Sheep

Hello Folks, This week I wanted to share a bit about the importance of livestock on the farm. In an earlier post I mentioned that our farm took an unexpected turn this spring with the addition of two Jacob sheep that were purchased as locker lambs (purposed for meat). Through these two fellows I have come to love sheep! I have used them extensively for weed control all over the property and their waste is happily decomposing and making the green grass grow. The grazing nature of sheep is the one characteristic that tipped the scales in favor or sheep versus goats. Goats require additional purchased feed from the feed store meaning more financial out put and time spent driving to the feed store. Sheep with great pasture require little to nothing else! The back breaking, time consuming labor they have spared me from does not go unnoticed! They are a quiet bunch that requires a bit of room for grazing, additional hay if good pasture is not available, fresh water and I offer a mineral block with no copper in it. I have a small barn for sheltering them out of the elements but I am told a simple three sided structure with a roof would suffice. This is the most basic of care but mind you but they will only be staying on the farm short while.

If you think sheep might be something you would like to pursue I recommend trying locker lambs first. The cost of locker lambs is usually less than that of the breeding stock and the short nature of their stay means that if you find for some reason sheep are not for you there is no long term commitment. If, as I have, you fall in love with sheep and want to have a flock they are a crafters dream. You can harvest the wool, dye it, spin it and use it in so many ways. Buttons can be made from the horns. There are a few different felting techniques that produce lovely scarves, hats, purses and so much more. I can’t forget to mention weaving!! I witnessed some of the most beautiful weaving projects this summer at an event sponsored by the Jacob Sheep Breeders Association. The event was actually the associations Annual General Meeting, held this year in beautiful Dexter, Oregon. A wonderful gathering of folks who all share a like passion and love for the heritage Jacob Sheep breed. I took away a wealth of information from this gathering and some new friends as well.

I did not just wake up one morning and say lets get sheep. I read several books and researched the breeds on the internet. A few of my favorite books… Natural Sheep Care by Pat Coleby, Fertility Pastures, now back in print, by Newman Turner and Jacob Sheep In America by Ingrid Painter. I was lucky enough to find two farms within a days drive to purchase lambs from: Mud Ranch Jacobs in California and Kenleigh Acres in Oregon. I choose the Jacob breed because it is a heritage breed and because of the diverse individuality of the sheep, no two look alike. Jacobs have spots often causing them to be mistaken for goats and they also come with amazing horn sets, some two horn others have four. Their personalities are as diverse as their color patterns and horns.

How it works, lambing, when the babies are born, usually starts in January and finishes by mid to late March.  Then you get to pour over piles of pictures on the various farm websites and make you selection. You then have to wait until the lambs are weaned to pick them up, about three to four months. One thing to keep in mind if you choose to purchase lambs outside of your home state there may be regulations to follow in bringing livestock across state lines and health certificates from a vet may also be necessary to comply with state law.

The sheep have been a wonderful addition to my farm in so many ways, I am thankful.  Think SHEEP

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