir and a butcher shop that cater to this breed, as well as the Long Mynd mountain, near the Wales border, where this breed originated in selective breeding several hundred years ago. The tour ended with a visit to a traditional English agricultural show where the best Shropshire sheep were exhibited (with Prince Charles in attendance).
The various visits showcased the qualities of this sheep breed, including their ability to safely graze conservation grasslands and also conifer plantations. The sheep yield excellent carcase quality and are good mothers. The World Congress highlighted the return of this particular breed from near-extinction.
Shropshire sheep, a dual-purpose breed, were once one of the most abundant English sheep breeds over 100 years ago. Between 1900 and 1920, nearly 7000 rams were exported from England to all five continents where flocks were raised for quality lamb and wool. The popularity of the breed declined as a result of the restriction of exports due to the two world wars and several outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in England. About twenty years ago, the breed had shrunk to about 800 stud ewes world-wide, 200 in England, 200 in New Zealand, 200 in Australia, and 200 in the United States.
In the last two decades, the breed has experienced a resurgence in numbers to 13,000 stud ewes, with 3000 in England, 3000 in Denmark, and over 5000 in Austria and Germany. It is no longer considered a rare breed in these countries. So why has this turn-around occurred?
The answer ties in the realization that the Shropshire sheep are an eco-friendly animal. It has proved to be a safe grazer in conservation grasslands. More importantly, however, has been the realization that Shropshire ewes can safely graze conifer tree plantations without damage to the trees. The person who discovered and pioneered this application was Graham Allan, an Englishman now living in Denmark.
The Christmas tree market is a huge industry in Europe, The trees must be kept free of weeds and grasses during the first eight years of growth. Historically, weed control in these plantations was attained by labour-intensive mechanical cutting, cultivation (difficult on hilly ground), and chemical control (now restricted or banned in most of Europe). Shropshire ewes have turned out to be an environmentally-friendly alternative. The ewes have been proven to neither bite branches or peel tree bark. There are now trials underway to apply Shropshire sheep to fruit-tree orchards.
As with all sheep, good husbandry is essential Because of low wind movement in tree plantations, there is a risk of flystrike. So, although Shropshire sheep present a chemically-free mode of keeping tree plantations weed-free, they themselves require preventive means, often chemical, of avoiding flystrike.
The use of Shropshires for weed-control in Christmas Tree plantations
A description of the use of sheep in Denmark in environmentally-friendly weed-control.
By Graham Allan
In Denmark, the production of conifers for Christmas trees and Christmas decorations has developed into an important industry. These trees must be kept free from weeds and grasses during the first seven to eight years of life. Weeds will decrease the growth rate and quality of the plants in the following ways:
- They compete for light, water and plant nutrients especially on sandy soils.
- Coarse vegetation can cause physical damage, especially to the new buds, when the wind is blowing.
- The lowest circle of growth can die out because of lack of light.
- In the harvest period (late autumn) the trees can be polluted with seed hairs, for example rosebay and willowherb.
- The plant cover of the ground surface will insulate heat radiation from the ground and increase the risk of frost damage.
- They cause difficulties at harvest.
- They protect small rodents against their natural enemies. Small rodents can often begin to eat the bark, which has a high sugar content, when the ground is covered in snow.
Several different methods have been used to control weeds:
- Mechanical cutting of vegetation is labour-intensive, and there is risk of damage to the small trees.
- Cultivation of the ground between the trees is also labour-intensive, with a risk of damage.
- The use of herbicides is now restricted in Denmark. When using the "safe" herbicides a balance must be found between maximum effect on the weeds and minimal damage to the small trees.
In recent years there has been interest in finding alternative methods, and one of the most interesting and successful has been the use of sheep. However this method is the most difficult to manage and at the same time the most environmentally-friendly.
When is sheep-grazing the preferred method?
It is not wise to introduce sheep into a newly established plantation. I recommend the use of mechanical or chemical control for the first two seasons. Introducing sheep too early will still allow the weeds to develop sufficiently to become a threat to the newly planted trees.
The sheep are introduced in the spring, when there is sufficient grazing, but the shepherd must be prepared to remove them at any time if the trees are at risk. There is a high- risk period at about the end of May when the new shoots appear, and towards the end of the season (October/November) when the vegetation is poor. New shoots can easily be broken, but the risk is not so great if the flock is old and well established.
Choice of breeds.
The most suitable sheep for use in conifer plantations are the improved meat breeds. The first experiments in Denmark were carried out with Leicester sheep, later Shropshire, Dorset, Suffolk and Oxford Down have been used, with Shropshire as the dominating breed.
Christmas Tree Sheep
Shropshire sheep are consistently the most reliable breed for the job, and although you have
aquired a flock of these animals, there is more to the job than just putting them out in the
trees and leaving the rest to them. Careful breeding is important, with the aim of producing
sheep that do not bite trees. It is not enough to breed good lambs for the butcher, their
behavior in the plantation is just as important.
The following things are important when choosing suitable Shropshires for the job of grazing
in conifer plantations:
- The quality of a Christmas Tree Sheep lies in its ability to keep away from the trees.
- Even the best breeding stock do not come with a garantee that they will not nibble the trees.
- A good Christmas Tree Sheep can be ruined by a producer who has not taken the time to familiarise himself with the method.
- Our experience has shown that Christmas Tree Sheep can be found among the modern, improved meat-producing breeds: Shropshire, Leicester, Dorset, Oxford Down and Suffolk. Until now we have best experience with the use of Shropshires.
Introducing sheep to the plantation.
