All great things have small beginnings Peter Senge I like this quote. When we begin raising sheep or something else, we do not start out grand. Wal-Mart started with one store and grew into a giant retail. Likewise, you begin being a sheep farmer with the first sheep you purchase. Do not despise small beginnings,…… Continue reading Great Things
Author: amtolle
Celebrate
Photo by rovenimages.com on Pexels.com Have you ever asked yourself these questions: “How do I feel about being a sheep farmer?” I like being a sheep farmer. I get self-fulfillment being a sheep farmer. I look forward to the different times of lambing. I do have a hard time selling some of my old ewes…… Continue reading Celebrate
Marketing Strategy
Every sheep farm needs a marketing strategy. As a sheep farmer what are your dreams and goals for your sheep farm? Do you enjoy the breed of sheep you are raising? What I mean by enjoy the breed of sheep you are raising, the products your sheep produce, do you use them? or are you…… Continue reading Marketing Strategy
Culling Lambs
I am getting ready to wean my spring lambs. During this weaning I will be looking at individual lambs to sort into three groups: registered sheep, commercial sheep, and market or cull sheep. Before I begin the process I review the Dorper Sheep Breed Standard. Since my plan is to improve my Dorper herd to…… Continue reading Culling Lambs
Reaction Unexpected
Photo by David Hablu00fctzel on Pexels.com As a sheep farmer we work outside daily. There are different hazards we face, some large such as working around farm machinery or handling an aggressive ram. There are also small hazards we do not think about until we are injured, cut from fence wire, hitting our finger with…… Continue reading Reaction Unexpected
Culling Producing Sheep
To make a profit as a sheep farmer, and the goal is to make a profit, the sheep farmer needs to keep the expenses low and the income high. In a previous post I wrote on why I cull ewes for not producing lambs. I cull old ewes, ones that are still producing but have…… Continue reading Culling Producing Sheep
When to Cull Ewes
Why would someone want to cull a ewe? Ewes produce lambs, and lambs sell for money. Sheep farmers want to make money from the sheep. My number one reason to cull a ewe, she does not produce lambs. I have sheep to make money. I loss money when I feed a ewe and there are…… Continue reading When to Cull Ewes
Adjustments
Sheep grazing on my pasture 2019 Prior to the beginning of a year, I make a business plan for the sheep business. This business plan includes the starting number of sheep and a goal for how many sheep I would want to have at the end of the year. Included is projected income and expenses…… Continue reading Adjustments
Summertime Shepherd
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com In a previous post I talked about high summertime temperatures affecting sheep. Those same temperatures affect the shepherd. Shepherds need to take care of themselves during the high temperatures of the season. A friend advised me one summer, “If the shepherd is sick, the sheep will soon be sick also.”…… Continue reading Summertime Shepherd
Sheep and the Heat
Summer brings the sunshine, green grass and heat. In the summer, any work done with the sheep I do early. I do not like working my sheep when the temperatures reach 90 degrees fahrenheit. The reason, sheep heat stress. A few things I do to help with heat stress are simple and not expensive. I…… Continue reading Sheep and the Heat
Granny's Homestead 