This section is on sheep, goats, and pigs. These are all questions that have been submitted or that I have been inspired to talk about because of a question submitted. If you have any topics that you would like to have discussed please feel free to email me with the topic or question.
Sheep today are raised to produce the maximum amount of offspring. So, yes it is normal for a ewe to have triplets -- not that common but normal. Most ewes have twins but occasionally triplets are born.
Yes, grain is good for them. It is very dense in calories and nutrients. But, you must remember what goats are made to eat. Goats like cows and any other herbivore for that matter are designed to eat primarily grass. Their stomach and intestine are adapted to digest the fibers and starches present in grasses. These fibers and starches are hard to digest and take special enzymes and bacteria to do so. When substances that are too easy to digest are consumed in excess, the proper functioning of the digestive tract is inhibited. Grain is the common culprit. Most goats love grain kind of like we love candy. The grain is easily digestible and results in the quick formation of large amounts of volatile fatty acids (one of the end results of fiber and starch digestion in herbivores). These fatty acids lower the pH of the stomach (make it more acidic) and the lower pH kills many of the normal bacteria. This sets the goat up for disease-causing bacteria to grow in the stomach. In addition the low pH of the stomach causes metabolic problems and electrolyte imbalances. Thus, grain is good for goats in moderation. Like most things, consumed in the proper amount it does not cause harm. But you must be careful not to overfeed grain and to make sure that grass or hay is the predominant part of the diet.
Great question and one I have wondered for a long time. I have searched for an answer and have found conflicting answers. One text simply calls it goat meat. Another calls is chevron. So you can pick which to call it. Sorry, I couldn't find a more specific answer.
There are several potential causes of twisted or malformed noses in pigs. Tramua at any stage in life with improper care and healing will cause a malformation of the snout. A large abscess on the snout from a puncture wound such as the bite of another pig in the early months of life will put pressure on the forming bones causing them to form improperly. The most likely cause of misshapen noses in pigs, however, is a disease called atrophic rhinits. In this disease, bacteria invade the nasal cavity of the pig and infect the fine, intricately curved turbinate bones in the cavity. These bacteria secrete a toxin that dissolves the bone and interferes with the cells called osteoblasts that try to replace the bone. Often one side of the nasal cavity is more affected than the other, giving the snout a curved, lopsided appearance. Usually, pigs do not die from this disease. This disease does, however, predispose the pig to respiratory infections for the rest of their life by destroying the turbinate bones which act as a filter for bacteria and dust.
I have researched and answered these questions to the best of my ability. But I am human and make mistakes. If there is any part of my answer that you feel is incorrect, please let me know. The last thing I want is to disseminate false or incorrect information.