A sheep blanket is put over the animal’s back to keep them clean at sales or auctions, it also helps to keep hay and leaves out of high-value fleeces, and it keeps the animal warm during cold weather.
Put the neck through and the hind legs through the loops. Pull the rope around the neck tight until comfortable. Tighten by attaching with a stapler after the material is gathered or take a clip and place it under the material. Put a castration ring over the clip and pull until tight. for example, from shoulders to neck or just in front of the rump.
Sheep blanket.
Advantages of Sheep Blankets:
- The shearing period can be any time of the year and wool will be clean.
- Protects newly shorn sheep against cold and will reduce the number of deaths.
- Limits heat loss when cold. Therefore, the loss of energy is reduced.
- Better usage of fodder. Therefore, increases meat- and wool production.
- Animals retain good condition throughout the year.
A. Wool
- No weathering due to sun and rain.
- Staple length may be longer.
- All wool is classed into one line:
- Backs.
- Fleece.
- Breech.
- Higher production of quality lines means more income.
- Grass seed contamination is reduced. Seed is restricted to the underlines; thus the fleece is free of seeds.
B. Meat
Not damaged by seeds penetrating the skin. Skins of mutton sheep are not damaged by seed and will sell for a higher price.
C. External Parasites
- No blow-fly attacks.
- No production loss.
- No reproduction loss.
- No fleece rot in wet conditions.
There are several advantages of using sheep blankets, especially on wool sheep. It increases income by 30%+ (higher meat and wool production and price). Deaths are limited, meaning more income.
D. Predators
It acts as a deterrent and limits loss due to predator attacks.
E. Feeding Pens
Blankets keep animals dry which means better growth can take place. Wetness, wind and cold are kept out. Wet conditions decrease weight gain. Good nutrition will increase wool growth. Can shear animals just before slaughter. Wool covers all the feeding costs. Clean yield improves by 10% and more. Less deaths because animals remain dry and fewer lung problems occur.
Disadvantages of Sheep Blankets
- Costs can be fairly high.
- Management to keep blankets from tearing.
- Fences, kraals and places where blankets are hooked may damage them.
Other Uses
A. Angora
- Decreases and limits deaths after shearing.
- Penning (Kraaling) goats after shearing is not required.
- Hair production is higher because of no waste of energy.
- Provided blankets are put on tightly, goats will not be snared in “noors” grazing. This will later be proven by trials.
B. Calves
- Great value can be gained by the milk industry.
- A blanket is put on a calf after birth, so it does not get cold in the calf pen.
- It helps to prevent calves from getting pneumonia.
- Weight gains are higher.
- The percentage of deaths is reduced and the replacement % is higher.
- Profitability is increased.
C. Boer Goats
Good results were obtained when embryos were flushed because the animals did not get cold and energy levels remained constant.