Eco ferme

Elevage d'animaux de ferme et compagnie, Breeder of livestock and pets in France


 

  • Fencing the best fencing for sheep is 1-1.20m high sheep netting, with 1 or 2 strands of barbed wire on top ( mainly to stop people hopping over the fence). An Electric fence can be used but some sheep will run at the fence knowing that there wool will act as an isolator. Best to used a woven fence or stands of barbed wire the other side of the posts, to stop them running at it. Once use to the electric fence, this can be an affective way.
  • Goats, Angora goat will keep in the same type fences as sheep will, but not electric meshing for angoras they will keep pushing, rather than back out the meshing when getting a shock. For Pygmy's electric fences work well, 1 metre high with 4 strands or electric meshing. Also sheep netting but best to back it up with a strand of electric at nose hight, to stop them pushing on the fence. Milking goats, an electric fence 1.30 high with 4 strands, electric meshing or netting 1.30/1.40 with a strand of electric. Also tethering works well.

  • Shelter: a three sided shed will suffice, with the option of putting a barrier across the front. so as - to call them in with some corn, making catching them easier, for worming ect..

  • Feeding Sheep eat grass, Goats prefer brambles, leaves , weeds, although angoras like grass. Both need hay when there's lack of food plus when the grass is lush/wet. Fresh water should always be available. Salt and mineral licks are a good idea. They probably don't need cereals but its a good idea to give them Wheat or barley, just a handful or so, a day, to keep them running to you, when you call them. Animals in milk and weanling's may need feeding some cereals, to keep there weight on. Avoid giving them too much sweet corn as it can make them too fat, causing prolapse uterus in ewes. Big sheep & goats, depending on the grass, can be stocked at 7-10 sheep per hectare, Pygmy's and ouessants twice as many.

Ouessant sheep

  The ouessant sheep originates from the ile d'ouessant. 
It is the smallest naturally occurring sheep in the world- around 46-49cm at the withers and weighing 12 -19kg. The most common colour is black, but they can also be brown, grey and white. They give birth to a single lamb following a gestation of 5 months , twins are rare. The lambs are quick maturing being weaned at 3/4 month.  Most spring lambs will give birth the following spring.
Quessants are a rustic breed, being happy to stay out all year.  They are often used as a companion animal and for keeping lawns short. . We use there wool for spinning into garments.
Other uses: like all sheep- meat & skin

 

 

                                         

Farm sheep

 Lamb - Eco ferme copyright  'all rights reserved'We have a small flock of Suffolk, texel & Charolais sheep They live outside all year. Feeding on chemical free natural meadow grass, whole grains & spring water.
We selectively breed our flock for hardiness and twin births and nice wool.

They keep us in meat for the table, for all the year .
We tan their skins, into soft sheep skin rugs.
We also spin there fleece into a variety of garments and for roof insulation.

Our Sheep Flock -  Eco ferme copyright  'all rights reserved'

Angora Goats


Angora goats are a very beautiful and docile breed. They grow a luxury fiber called mohair. They are sheared twice a year, in march/April and again in September, giving 1.5 -3kg of mohair per shearing.



Pygmy goats and mini

   

This breed is very small, 43-50cm at the withers & weighs 9 -20kg.

They are born with a variety of coat colors having long & smooth hair. Bred as family pets and for clearing woodland bottoms. 

Milking Goats

We breed a mixture of races , alpine /saanen/poitevine & pygmy crosses.Tulip -  Eco ferme copyright  'all rights reserved'

They are bred for their milk production, allowing us to transform it into soft cheese. They are a excellent choice for clearing the forest of brambles and other plants that pose a problem on entering the forest.
The chevron is used for its low fat meat.






Elvis working poitvin billy  -  Eco ferme copyright  'all rights reserved'
Elvis