Getting fall lambs, having flexibility in the breeding calendar, splitting the flock to lamb at multiple times in the year all require an extended, if not year round breeding season, which most sheep do not have. If you want sheep that can breed year round, you have a few breeds to choose from, including both…
When you have more than a handful of sheep, you reach the point where you could get another ram to make sure that all your ewes get bred on time or to have a spare if anything happens to the first ram. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having multiple rams in a smaller…
We all hope for every ewe to have twins, but we know that the lambs born per ewe can reasonably anywhere from one to three, and occasionally, none. So, how do we know which ones are having twins? Ultrasound scanning shows number of lambs in ewes The only way to know for sure if your…
Every sheep flock needs a ram for breeding season, but what about keeping more than one ram? Can you have two rams in a flock or is it better to have just one? Can you have 2 or more rams in a flock? You can have 2 or more rams in a flock. Keeping more…
Inbreeding and sheep, you’ve heard about it and maybe even considered using inbreeding in your flock, but the question is: is inbreeding good or bad? Well, as you may have guessed, inbreeding has advantages and disadvantages, both of which we’ll go over so you can decide if inbreeding would work in your situation or not….
A common problem with small flocks of sheep or sheep with a limited genetic pool is what to do when you need to breed the ewes but the only ram you have is the one you have been using for years. That means you’ll have some closely related sheep breeding to produce inbred lambs. Is…
It can be a challenge for the small flock owner to get a different ram every year or two, especially if you have kept back some of the ewe lambs to grow your flock. In this situation, many folks consider the option of inbreeding their sheep. Is it okay to inbreed sheep or should inbreeding…
When you are looking into buying some sheep to start your own flock, you might have the option to buy some ewe lambs. Are ewe lambs a good sheep to start with and how much do they cost? Ewe lambs will cost between $300-400 each. Ewe lambs closer to breeding age, that have in demand…
When you are thinking about getting into raising sheep, one of the first things you’ll want to know is the cost of buying your breeding stock. What does it cost to buy ewes and what are the factors that affect the price you’ll pay for them? A ewe will cost between $300-600, with bred ewes,…
Sheep are starting to be more popular, and for good reason! Sheep are versatile and you’ve got a lot of breeds to choose from. Once you have an idea of what type of sheep you are looking for now you need to get an idea of what it’s going to cost to get your starter…