Countryside Sheep

01/24/2022

Being prepared is a good feeling - here's a list of what you need in your lambing first aid kit.

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.

01/10/2022

What can be more suitable for the homestead than hardy, self-sufficient, naturally molting sheep? What can be more striking than a herd of graceful, deer-like ewes and rams with magnificent curling horns? Soay sheep are all of these things, and more … their unique nature makes them perfect for ecology management, low-input farming, and toughing out the harshest climates.

Soay sheep are the hardiest miniature sheep breed from St. Kilda, Scotland: self-sufficient browsers you don't have to shear.

01/03/2022

Inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva of the eye is the telltale sign of pink eye in sheep. This highly contagious bacteria is more common in spring and summer but can occur at any time of the year. Here's how to recognize, treat, and prevent pinkeye.

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.

11/08/2021

Choosing a sheep breed for your farm/homestead should start with your primary purpose in mind. Are you raising sheep for wool fiber, lambs, milk, and eventually, meat? Do you want sheep to fulfill multiple purposes? Here are the characteristics of a dozen breeds to help you choose.

Choosing from all the sheep breeds should start with your primary purpose in mind. Are you looking for sheep breeds for fiber, meat or dairy?

11/03/2021

Bluefaced Leicesters are a gentle giant of a dual-purpose breed that provides substantial, tasty lamb and gorgeous, much-sought-after hand spinning fleece.

In the world of sheep, “BFL” is the common nickname for the Bluefaced Leicester, and it might as well be interpreted as “Best Flock for Life,” because of the wonderful characteristics of this breed of sheep.

10/25/2021

Thinking about shearing your sheep instead of hiring someone to do the job? Author Janet Garman - Timber Creek Farm outlines the process plus tools you'll need, and how to clean the fleeces when you are done.

Learning how to shear a sheep takes practice and time. Before you head out to buy sheep shearing supplies try to observe a professional sheep shearer and ask questions.

10/22/2021

A geep — goat-sheep hybrid — is so rare that one hits the news about once every 10 years. Most suspected geeps, once tested, prove to be just goats or sheep with odd features. But Spring Rose, a DNA verified geep, is alive and well in Kentucky.

Here is her story:
https://backyardgoats.iamcountryside.com/goat-breeds/geep-goat-sheep-hybrid/

10/20/2021

Once raised in large numbers, most Romeldale CVM flocks now average less than 30. Fewer than 500 new sheep are registered each year. These numbers have earned the breed “Critical” status on the Conservation Priority List managed by The Livestock Conservancy. Romeldales have a high rate of twinning, are excellent mothers, and are non-seasonal breeders.

In 1915, A.T. Spencer purchased New Zealand Romney rams from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (the 1915 World’s Fair) in San Francisco. The prized rams could not be returned to New Zealand, and A.T. Spencer seized an opportunity.

10/11/2021

How smart are sheep? Researchers studying sheep behavior and intelligence have uncovered considerable social and survival skills that govern their desire to stick together. With this knowledge, we can see sheep following each other from another perspective—not mindlessly tagging along, but the product of social preferences in a world where the group gives mutual support.

How smart are sheep, actually? Most people consider sheep stupid. But research has revealed considerable sheep intelligence and social skills.

09/29/2021

What does a bloated sheep look like? Unfortunately it often looks like a dead sheep but sheep bloat can also look like "cast" — when a sheep ends up on its back and cannot "right" itself. Author Laurie Ball-Gisch shares how to prevent bloat with proper flock management.

The question brought back some nightmarish images to my mind from the first time I saw sheep bloat.

09/20/2021

Hair sheep breeds are growing in popularity as consumers look for economical ways to raise homestead meat animals. Author Janet Garman - Timber Creek Farm shares breed history and some of the positive traits that make them an ideal animal for small farms and homesteads.

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 ca...

09/14/2021

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. Author Kenny Coogan shares 5 unique breeds to consider for your farm/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.