Sheepy Hollow Farm

Sheepy Hollow Farm Local farmstead raising a small flock of Shetland sheep. On site shop. Fiber artist/gardener.

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06/04/2026

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The Importance of Not Using the Same Needle for Injections in Sheep

Using a clean, sharp needle for each sheep is an important part of proper livestock management and animal health. Reusing the same needle on multiple animals can spread disease, increase the risk of infection, and cause unnecessary pain and tissue damage.

One of the biggest concerns with reusing needles is the transmission of bacteria, viruses, and blood-borne diseases between animals. Even healthy-looking sheep may carry infections that can be passed through contaminated needles. A fresh needle helps reduce the risk of spreading illness throughout the flock.

Needle reuse can also lead to abscesses and injection-site infections. Once a needle has been used, it becomes dull and may carry dirt, manure, blood, or bacteria. Injecting another animal with the same needle can introduce contaminants beneath the skin, leading to swelling, soreness, and infection. These abscesses can reduce the value of the animal and may require treatment.

Animal welfare is another important reason to change needles regularly. A sharp needle causes less pain and tissue trauma than a dull one. Reused needles bend and dull quickly, making injections more stressful for the sheep and harder for the handler to administer properly.

Broken needles are another serious risk. Repeated use weakens the needle, increasing the chance it could break during an injection. A broken needle inside an animal can create major health and safety problems and may require veterinary intervention.

Good injection practices help protect flock health, improve meat and wool quality, and support responsible animal care. Recommended best practices include:
• Using a new sterile needle whenever possible
• Changing needles frequently, especially if they become bent, dull, or contaminated
• Keeping injection equipment clean and properly stored
• Using the correct needle size and injection technique for sheep

Proper needle management is a simple but essential step in maintaining healthy sheep and preventing avoidable health problems within the flock.
Reni McNabb Melvin

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05/31/2026

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Calling all small & midsize wool mill owners/operators: ASI is using a short survey to update the Small & Midsize Mill Directory and help guide future support for mills. This directory is heavily used by producers and customers to find mill services, so keeping your listing accurate matters.

If you receive the survey, please take a few minutes to respond.

Check out the current directory here:
sheepusa.org/contacts/wool-pelt/small-midsize-mills

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05/30/2026

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In a surprising twist for regenerative medicine, the secret to healing broken bones might be found in your sweater. 🐑🦴
Scientists at King’s College London have successfully developed a bone-healing material made entirely from sheep wool. The breakthrough centers on keratin, the structural protein in wool, hair, and nails, which was used to create a scaffold that tricks the body into rebuilding bone tissue.
In recent animal and laboratory trials, this wool-derived material didn't just support bone growth; it produced tissue that more closely resembled healthy, natural bone than any current synthetic or collagen-based alternative. Because wool is naturally renewable and often discarded as waste by the farming industry, this provides a cheap, sustainable, and high-performance source for future medical implants and surgeries.
The most mind-blowing part? The body gradually absorbs the wool scaffold as the real bone takes its place, leaving no foreign hardware behind. This discovery marks a massive leap for orthopedic surgery, offering a future where complex fractures can be "knit" back together using the same biological building blocks as a sheep's coat.
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News Source:
Science Daily – "Scientists turn sheep wool into a bone-healing material in a major medical breakthrough" (May 22, 2026)
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04/12/2026

EDUCATIONAL TIPS FOR FARMERS. NEW EDITION of "Foot Rot vs. Foot Scald in Sheep and Goats"

Link: https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/educational-tips-for-farmers-foot-rot-versus-foot-scald-sheep-and-goats?fbclid=IwRlRTSARG2utleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEehCqzfEyM6P3vAzqjHBQhkH87RXbz6VK0jsxwrvfbEuIvsqFcoftYQ642_5c_aem_Rc66678C2Jn49nO_TgyFug

By: Ryen Greer, Veterinary student at TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY; Kenisha Gordon, PhD Graduate from Mississippi State University Animal & Dairy Sciences; Derris Burnett, Tuskegee University; Leyla Rios, Assistant Professor, Animal and Dairy Sciences; and Michael Pesato, DVM, Four State Veterinary Services. Photos used with permission from Purdue University.

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University Extension Service

MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine

MSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

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04/09/2026

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EDUCATIONAL TIPS FOR FARMERS. NEW EDITION of "Foot Rot vs. Foot Scald in Sheep and Goats"

Link: https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/educational-tips-for-farmers-foot-rot-versus-foot-scald-sheep-and-goats?fbclid=IwRlRTSARG2utleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEehCqzfEyM6P3vAzqjHBQhkH87RXbz6VK0jsxwrvfbEuIvsqFcoftYQ642_5c_aem_Rc66678C2Jn49nO_TgyFug

By: Ryen Greer, Veterinary student at TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY; Kenisha Gordon, PhD Graduate from Mississippi State University Animal & Dairy Sciences; Derris Burnett, Tuskegee University; Leyla Rios, Assistant Professor, Animal and Dairy Sciences; and Michael Pesato, DVM, Four State Veterinary Services. Photos used with permission from Purdue University.

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University Extension Service

MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine

MSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Address

73910 C**n Creek Road
Armada, MI
48005

Telephone

(586) 784-8328

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