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Sheep: Sustainable and Organic Production by Margo Hale, This Publication Introduces Concerns and Practices Specifi Cally Related to Sustainable Sheep Production

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Sheep: Sustainable and Organic Production by Margo Hale, This Publication Introduces Concerns and Practices Specifi Cally Related to Sustainable Sheep Production A project of the National Center for Appropriate Technology 1-800-346-9140 • www.attra.ncat.org Sheep: Sustainable and Organic Production By Margo Hale, This publication introduces concerns and practices specifi cally related to sustainable sheep production. Linda Coff ey Topics covered include breed selection, controlled grazing, pasture lambing, alternative health manage- NCAT Program ment, and innovative marketing of meat and wool products. A list of further resources is also included. Specialists Introduction Ann Bartlett, Chelsey Ahrens or the established farmer seeking to NCAT Interns diversify, sheep offer a number of © 2010 NCAT F benefi ts. Sheep can easily be integrated into an established farm and are a good Contents complement to cattle. Integrating sheep Introduction ......................1 into a farming operation can also contribute Breed selection ................1 to the economic and environmental sus- Feeding ruminants .........3 tainability of the whole farm. Sheep will Reproduction....................8 enhance a farm’s biological diversity and Health ..................................9 may fi t economic and biological niches that Facilities ........................... 12 would otherwise go unfi lled. eTh relatively small investment required, and the gradually Marketing ........................ 13 increasing size of the fl ock, also make sheep Organic production ..... 17 production a good choice for beginning, Economics .......................20 small-scale, or part-time farmers. Conclusion ......................22 References ......................22 It is important to learn as much as you can Sheep production is a good choice for beginning, Further resources .........22 before beginning a sheep enterprise. Gen- small-scale, or part-time farmers. Photo by Linda eral sheep production information — such Coff ey, NCAT. as feeding, breeding, and health management — is available in local or state Cooperative (Walker, 1994) See the ATTRA publication Extension Service publications. The Multispecies Grazing for more information. Resources section at the end of this publica- tion provides further sources of information, Breed selection including books, magazines, websites, and organizations. We strongly encourage you to Breed selection is based on the intended supplement your reading by contacting and market(s), on local climate, and personal visiting sheep producers in your area. preference. Breeds can be divided into eight ATTRA—National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service categories. (www.attra.ncat.org) is man- Sheep can be incorporated into existing aged by the National Center for grazing operations with goats, cattle, or What breed(s) you choose to work with will Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and is funded under a grant from horses. In fact, multi-species grazing is use- depend on your needs and interests. Common the United States Department ful in increasing pasture effi ciency. It has breeds are Suff olk, Hampshire, Rambouillet, of Agriculture’s Rural Business- Cooperative Service. Visit the been demonstrated that grazing sheep with and Dorset. Hair sheep breeds include NCAT website (www.ncat.org/ cattle can increase total meat production by Katahdin, St. Croix, Dorper, and Barbados sarc_current.php) for more information on 24% compared to raising cattle alone, and Blackbelly. All breeds have advantages and our sustainable agri- by 9% compared to raising sheep alone. disadvantages. Crossbreeding is very common culture projects. Related ATTRA Breed Category Description Example Publications Good balance between sire and Dorset, North County Cheviot, General purpose dam traits Montadale Small Ruminant Good adaptability to more diffi cult Sustainability Merino, Rambouillet, Targhee, Maternal environments; above-average fl eece; Columbia, Polypay Checksheet primarily found in range areas An Illustrated Guide Very large numbers of lambs to Sheep and Goat Prolifi c maternal (average three or more per ewe); Finnsheep, Romanov Production excellent newborn vigor Large mature size; rapid growth; Suff olk, Hampshire, Oxford, Sire Dairy Sheep superior muscling; lower carcass fat Shropshire, Texel, Southdown Dairy Specialized for milk production East Friesian, Lacaune Don’t have wool; adapted to hot, Katahdin, Dorper, St. Croix, Hair (meat) humid climates; parasite tolerant Barbados Blackbelly Produce colored fl eeces or fleeces Shetland, Icelandic, Lincoln, Border Specialized or long wool with other unique characteristics; Leicester, Romney desired by fi ber artists Not typically used for commercial production; may be raised for exhibition, breeding stock, or to Jacob, Cotswold, Navajo-Churro, Hobby or rare preserve the breed; may possess Gulf Coast Native traits of importance to production in the future Table adapted from “Changes in the Sheep Industry in the United States.” 