Keeping Sheep - Practical Tips Before You Take Up the Challenge of Raising Sheep

Keeping sheep is an activity that calls for much
attention and careful consideration. Most people
take up the challenge of learning how to raise
sheep as means of livelihood because of several
advantages:

1. Sheep may produce good quality wool for sale;

2. Sheep are also known to be prolific milk and
cheese producers;
3. They can also be sold for their meat;
4. And sheep may also be sold as is for other
sheep farmers.

Sheep are grazing animals. They need a constant
supply of grass to supply their nutritional
requirements as ruminants. Grass fed sheep also
produce a higher nutritional value milk and
other dairy produce, although grain supplements
has its place in their diet as well. Because of
their nature to always group themselves, it is
also important to save time to have a good
herding dog to help you around. A flock of sheep
usually have a follow the leader attitude so
managing a huge number of them can be daunting
so choosing your helper dog for the task is also
important.

You must also proved ample space for them to
move around a good measure is 1 acre of land per
four ewes and their lambs. Keeping sheep within
their confines is also an essential part of
raising them. Today electrified fences or nets
are getting popular due to their liability and
ease of installment. Be familiarized with their
natural predators. In a U.S. survey it was shown
that the common coyote accounted for 50 percent
of the sheep losses. Other predators are the
bobcats, wild dogs, eagle and even bears.
Penning and bedding them to some extent
minimizes the threats posed by these predators.

Keeping sheep in tip top shape may also require
you to invest on good housing or building for
them in order to ward off the harmful natural
elements. If you are keeping sheep for wool then
a good investment on building is imperative.
Having a chute for your sheep is also one of the
most important equipments you will need. It is a
narrow passageway for sheep in order to manage
them to walk in a single file so that when you
need to vaccinate any of them you are sure that
each of them receive proper attention. A good
halter is also needed to lead them and hold each
sheep by their heads properly. Keeping sheep can
be a rewarding business but you will need
dedication and more hands-on experience with it
to get the most out of it.

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Are you searching for other crucial tips on
keeping sheep? Separate yourself from the usual
sheep owners who are prone to common mistakes.
If you would like to learn more tips on caring
for sheep and how to raise sheep correctly,
please visit: http://www.howtoraisesheep.com

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