It is an advantage to only introduce a few identifiable animals at first and to carefully watch their behavour. Any problem sheep must be removed immediatly. It is important to avoid stressing the animals by moving them about too much - stress can result in them nibbling the trees. Experience has shown that there can be particular blood-lines that are more susceptable to stress and others that have a tendancy to nibble trees.
Examples of how the method can be used.
It is important to remember that there are no hard and fast rules for how early in the year that
sheep can be put out in the trees. This depends on the weather conditions and the degree of
vegetation growth. Shropshire ewes can already lamb in January and February, it is therefore
possible to wean the lambs in preparation for turning the ewes out into the trees.
The number of sheep per acre depends on the type of soil and the existing vegetation. There
are two types of grazing methods:
- permanent grazing with a small flock in the same plantation throughout the summer
- rotation of a larger flock with short periods of intensive grazing in several plantations.
The advantage of permanent grazing is that the animals get to know the plantation and the vegetation it has to offer. The disadvantage is that it takes a long time to keep an eye on the various plantations and it can be difficult for the sheep to keep the vegetation in control. Rotation is the preferred method. Four or five times as many sheep are used than in permanent grazing. The vegetation is eaten right down before the flock is moved to another plantation. From the sheeps' point of view this method is ideal as the vegetation is fresh and nutritious. It is also easier to adjust the amount of grazing in relation to the time of year and the variation in vegetation growth. The disadvantage is that the large flock of sheep pose a greater risk if things should go wrong, and it can be more difficult to identify a single "black" sheep.
These methods work best if only ewes are used. The advantage of Shropshire sheep is that they can have their lambs early in the year, and therefore only ewes need be used in the plantations. Later in the year ewe-lambs can be used in conjuntion with their mothers. Do not use ram-lambs in the trees.
Food Preferences.
Two things are important for a good result:
- The grazing sheep must eat weeds and not trees
- The weeds must be nutritious for the sheep to thrive.
Sheep cannot digest all plants equally effectively. So digestiblity is the most important factor when assessing the nutritional value of the vegetation. Sheep usually prefer the younger plants and the leaves rather then the stems.
The choice of vegetation depends on the sheep's previous experience. The shepherd can attempt to influence preference by introducing lambs to the plants and types of vegetation that he would like them to eat willingly later in life. The animals can also learn from each other. This is certainly true when applied to damage to the trees,but sheep can also learn from each other to eat the less digestible weeds.
It is important to remember that there is a great difference between a traditional forest floor and newly planted agricultural land. Sheep find the vegetation on agricultural land a great deal more attractive and therefore are most effective when grazing these areas.
It is important to observe the flock as there can be individual sheep which are interested in the trees. Young sheep are influenced by the dominant animals in the flock when selecting vegetation. A single individual can spoil the whole project if it has a high social status. Remove this "black sheep" as soon as possible. Lambs are clearly influenced by their mothers' eating preferences.
Planning a new area of conifers - with sheep in mind.
The following factors must be taken into consideration:
- Easy access so that the flock can be moved.
- Clear areas around the gates.
- Room for a handling pen and possible feeding facilities.
- Access to water.
- Roads and areas adjacent to fences can be sown with clover.
- Sheep in conifers must always have access to minerals.
- Water and minerals etc. should not be among the trees as damage can be caused by groups of sheep.
Adjacent grazing is an essential factor when planning a new plantation. It is extremely important that the sheep can be removed to a suitable field at a moments notice if problems arise.
Management of the flock
The shepherd must be particularly observant during the summer months, especially if the
flock is grazing in well-established plantations, because fly-strike can easily occur. The
problem manifests itself when sheep with dense wool are unable to dry out completely after
exposure to dew and rain. Therefore it is important that the sheep have access to an area that
is more exposed to the wind. The combination of forest grazing, shelter and high
temperatures give good conditions for fly strike. The shoulder area is the most susceptable. In
the first phase of an attack the sheep will try to bite the effected area. Later they will hide
themselves in the vegetation, and if no treatment is given they will soon die.
It is important that the sheep are healthy and in good condition and therefore it is necessary
that they always have access to minerals.
The sheep must be checked every day and moved immediatly if necessary. The flock must
have peace and quiet during the summer when the new shoots appear and are at their most
vulnerable. If the grazing sheep are young (ewe lambs) I like to move the flock to other
pastures during this period because of their adverse behaviour.
Rams must not graze in the trees unless they are with the ewes at tupping time, otherwise
they will nibble the trees and because of their typical male behaviour of rubbing their heads
against the trees. Newly weaned lambs must not be allowed alone in the plantation; wait a
few weeks until they have become calmer.
After Christmas, it is tempting to use the unsold trees as feed, but it is important that the
sheep are never fed any kind of conifer to discourage such imprinting, and of course trees
should never be plantet in fields where sheep are grazing.
Productivity The expected growth rate of lambs is normally very close to zero, or negative, on forest areas with acidic soils. On land that has been previously farmed and fertilized, the growth rate can be almost normal, depending on the stocking rate. If the owner of the sheep and the trees are not the same person there can be a conflict of interest. If the animals are forced to graze very intensively they will loose body weight and it will possibly influence the later productivity of the ewes. Therefore under unfavourable grazing conditions, the sheep farmers are paid for the effect of the grazing. Sheep grazing is environmentally friendly.
Shepherd or Forester? One of the main problems encountered when starting a project of this type is that the forester is rarely an expert in sheep husbandry. On the other side of the coin, the shepherd is rarely an expert in forestry. Therefore it is extremely important that all involved take time to go on relevant courses, read the available literature on the subject and learn from others' experience. Maybe the most successful projects involve team-work between a shepherd and a forester.