There seems to be an art to preparing show lambs for the ring. Go to any sheep show and you will quickly begin to realize that each shepherd has their own way of getting their sheep ready for the judge, from how they trim their sheep, condition their wool and clean their feet to how they handle them in the … Read More
We have begun to synchronize our sheep breeding season with the use of a CIDR (Controlled Internal Drug Release). A couple of years ago I had a ewe that did not get bred the previous season. A friend and fellow shepherd suggested that I use a CIDR to force her into estrus. A CIDR is a applicator that is … Read More
Biosecurity refers to management measures taken to prevent disease agents from being introduced and spreading… U.S. Department of Agriculture I recently had a discussion with a friend about best practices in biosecurity on sheep farms. One of the best ways to keep your flock disease free is to prevent disease from coming onto your property. The following are some … Read More
Do you want to buy sheep? Have you always wanted to purchase your first flock of sheep, but have lots of questions about shepherding? Just this week, I received a phone call from a woman saying that she is going to move to a new property that would allow her to start a small homestead. She had many questions about … Read More
The past couple of weeks have been busy ones on our farm as lambs have reached weaning age. We sold several sets of lambs to new shepherds who are looking forward to the docile, friendly personality of the Gotlands. Along the way, I have sent them a series of emails to inform them on how to prepare for taking home … Read More
