All serious sheep producers will have goals for the flock. Flock goals will determine how the flockmaster selects breeding rams. Breeding rams can be selected from among lambs or obtained from outside the flock. Irrespective of other attributes, all breeding rams should be selected to maximize growth rate, thriftiness, and breeding drive. These attributes are associated, and tend to be a package. Rams with less drive for breeding are often smaller, less dominant, and less fe

In the quest for self-sufficiency, most of us recognize the value of growing our own food and we plant gardens and raise livestock for food. But, next to food and a roof over our head, clothing ranks pretty high as a clear necessity! If you are someone who loves fiber crafts, such as knitting, crochet or weaving, don't overlook adding fiber animals to your homestead. Even if you don't have the necessary skills now, a beginning homesteader can learn how to knit socks and mitte

Sometimes people question the need to shear sheep at all. Isn't it more humane to leave them be? A proper answer to the question begins with a little history. Sheep began to be domesticated about 12, 000 years ago when ancient farmers in Mesopotamia tamed the original wild Mouflon. Over the millennia, different breeds have been developed as people have tried to maximize traits they have seen to be positive and desirable and minimize those traits felt to be less so. Primitive

There could be any number of reasons why you may have missed getting the sheep sheared earlier this year. Perhaps there wasn't a good time, no extra money, or the sheep shearer just didn't call you back. Whatever the reason, as the season begins to cool, you might be thinking that you're too late and maybe you'll just wait til next year and try to get it done earlier. I'm hoping to convince you otherwise. It isn't too late. The longer you wait the more this year's fleece weat

Late spring is the hardest nutritional time of year for sheep. Even though it is a little warmer, there is still little nutrition on the landscape. Plants from last year are bleached of nutrients and this year's growth is yet in its earliest stages. High elevation landscapes are still cold, windy and dry, further retarding new plant growth. This leaves our sheep still relying heavily on stored nutrients and stored energy from last year. The situation for the ewes is further c