Sheep
Anatolian Shepherd Dog: Guardian of the Livestock
Need a good guardian for livestock? You might consider the Anatolian Shepherd dog. The breed originated in the Anatolia area of the nation of Turkey, hence the name, and is still used in Turkey’s and western Asia’s rural areas as a defender of livestock.
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The Dorper Sheep: A Hardy Adaptable Breed
Would you like to raise Dorper sheep, one of the fastest growing breeds in the United States and many other countries? There is good reason for the popularity of the Dorper sheep breed.
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Try Suffolk Sheep for Meat and Wool on the Farm
Suffolk sheep were first recognized in 1797 in sheep breed books. Since 1888, the Suffolk sheep have traveled to new continents and become a staple of American and Canadian sheep farms.
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What to Feed Sheep for Prime Wool Production
A large part of raising wool animals is knowing what to feed sheep in order to obtain good quality wool. Feeding choices will vary from place to place.
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Adding New Dogs Into an Existing Livestock Guardian Dog Pack
Many operators incorrectly start their LGD experience by purchasing, training, and using just one dog at a time. They usually find out sooner than later, they should have bought two dogs or more to start. To be used successfully as guardians of livestock, LGDs should be run in pairs or more.
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Pink Eye in Sheep: Treat or Let it Run its Course?
During show season, pink eye in sheep can be a common livestock issue. Small ruminants easily transmit pink eye from one animal to the next.
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Accidental Shetland Sheep Farmers
I became what I term as an accidental Shetland sheep farmer. Why do I say that? Well, sheep were not something we had considered for our small homestead.
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Dead Ram Walking: Treating Sick Sheep Symptoms
One day the ram was walking around and looking totally healthy — the next day he was just standing under a tree with his head hanging down. I approached him, hoping he’d lift his head and move away from me, but he didn’t.
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Soay Sheep: Hardy, Low-Maintenance, and Eco-Friendly
Soay sheep are the hardiest miniature sheep breed from St. Kilda, Scotland. Their light weight and self-sufficiency make them ideal for land management and homesteading, plus you don’t have to shear them!
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Using a Stanchion to Feed a Rejected Lamb
Add to Favorites By Carol Elkins When a ewe rejects her newborn lamb, there are several things that you can do to “persuade” her to change her mind before you …
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Avoid Lambing Problems with This First Aid Contents Checklist
Most of the time when you have lambing problems or experience a sheep illness emergency, the vet and local livestock supply stores are closed for the weekend, and sheep farm and ranch specialties dealers are days away by mail.
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Barbados Blackbelly Sheep: Back From the Brink of Extinction
In 2004, there were fewer than 100 Barbados Blackbelly sheep in the U.S.
It took a while for breeders to realize how critical the situation was: Most of us thought there were thousands of these sheep.
Shed or Pasture Lambing
The muffled, deep Maaa of a ewe “talking” to her newborn lambs reaches my ears before I open the barn door. Newborn lambs nursing, tails whirling, makes walking to the barn on frigid mornings worthwhile.
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Lambing Problems Can Arise From Abnormal Birth Positions
Add to Favorites By Lyn Brown, Shear Perfection Ranch – Lambing is always an exciting time on the ranch, but it can also be a scary time for the first-time shepherd. …
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Sheep Giving Birth: Tips for Successful Lambing
Over the past 12 lambing seasons, the main thing the sheep giving birth has taught me is that every season will bring a new lesson. I’ll never forget meeting a seasoned shepherd with 50 years of lambing behind him who told me that he still learns something new every year.
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