Buzz
Sheep, commonly kept as livestock on farms, are grazing mammals. They serve various purposes such as providing meat, wool, and milk. Typically, sheep live for 6 to 14 years, but with proper care, they can thrive for up to 20 years. Adaptable to various climates, sheep are found worldwide. With over 200 breeds, each thrives under specific conditions. When purchasing sheep, ensure the breed suits your geography and living conditions. It's essential to understand how to care for sheep.
Essential Steps
Creating the Perfect Environment
Provide adequate shelter year-round. Sheep require shelter that shields them from all weather conditions throughout the year, including sun, wind, and rain. While a barn is ideal, a three-sided structure suffices.
- A barn with stalls allows for separating sick or pregnant sheep from the rest of the flock.
- An outdoor shaded area offers relief during warm weather, ensuring sheep have a cool spot to graze. This could be an overhang off the barn or a cluster of trees.
Provide straw bedding for the sheep. The amount of bedding should be adjusted based on the time sheep spend in their shelter. In colder climates, opt for a thick layer of hay to ensure cleanliness and warmth.
- Avoid using sawdust for wool sheep to prevent damage to their wool.
- Some prefer pine shavings due to their absorbency, although they may cling to the sheep's coat, making shearing more challenging.
- Periodically sprinkle PDZ in each stall and under the outdoor overhang to neutralize urine odor.
Ensure your pasture can support the selected number of sheep. Sheep typically graze for about 7 hours daily, with estimates suggesting around 10 sheep per acre. This number may vary based on factors like sheep size, pasture condition, and management practices.
- Pasture size requirements depend on factors such as local conditions, climate, maintenance, vegetation type, and rainfall. For instance, arid regions may require larger pasture areas to sustain adequate grass growth.
EXPERT TIP
Liz Riffle
Regenerative Farming & Agriculture Specialist
Regenerative Farming & Agriculture Specialist
Control parasites by rotating livestock to new pastures every 6 days. Understanding parasite life cycles is crucial for livestock care. Moving animals to fresh pastures every 6 days prevents parasite hatching and reinfestation. To break the cycle, avoid returning animals to the same pasture for 3 weeks. This natural rotation method reduces reliance on strong medications.
Promote airflow. Use fans and keep shelter doors open, especially in hot climates or summers. Ensure consistent airflow year-round to cool the shelter on hot days and deter flies from the sheep.
- Fans and open doors maintain shelter ventilation and repel flies.
Install fencing. Secure fencing is vital for sheep containment and predator deterrence. A 5-foot (1.5 m) fence confines sheep, while taller fences keep predators out.
- Use portable panels to isolate sick sheep, particularly when using stalls, to prevent spreading illness.
- Consider electrifying the fence to deter predators. However, sheep's thick coats may reduce the effectiveness against containment.
Feeding Your Sheep
Offer pasture or hay as primary diet components. Sheep naturally graze on pasture plants like grass and clover. If the pasture remains lush year-round, supplementary feeding may not be necessary.
- The hay requirement depends on its quality, pasture utilization, sheep condition, and grain intake. A general estimate for hay feeding is about 3.5% of body weight daily.
- Hay is dried and baled forage, often grass or legumes like alfalfa or clover. Later cuttings typically offer higher feed quality.
- Although alfalfa and clover hays are more nutritious, they're pricier and not essential for sheep nutrition.
- Avoid clover varieties containing estrogen-like compounds if breeding ewes, as they may act as birth control.
Avoid excessive grain feeding. Sheep diets should be monitored for copper levels, as most grain mixes contain excessive copper, which can be harmful. Opt for sheep-specific grain mixes when necessary.
- Overfeeding grain can lead to bloating and potential fatalities, so use caution.
- Consider basic corn/soy/oats mixes or specially formulated sheep/goat chow for supplementation, especially for young, lactating, or elderly sheep.
- Prefer goat or cow mixes over horse mixes if sheep-specific options are unavailable to avoid copper issues.
Properly store feed. Hay must be kept dry, away from moisture and ground contact. Damp hay can be salvaged for bedding, but prevent sheep from consuming moldy hay. Store grain in sealed metal containers to deter rodent damage.
Ensure salt access. Sheep require salt for essential minerals, but choose formulations designed for goats to manage copper intake. While salt blocks are convenient, loose mineral salt offers affordability and can be placed in shelter feeders.
Provide clean, accessible water. Sheep need clean water daily, especially in hot weather, to prevent dehydration. Consider using automatic waterers for convenience, ensuring they are cleaned weekly.
Keeping Your Sheep Healthy
Maintain proper hoof care. Ensure your sheep have dry surfaces to walk on to prevent foot rot. Regularly trim their hooves to avoid overgrowth and infection. Address foot rot promptly if it occurs by separating infected sheep and applying antiseptic agents.
Shear your sheep regularly. Consider shearing at least once a year, or twice for those with longer fleeces. Shearing before warm weather can prevent overheating, while avoiding shearing in cold weather prevents health issues. Prepare sheep for shearing by keeping them off pasture beforehand.
Implement preventative healthcare measures. Perform tasks such as crutching and dagging to maintain cleanliness and prevent issues like flystrike. These steps help keep your sheep healthy and reduce the risk of infections.
Monitor overall health. Stay vigilant for signs of illness or unusual behavior in your sheep. Check for symptoms like nasal discharge or diarrhea, and inspect their coat regularly for external parasites. Promptly address any health concerns to prevent spreading to the flock.
De-worm your sheep as needed. Regularly check stool samples for worms and administer appropriate dewormers as recommended by your veterinarian. Rotate between different types of dewormers for optimal effectiveness, and consult with your vet to determine the best course of action.
Useful Tips
- Don't stress about eliminating all poisonous plants from your pasture. Sheep usually avoid them unless there's no other food available. Ensure they have ample grazing material.
- Consider having a livestock guardian like a dog, llama, or donkey. These animals can help deter common predators such as wild dogs and coyotes.
- Offer free-choice baking soda in your sheep shelter. This provides relief for any sheep with an upset stomach.
Important Warnings
- Depending on the size of your flock, it's advisable to have more than one sheepdog. Coyotes may distract the first dog, allowing another to sneak up on the sheep.
