Raising Sheep and Natural Rhythms

 

Ranching and raising sheep has evolved into a simplified, enjoyable way of life. We do not intensively manage our growing flock. In fact, we do very little with them and prefer it that way.

We take into account that Mother Natures system works. Mother Nature manages to sustain herself day in and day out, with every individual working for the whole and a balanced workload for every individual.

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With raising sheep we respect natural rhythms beginning with the following basics:

• Starting with a flock of sheep suited to the environment and production year
• Building a flock of animals that are prime candidates for a natural grass based system with the goal to develop those genetics
• By selecting ewes and replacement ewe lambs who thrive on grass we will also be selecting for enhanced sheep health and disease resistance
• Lambing on pasture when there is an abundance of fresh grass to feed the ewes. If there is fresh grass it means the climate is warmer and that works in favour of the newborns
• Keeping ewes which are capable of raising lambs with ease and unassisted and who have the smarts to know which lambs are theirs
• Grazing sheep on grass for as long as possible every year. After the grass has become inaccessible finding ways to feed on pasture so animals remain there.
• Learn and utilize the benefits of raising sheep flocks on grass environments to improve upon our main resource, the grass
• Selecting sheep that are capable of finding shelter during poor weather. This is a learned survival trait that is taught to lambs
• Selecting for strong flocking instinct. This is one way sheep are able to protect themselves from predators such as the coyote

In a sense, sheep evolved this way. As a species they survived sufficiently enough without barns or two legged surrogate moms or even guardian animals. If sheep can do all of this then sheep ranching just got a little easier and possibly more profitable.
As our good friends taught us, always on our mind is how to make sheep work for us versus us working for the sheep.
This paradigm shift from working excessively hard to keep a ranch going, to making a ranch work for us, has had a tremendous impact on how we operate.

Sheep Shearing Tips

 

Utilize these sheep shearing tips to help you keep pace on shearing day.
When you're trying to get through shearing a few hundred wool sheep or more, being ready for the day will help everyone stay on task.

• Bring the flock in the day before shearing
  Having the flock under cover will keep them dry. Wet wool does not shear or store well. Most shearers will decline shearing your sheep if the fleece it too wet.
  
• Prevent the flock from feeding and watering the night before
  The shearer needs to handle the animal and hold it in a secure position when clipping the fleece. This is far more comfortable for the ewe if she doesn't have a belly full of feed. Since the rumen can hold quite a bit of food it also makes the shearers job easier if the animal is empty.
  
• Set up in advance
  If your system is a portable one, set up the pens and race ahead of time. If it is a permanent set up make sure any repairs are done and the system is operational. The shearing crew are busy people and having to wait for set up only delays them for the next farm down the line.
  
• Sort your animals prior to shearing
  Keep animals of different wool types separate. This will aid you when it comes to the wool grading process.
  
• Have extra help on hand
  This sheep shearing tip can really make the difference on shearing day. Hire extra hands if needed.
  
  It can be a long day trying to keep up to a crew of shearers without having the assistance you need. You also hold the shearers back when you don't have enough help to keep up to them. As a rule of thumb have one person per shearer plus two to three extra for other jobs like moving sheep and packing wool.
  
• Consider doing other flock treatments at the same time
  You'll have the flock in anyway and if you can manage with an spare person to take on the extra duty, shearing day can also double as opportunity to do an annual flock treatment like vaccination.
  
• Have a head gate at the end of the race
  Catch the first ewe to come down the race in the head gate and leave her there. She'll stand comfortably and will draw the remaining animals up the race. This is one of the simplest sheep shearing tips to put into practice yet it can make a world of difference to how the day progresses.
  
  
• Prepare meals ahead of time
  One of the highlights of shearing day is that it involves a meal with friends. It's often customary to feed the shearing crew and the extra help who have graciously assisted.
  We often plan meals that can be put on to cook while we work. We've also utilized the cooking talents of family members and have had them attend to the cooking for us.
  If the day is long every ones spirits will be kept up with breaks for coffee and snack refreshments for energy. Our shearing crew enjoy healthy snacks that won't make them tired such as fruit and granola bars.
  
  
• Be flexibleSometime the shearers can't get to you on the scheduled day. Delays at previous stops can add up in a hurry. Don't be angry if the shearer phones to say he can't make it. Consider that he's also trying to keep a feasible schedule and route and is relying on a whole lot of other people being ready. A good shearer will be sure to come back and fit you in.