Saturday, August 25, 2012

Treating Sciatica With Sheep Tail

Treating Sciatica with Sheep Tail
Miracle in the Hadiths
(Saying of Prophet Muhammad)

In traditions of Ibn Majah as reported from Anas Ibn Malek the prophet (PBUH) said: "The cure of sciatica is the fat tail of a desert sheep molten and split into three parts. Each part taken on an empty stomach for three following days".

The Desert sheep live on natural herbs very rich in the omega 3 fats from which scientists have extracted 700+ medicines. The beneficial oils the sheep absorbed from the herbs are mostly stored in the tail fat.

The prophet (PHUB) said that the fat from the tail should be melted first, and so the harmful bacteria and germs are killed by the heat. It should be taken in three days, not more, to avoid fat oxidation and rancidity. It should be taken on an empty stomach, so that no other lipids compete with the lipids of the tail for absorption in the digestive tract at the vesicule and pancreas level, in addition to the cellular level where enzymes acting at the membrane convert those lipids of the omega 3 group to the beneficial type 3 prostaglandin that reduces inflammation and pain caused by Sciatica.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

History of Fat Tail Sheep

The fat-tailed sheep is a general type of domestic sheep known for their distinctive large tail and hindquarters. Fat-tail sheep breeds comprise about 25% of the world sheep population. These sheep are most commonly found in Northern parts of Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan, North India, Western China and Central Asia.

The earliest record of this sheep variety is found in ancient Uruk (3000 BC) and Ur (2400 BC) on stone vessels and mosaics. Another early reference is found in the Bible (Leviticus 3:9) where a sacrificial offering is described which includes the fat tail of sheep.

These beautiful animals were specifically bred for the unique quality of the fat stored in the tail area. The fat, called Allyah was used extensively in medieval Arab and Persian cooking. Sheep tail fat is still used in cooking today although there is a reported decline with other oils increasing in popularity and ease of purchase.

Fat tailed sheep are very hardy and adaptable, able to withstand tough challenges of desert life. When feed is plentiful and parasites at bay, fat-tail sheep can be massive in size and growth. The carcass quality of these sheep is quite good with most of the fat concentrated in the tail area. The fat can account for 10lbs of weight on a 60lb carcass.

The most common fat-tailed breed in the US is the Karakul. There is a growing market in the US for these sheep as the ethnic population is the fastest growing sector of sheep consumers in North America.

Have a blessed day!

Andy Karras
Karras Farm
andy@karrasfarm.com
http://eastfriesiansheep.com/
http://awassisheep.com/


Friday, July 13, 2012

Dairy Sheep - Early Lambing or Late Lambing?

There are some advantages / disadvantages for both early and late lambing so we thought we would share some of our experiences on both.

Early Lambing:

  1. There are fewer parasites on the grass pasture due to the colder temperatures.
  2. Ewe lambs born early are more apt to breed as lambs.
  3. The earlier they are born the sooner you're able to place lambs at their new homes.
  4. Lambs will be ready to graze the fresh spring grass.
  5. Very few fly problems in the winter. 
Late Lambing:

  1. Ewe will require sheering prior to lambing which can be stressful.
  2. Lambs tolerate the cool weather better. Typically lambs born in a hot environment will not develop as quickly.
  3. Less grain is required  for late lambing.
  4. Ewe and Ram lambs will not reach breeding maturity until the following spring.

At Karras Farm, we have found that lambing in February has the best all around benefits. By May the lambs are at their new homes and we prevent some of the negative side effects that late lambing can promote. We believe that early maturity is key to prolific lambs.

Please stay in touch and feel free to leave comments with your experiences.

Sincerely,

Andy Karras

Karras Farm
karrasfarm@gmail.com
http://eastfriesiansheep.com/
http://awassisheep.com/




Saturday, June 2, 2012

Benefits of Sheep Milk

Three fat soluble vitamins are found among the so-called fats. The vitamins A, D and E are incorporated in the fats and are easily absorbed by humans. The absence of these crucial vitamins in humans can lead to serious illness or even death. Sheep milk contains a higher concentration of these vitamins when compared to other dairy animals like cows and goats. A higher quantity of medium short chain saturated fatty acids in sheep milk is believed to promote higher lactose absorption which can benefit humans with lactose intolerance. Furthermore, sheep milk is not as high in saturated fatty acid when compared to other types of dairy milk. Forty five percent of fatty acids in sheep milk are Mono or Poly-Saturated fats.

There are scientifically proven benefits and nutritional value of medium chain fatty acids or triglycerides (MCT). Benefits have been studied in a variety of diseases like heart disease, epilepsy in children, cystic fibrosis, gall stones and others due to its unique metabolic ability to supply energy. MCT also limits or inhibits cholesterol deposits; it dissolves cholesterol gall stones and plays an important role in normal development of babies. MCT is unique because it doesn't follow the normal lipid route through the lymph system. It instead goes where it is oxidized into fast available energy for the body. The unique content of approximately 25% MCT in the fat of sheep milk is not yet fully utilized. The daily recommended intake of 15g MTC can be provided by roughly 60grams of sheep butter.

At Karras Farm we drink the milk of our East Friesian dairy sheep and have come to prefer it over cow’s milk.

God Bless~
Andy Karras

Karras Farm
karrasfarm@gmail.com
http://eastfriesiansheep.com/
http://awassisheep.com/


Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Life Expectancy of Sheep

The life expectancy of sheep is similar to a large dog breed of about ten to twelve years. Some sheep breeds are known to have a longer life cycle such as the Merino. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest sheep lived to be 23yrs. She was a Merino however; the length of a sheeps productive cycle is much shorter. A ewes offspring production is highest between three and six years of age and usually starts to decline after age seven. As a result, most ewes are removed from our flock prior to reaching their natural life expectancy. It is necessary to remove the older ewes in order to make room for the younger animals. As we mature our genetic line of sheep we must provide an adequate environment for the younger sheep to thrive. In harder environments, where forage is sparse, ewes are usually culled at an even younger age due to tooth ware and break down.  It can become difficult for sheep in these conditions to maintain proper body condition and consume enough forage to feed their lambs. It is possible for a ewe to be productive past ten years of age and stay healthy but this is typically the exception to a natural sheep life cycle.

Hope all your lambs are happy and healthy!

Sincerely,

Andy Karras
Karras Farm
karrasfarm@gmail.com
http://eastfriesiansheep.com/
http://awassisheep.com/

Friday, April 6, 2012

White Muscle Sickness In Lambs

White Muscle Sickness in lambs is caused by insufficient selenium in the soil and thus in the feed of the ewe. The Selenium deficiency combined with a low level of vitamin E can compound the issue. When the soil is deficient, the grazing hay is also deficient on these nutrients. Hay from known locations of inadequate Selenium shouldn't be fed to ewes after the third month of pregnancy or during lactation unless well supplemented by whole grain wheat and mineral salt containing Selenium. At Karras Farm, we give BO-SE injections three to four weeks prior to lambing. We dose BO-SE & Covexin 8 at the same time. Covexin 8 immunizes against Tetanus and Enterotoxemia as well.

Good quality hay, feed and minerals = sheep in excellent health!

Have a super weekend~

Andy Karras
Karras Farm
karrasfarm@gmail.com
http://eastfriesiansheep.com/
http://awassisheep.com/