sheep-breeds
Dairy Sheep – Consider Icelandic Sheep
What struck me right away when my first Icelandic sheep lambed were the similarities that these sheep had with dairy goats. I had a commercial goat dairy in years past and these ewe lamb mothers had udders that would be respectable for a good milking dairy goat.
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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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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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5 Critical Sheep Breeds for the Homestead
Raised for their hides, meat, milk, and wool, sheep are versatile. In addition to providing a local source of food and fiber, small flock owners are looking to support livestock conservation by venturing into raising rare sheep breeds.
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Hair Sheep Breeds – The Right Choice for You?
Hair sheep breeds are growing in popularity as consumers look for economical ways to raise homestead meat animals. Hair breeds have many positive traits that make them an ideal animal for small farms, homesteads, and of course, larger commercial farms. If you have space to corral a few sheep, you can fill the freezer with a healthy alternative to beef and chicken.
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Finnsheep are the Perfect Fiber Animals
Add to Favorites By Mary O’Malley, Honeysuckle Farm johnandmaryomalley@yahoo.com An ancient variety, Finnsheep are both meat- and wool-yielding animals. Finnish sheep characteristics have been bred for thousands of years. Stentorp—the farm …
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Raising Sheep for Meat – Flavor-Based Success
Add to Favorites By Alan Harman – Raising sheep for meat that are from the “land of fire and ice,” Barb Gunness’ flock of Icelandic sheep are right at home …
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Wool Knowledge is Power
Add to Favorites By Virginia Scholomiti Except Where Noted, Photos Courtesy of www.shepherdstalk.com Small niche markets for wool are not only well established but growing. This factor can be a …
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Filling Fiber Artists’ Palettes
Add to Favorites By Virginia Scholomiti www.shepherdstalk.com In looking for materials for their next creation, fiber artists and craftsmen seek to purchase raw fleeces to use “as is,” or to …
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Wrap-Around Flock Success — Everything But The Baa!
Add to Favorites See more great stories in the January-February 2017 issue of sheep! magazine. By Jacqueline Harp – At the 2016 OkFiberFest in Okanogan, Washington, there was a vendor booth …
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Trials In Croppy Country, Getting Into The Game
Add to Favorites Originally published in the September/October 2016 issue of sheep! magazine. By Julia Hollister The overflow crowd at the high school football field grew silent as the participants …
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Cherishing the Natural Beauty of Icelandic Sheep
Add to Favorites By Marguerite Chisick – We discovered that Icelandic sheep were our ticket to a more sustainable way of life! It is not uncommon for people who are living …
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All About Romney Sheep
Add to Favorites By Suzan Shearin, Tennessee – Originating in the Romney Marshes of England, they were called, appropriately, Romney Marsh sheep. If you watch public television perhaps you’ve seen Romney …
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Inborn Worm Resistance In Lambs: How To Breed For It
Add to Favorites Originally published in the July/August 2016 issue of sheep! magazine. By Tim King – “Parasite resistance in Katahdin hair sheep can be improved by selective breeding. That improved …
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Sheep Breeds That Pay Their Way
Add to Favorites By Alan Harman – Karen Valley’s flock of 21 sheep, consisting of two sheep breeds (Shetland and colored Cormo cross ewes), tend to stay close to home …
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