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 […]
When to Separate Ram Lambs from Ewes Read More »
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
The History of Wool Read More »
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
What is Merino Wool? (and why it’s so special) Read More »
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?
What is Worsted Weight Yarn? Read More »
If you’re new to farming, you may be wondering what is the difference between hay and silage? While both products are generally made from grass and are used for feeding sheep and other livestock, there are key differences in preparation, storage, ease of digestion, and nutritional value which you must understand and remember when comparing
Hay vs Silage Comparison (what are the differences?) Read More »
Sheep are ideal livestock animals to keep in a homestead because of their gentle nature. They are relatively easy to handle compared to other farm animals like cows, chickens, and even goats. Sheep can also easily adapt to most climates and can live even with minimal shelter. However, raising sheep on your property still requires
How to Be a Good Neighbor While Raising Sheep Read More »
Did you know that sheep are notoriously picky eater? These woolly creatures need different kinds of hay than other farm animals, like horses or cows. Sheep prefer nutritious hay with more leaf than stalk. In this article, we’ll go over what hay is, how it’s made, and how to choose the best hay for sheep
What is the Best Hay for Sheep? Read More »
Sheep are ruminants, meaning they have a ruminant digestive system and process the foods they eat in a unique way. If you have sheep (or plan on getting a flock in the future), you will need to understand the way their digestive system works. Let’s take a close look at a sheep’s digestive system and
The Ruminant Digestive System (explained in plain English) Read More »