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
Category: Sheep Farming
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
Weaning, Lambing, Breeding
I have a busy month ahead. This week I am weaning the spring lambs. They have access to creep feed, are with their mothers on pasture during the day. This week I am weaning them as the youngest is twelve weeks. I have been weaning at eight weeks, but decided to try and wean at…… Continue reading Weaning, Lambing, Breeding
Singles, Twins, Triplets
Lambs are the lifeblood of raising sheep for profit. One determining factor in staying in business raising sheep is the number of lambs born at each lambing. Raising sheep for market lambs, wool or milk require lambs to be born in order to replace and improve breeding ewes and rams. Sheep farmers like myself who…… Continue reading Singles, Twins, Triplets
Evaluation
I recently join a face book group of fellow Dorper sheep raisers who want to concentrate on raising sheep that meet the South African Dorper standards or in essence the Dorper standards. The group is to educate sheep farmers new to the Dorper breed of what the standards look like on the live sheep, more…… Continue reading Evaluation
Let’s Talk Weather
Photo by Greg on Pexels.com When you did not know what topic to have a conversation with someone about, you choose to talk about the weather. Weather changes daily, is non-political, non-religious and non other things. Weather is a safe topic of conversation. As a sheep farmer, or any person in agriculture, weather plays a…… Continue reading Let’s Talk Weather
Start Where You Are, Don’t Forget Where You Came From
Dorper Ram, sold for $12,800 at Mid-American Dorper Sale, April 2022 My husband and I attended the Mid-American Dorper Show and Sale this past weekend. We walked through the pens looking at Dorper sheep. Seeing traits we would like to have in our flock, and some we did not. Attending the show and sale encourages…… Continue reading Start Where You Are, Don’t Forget Where You Came From
Granny's Homestead 