If you’re not a farmer or don’t live in a rural area, you probably use the terms “hay” and “straw” interchangeably. I know I hear people misuse these words all the time. Today I’ll compare hay vs straw so you understand the differences and can quickly tell one from the other. Let’s get started!
If you’ve never owned sheep before, budgeting for and buying a sheep can be a little overwhelming. Are you buying a market lamb for a child’s 4H project or investing in brood ewes to start a flock for a brand new sheep farm? Are you hoping to raise sheep for profit or as a pet? …
How Much Do Sheep Cost? (a guide to buying sheep) Read More »
Did you know that there are over a billion sheep worldwide? That’s just one of the 67 fascinating facts about sheep I’ve gathered together in this article filled with quirky and interesting sheep facts and trivia. Read on to find out all about these wonderful farm animals that have been living closely with humans for …
Domestic sheep (Ovis aries) is one of the most popular livestock animals in existence. These docile creatures were one of the earliest domesticated species in the world that were used for agricultural purposes. Sheep are bred for their wool, pelt, and for their meat and milk. But how long do sheep live? What is the …
Sheep mature quickly. Many new farmers wonder when to separate ram lambs from ewes to prevent accidental breeding. In this article, I will go over all the information you need to know on the subject, including when ram and ewe lambs reach sexual maturity, when ewes resume estrus after giving birth to their lambs, and …
Grass or pasture is the primary source of food and nutrients for ruminant mammals like sheep. Because of sheep’s unique digestive system, farmers need to ensure that their stock can safely graze while minimizing feed costs and damage to the pasture. This article covers the basics of pasture management for sheep farming. I’ll introduce you …
An Introduction to Pasture Management for Sheep Farms Read More »
Certain circumstances cause farmers to raise lambs on a bottle. Either the mother dies during labor and delivery, does not have sufficient milk, or a ewe may reject her lamb. In this article, we’ll go over how to raise healthy bottle lambs and discuss what good lamb milk replacers should provide nutritionally. We’ll also cover …
How to Raise Healthy Bottle Lambs (without losing sleep) Read More »
Wool clothing is in nearly every closet. Throughout history, people have sheared sheep for their wool. It’s used to create a veriety of fabrics and produce clothing, blankets, and other textiles. Humans have been using wool since the early days of agriculture, but how exactly did we figure out how to do this? The history …
Have you ever seen a sweater made out of Merino wool and wondered why it’s such a popular (and expensive) material? The answer lies in its superior quality and characteristics. In this article, I’ll explain what Merino wool is, where it’s from, and the unique qualities that make this type of sheep’s wool superior to …
There are many different kinds of yarn classified by their different characteristics, such as thickness and weight. So what is worsted weight yarn, and how does it fit in?