The Baaaaasics of Raising Sheep

Image Gallery Consider raising sheep for a more self-sufficient homestead. LINDA KLOOSTERHOF

Do your plans for increased self-sufficiency include the addition of a small flock of sheep for fresh, wholesome milk, heart-healthy meat and warm wool for fabrics? Great idea! They’re a fantastic, multipurpose animal. If you’re wondering how to get started, we’re here to help. We asked Sarah Hoffmann of Green Dirt Farm to discuss the baaaaasics of raising sheep.

What is the most important consideration to address when determining if sheep are right for you and your lifestyle? 

I think it’s a toss-up between whether you have the facilities to support sheep production, and whether you have the time.

How much time are we talking about? 

You will need to manage grazing, attend to their water and minerals daily (though automatic waterers can free up some time), organize breeding, provide routine treatments and arrange for shearing (if you have wool sheep).

What do they need in terms of facilities? 

A good fence is a must, though these do not need to be permanent fences — you can use portable electrified netting for grazing (a good source for this is Premier1Supplies). For sheep management (such as vaccinations, treatments, loading for transportation, sorting, separating and lambing), two stout, permanently fenced paddocks are very helpful.

And shelter? 

If you time lambing to occur in late April or May, you will not need a barn. But if you lamb earlier in the year and you live in a cold climate you will need a draft-free barn to provide shelter for the lambs during the first 12 to 72 hours after birth (and for the shepherd, who may be called upon to assist for a small percentage of the births). A rough guide for how much pasture is required is 1 acre per every four ewes and their lambs. 

Some great resources to assist you in breeding, lambing and caring for growing lambs include the Maryland Small Ruminant Web site, Sheep and Goat Medicine by D.G. Pugh, and Managing Your Ewe and Her Newborn Lambs and Lamb Problems: Detecting, Diagnosing, Treating by Laura Lawson. 

Which breeds are best for milking? Which for meat? Which for wool? 

The traditional European dairy breeds are the east freisian, and Lacaune. They are considered the best sheep for milk production in the United States. There are a number of other dairy sheep that are not found in the United States, such as the awassi, the assaf and the British milk sheep. Many sheep dairy producers in the United States are milking other breeds that are cross-bred with the east freisian and Lacaune, especially the Dorset, Tunis and polypay. Some individuals have described good success milking Icelandic sheep.