2008. National Research Council. Chapter 2. and allows for lambs to have desirable char- Conservancy (www.albc-usa.org) has infor- acteristics of more than one breed. Your mation on rare and heritage breeds. For farm goals should dictate what breed(s) of more information and research on hair sheep you choose and whether or not you sheep breeds, see the proceedings of the Hair crossbreed. It is also important to remember Sheep Workshop (www.sheepandgoat.com/ that there is just as much variation among HairSheepWorkshop). animals of the same breed as there is among When selecting animals for your fl ock, you animals of diff erent breeds. must fi rst decide what traits are important to For more information on the various breeds, you and what the animals will be used for. contact the American Sheep Industry Find producers with the types of animals Association (www.sheepusa.org) or visit the that you are interested in. You can locate Oklahoma State University livestock breeds producers by contacting your local exten- web page (www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep). sion agent, searching classifi ed ads in sheep The book Storey’s Illustrated Breed Guide publications, viewing online directories, to Sheep, Goats, Cattle, and Pigs, by Carol contacting sheep clubs or associations, or Ekarius, is another good source of breed by attending meetings or seminars for sheep information. Th e American Livestock Breeds producers. Once you have found a producer with sheep for sale, visit the farm to observe Wooled Sheep Hair Sheep the fl ock and the management. Th e animals Considerations Considerations will adapt more easily to your farm if their Growth and carcass characteristics Less seasonal than wooled sheep prior management and environment are similar to yours. Accepted in the traditional markets Higher lambing percentages than many wooled breeds Produce marketable wool To develop a productive fl ock, it is imperative Some breeds show resistance to Widely available that you select healthy animals. Never build internal parasites your fl ock with animals from a sale barn. Heat tolerant These are often animals that have been No wool to shear or market culled by another producer. Th ere is a reason Don’t have to dock tails why they were culled, and you do not want Page 2 ATTRA Sheep: Sustainable and Organic Production to bring those problems to your fl ock. Don’t basis) each day in feed. Animal size, stage purchase animals that are limping, look sick, and level of production, animal activity, and or are lagging behind the others. Always pur- environmental conditions all infl uence an chase animals that are lively and look alert. animal’s nutritional requirements. A variety of Select animals that have sound feet and legs feedstuff s can be used to meet your animals’ and a proper bite (not over-shot or under-shot). nutritional needs. It is helpful to bring an experienced sheep Forage from brush, pasture, and range can producer to assist you in selecting animals be maximized as low-cost feeds. Sheep, that are likely to be healthy and productive. as ruminants, convert forage that would Listed below are some of the signs of a otherwise be unusable into high-quality healthy animal. fi ber, meat, and milk. Like cattle, sheep are • Lively manner grazers; like goats, they also consume woody browse (tree forage and shrubs) and forbs • Easy movement (no limping, swollen (herbaceous plants). Sheep are less dependent joints, or misshaped or hard udders) on harvested grains than dairy cattle, swine, • Proper conditioning (not overly fat and poultry. or excessively thin) Sheep are ruminants, named for the rumen • Well-shaped udder and teats — the largest compartment of the stomach. Question the producer about the fl ock. For The health and productivity of sheep, as example, ask what diseases have been prob- with all ruminants, depends on healthy rumen lems in the fl ock, what the vaccination and function. Microorganisms in the rumen digest deworming protocol is, and what criteria are fi ber, carbohydrates, and protein to supply the used for selection and culling. Also ask your animal with nutrients. It is essential that the veterinarian about diseases that could be a animals be fed appropriately so that these problem in your area. organisms stay healthy. To run an effi cient operation, it is necessary The rumen organisms require fiber, nitrogen to identify animals (usually by tattoos or (protein), and energy (carbohydrates). Th e eartags) and keep records. Breeding, repro- microorganisms prefer a pH range of 6 to 6.8. duction, health, and production records are Th e digestion of grain (especially fi nely ground helpful in identifying which animals are grains) lowers the
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