For Beginners

Sheep Farming For Beginners

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Sheep farming can be a rewarding venture for beginners, but success depends on proper planning and preparation. Start by assessing your land and pasture quality. It’s recommended to stock no more than two ewes per acre until you gain experience and confidence in managing your flock. Gradually increase your numbers once you’re comfortable[1].

Prepare your pasture by improving existing grasses through inexpensive measures like frost seeding legumes, rather than replanting entirely. If you must reseed, consider a mix such as late-heading orchard grass combined with a long-lived legume like white clover for optimal grazing[1].

Fencing is a significant initial investment. High-tensile woven wire is the best perimeter fence to keep sheep in and predators out, but plain high-tensile wire offers a more affordable, albeit less secure, option[1]. Corrals, hurdle panels, and gates help with handling sheep for routine care or sorting[8].

Investing in essential equipment makes farm management easier and safer. Beginners should have the following:

  • Feeders and waterers: Automatic or well-designed feeding and watering systems reduce waste, promote flock health, and save time. Don’t let sheep eat off the ground to avoid feed spoilage and disease. Ensure all sheep can access feeders, and provide free-choice mineral mixes designed specifically for sheep[2][6].
  • Handling equipment: Head bails, squeeze chutes, and sorting pens are vital to safely manage, treat, and sort sheep. Well-planned handling facilities can make health care and shearing much easier[2][8].
  • Shearing equipment: Proper shearing tools are essential; invest in reliable clippers or shearing machines for flock welfare and wool quality[2].
  • Hayracks and troughs: These are useful for feeding hay and grain. Ring hay feeders work well for large bales, while galvanized hayracks are suitable for smaller quantities and individual sheep. Ensure feeding areas are portable and easy to clean[4].
  • Hurdles and portable pens: Durable galvanized hurdles allow you to confine, sort, or isolate sheep when necessary. Mesh-bottomed types are especially good for lambing pens[4].

It’s also critical to develop relationships with a knowledgeable veterinarian and experienced sheep keepers. Mentorship and practical on-farm experience are invaluable, particularly for lambing. Reading books and watching instructional videos can help, but nothing replaces firsthand learning[5].

For shelter, sheep are hardy animals and often do well with simple, three-sided pasture shelters. However, more secure housing may be needed during lambing or extreme weather[7].

References

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