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!
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 …
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 »
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 …
If you’re to achieve and maintain a healthy flock, your sheep need specific amounts of energy, vitamins, energy, minerals, water, and fiber. Ensuring that the nutritional requirements of your flock are satisfied can be done in a number of different ways. Just like human beings and some other species, sheep’s dietary requirements can be satisfied …
Sheep Nutrition Guide: Sheep Feed Requirements Per Day Read More »
Attending one of these sheep events can be a great way to connect with breeders, enroll in workshops to gain knowledge, or just a great weekend with your kids. We hope you’ll find this list of sheep events and wool festivals to be a useful resource and a great way to learn about some of our favorite …
One of the joys of raising sheep is the farm-to-table tradition of cooking lamb. On this page I’ll share the basics of how to cook lamb, including the main cuts of lamb you can order from your butcher, herbs and spices that complement the unique flavors of lamb, and the ideal internal temperature for lamb …
A sheep’s only defense against predators is to run. That’s one of the main reasons they have a keen flocking instinct (the more sheep they surround themselves with, the less likely it is that they will be eaten). About a quarter million sheep and lambs are killed by predators in the United States each year. …
What Eats Sheep? (sheep predators & predator control) Read More »
If you’ve ever asked yourself “What is a wether?” the answer is pretty simple: a wether is a male sheep castrated before sexual maturity. The term wether is also used to describe a castrated goat and on farms which breed club lambs (lambs bred for shows which emphasize carcass quality), the female sheep which are …
Many people wonder about the name of a female sheep, and are surprised to discover that there are several commonly used names a female sheep is called. Your sheep’s age and the role she plays on the farm are both factors which help to determine what your female sheep should be called.