Sheep

Our now large flock of Katahdin sheep graze the same pastures on the north end of our farm that are used by the broilers, the layers, and the cattle. The sheep are allowed to freely graze the north end of our farm but always stay at night within their electrified net wire fence.  This electrified fence (approx 1/4 acre) is moved approximately once a week so that the sheep will always have fresh clean grass each evening for grazing and bedding and that their manure and urine is not concentrated in one area for soil health.   

The sheep have two forms of predator protection.  First, they stay inside the electrified fence at night.  Secondly, our Livestock Guardian Dogs, Lulu, Bailey, & Jimmie Lee stay with them each night and keep an eye on them during the day when they’re not napping.            

The sheep graze many of the same plants as the cattle but they do have a slightly different diet than cattle preferring some weeds to grasses which is great for pasture weed management.  Additionally, sheep and cattle do not share the same parasites, so they actually clean up after and protect each other.  

Did you know we started with 12 ewes and 1 ram in July of 2020? As of Dec 12, 2023, we have 128 head onsite not counting all the rams we’ve sold in the meanwhile. We plan to continue selling rams as breeders and for freezer meat. We’ll continue to hold on to our ewe lambs until we have 150 to 200 bred ewes on property. At this rate, like the little monkey said when he got his tail cut off, “It won’t be long now!”