Sheep on thier backs!

[blindswelledrat]

Someone (who I don't believe) claimed that if a sheep falls flat on thier back they can't get up in the same way that a turtle can't because, and I quote, 'thier backs are so flat'.
According to this PH regular this is why farmers only graze sheep on slopes (and presumably Welsh farmers only graze them on the flat )
Anyone clarify this?

[speedychrissie]

my housemate is a trainee vet and she just said that a sheep can get up if it is on its back.

hope this helps
chris

[Yugguy]

This is where the term 'rigg-welted' comes from, which also refers to what could well be the finest ale known to manm or sheep.

[Carrera2]

The vets wrong - they can't.

Thats why you must keep sheep on hills.










I think.

[puggit]

Sheep are kept on hills because hills aren't much use for other types of farming!

Also hills tend to drain well, so less occurance of foot rot!

[blindswelledrat]

Yugguy said:

This is where the term 'rigg-welted' comes from, which also refers to what could well be the finest ale known to manm or sheep.

Ah- so obvious. 'Rig-welted' and 'Immobile sheep'. How did I miss the connection?

[Carrera2]

Have a look at www.savethesheep.com/animals.asp#top

Quite quite brutal those Aussies.

Still, it's only a sheep I guess.



I do care really - in fact I'm blubbing like a hurt baby reading this.

[anonymous-user]

Carrera2 said:

The vets wrong - they can't. Thats why you must keep sheep on hills. I think.

Like all those levels at Romney, Sheppey and much of the Medway and Thames estuaries that are covered with sheep?

[YarisSi]

I used to help sheppard out and he told me if I ever saw any of his sheep on there backs to wander over to them at which point they normally panic enought to fall to the side. If not give them a push to right them. I can't remember seeing it.

Don't know where people are getting graze only on slopes - is it some kind of uber joke I'm not getting.

[Carrera2]

sharm said:

Carrera2 said: The vets wrong - they can't. Thats why you must keep sheep on hills. I think. Like all those levels at Romney, Sheppey and much of the Medway and Thames estuaries that are covered with sheep?

Those are special sheep. If you look you'll notice that the legs on the left hand side are a bit shorter.

They're called flatland modified sheep.

[blindswelledrat]

[anonymous-user]

[quote=Carrera2
They're called flatland modified sheep.[/quote]

Often abbreviated to "chav"!

[Coco H]

They do get stuck sometimes on their back if are expecting lambs. You turn them over.

[chassis 33]

It's cows who can't get off their backs, the practice of "Cow Tipping" causes much amusement after several jug fulls of ale...


...so I'm told.

Regards
Iain

[dj111s]

blindswelledrat said:

Someone (who I don't believe) claimed that if a sheep falls flat on thier back they can't get up in the same way that a turtle can't because, and I quote, 'thier backs are so flat'. According to this PH regular this is why farmers only graze sheep on slopes (and presumably Welsh farmers only graze them on the flat ) Anyone clarify this?

This is correct, for pregnant sheep only. There is a risk they can fall and not get back up hence dying and losing the unbron lamb as well.

[dj111s]

chassis 33 said:

It's cows who can't get off their backs, the practice of "Cow Tipping" causes much amusement after several jug fulls of ale... ...so I'm told. Regards Iain

And that is wrong. The bit about them not being able to get up that is - not the bit about the entertainment associated with knocking them over.

[love machine]

Generally pregnant or bigger breeds and getting wet (rain) doesn't help either. I found one once out walking and crows had pecked its eyes out whilst it was still alive. Farmer shot it.

Let's face it, they are a crap design