I am new at sheep keeping. So new, in fact, that I don't even have any yet. I am preparing my barn and pasture for the sheep when they come in the spring. I had heard from sheep farmers that I should not let the sheep get anywhere near Rhodedendrons or Azaleas, and to make sure that my pasture blend seed does not contain any red clover. I was also told to be sure that the water I give them does not contain any copper. My water doesn't have any copper but it does contain iron. Is this harmful to sheep? What else should I keep away from my sheep? What if they eat my roses or lavender? Will they be okay? Tina Karlova

-- Tina Karlova (bkarlova@hotmail.com), November 27, 2000

Answers

Most livestock won't eat poisonous plants unless they are forced to by their not having anything else to eat.

Two good books are The Sheep Raiser's Manual by William K. Kruesi and Raising Sheep the Modern Way by Paula Simmons.

Kruesi makes reference to: Poisonous Plants of the Midwest and Their Effects on Livestock by Robert Evers and Roger Link. Special Publication 24, College of Agriculture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 165 pp. with color illustrations.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), November 28, 2000.

KEN IS right about most animals basically figure out for themselves what to eat. As for the red clover, I think this is only dangerous if they eat too much of it when it is wet. They can get really bloated.

-- kelly (kellytree@hotmail.com), November 28, 2000.

I contacted our County Extension Office a while ago to ask the same thing. I took in a few samples of suspicious weeds. They called back after teaming up the Livestock advisor and the Gardening advisor for a conference. They left me a list via phone message. Since plants vary regionally, it might be a good idea to get a local list. Also good idea to keep them away from any landscape plants (as you suggest: Rhodies, Azaleas, etc) as decorative stuff is often toxic. But unless they are very hungry, sheep usually eat non-poisonous forage.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), November 28, 2000.

One thing that is deadly is WILTED black cherry leaves. And your sheep WILL eat them. If you have wild cherry, be sure you do not cut some for firewood and leave the tops where they will be accessible. Rhubarb leaves are poisonous too, but I've never known anything to try eating them. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), December 04, 2000.