Sheep Farming for Beginners (articles & information to get you started) (2024)

Getting Started with Sheep

If you’re looking for information about getting started with sheep, we think the articles below, about sheep farming for beginners, are a great place to start. Each of these short, informative articles will help you learn the basics of raising sheep for fun or profit.

On this page you’ll find articles which include:

Preparing to Own & Care for Sheep
Sheep Farm Setup Basics & Advice
An Introduction to Some Common Sheep Farm Projects
General Information About Sheep Care & Husbandry

While it can be fun to dream about raising sheep, the first few years can prove challenging, and it’s important to get a sense for the time commitment and cost involved.We think the articles on this page (geared toward sheep farming for beginners) is a good starting place to research and learn about the basics of getting started with sheep farming.

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And remember – this is only one section of our large website about raising sheep. Please use the navigation at the top of this page to explore the site and discover more of our articles.

Preparing to Own & Care for Sheep

Choosing the right breed of sheep for your farm is one of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make. But to do this, you’ll need to determine why you want to raise sheep. Do you want your sheep farm to be profitable? Will it be a 4H flock for your child? Is it a hobby farm? Are you hoping to produce wool you can spin into yarn?

There’s a lot that goes into this decision, and we invite you to visit our full directory of sheep breeds to explore your options, and the articles below (which are written to help you in the early stages of planning to own sheep) can help too.

Best Sheep Breeds for Beginners (your options)

All sheep are not alike and deciding on the type of sheep you want to raise is a big choice. There are literally dozens ofbreeds

How Much Do Sheep Cost? (a guide to buying sheep)

If you’ve never owned sheep before, budgeting for and buying a sheep can be a little overwhelming. Are you buying a market lamb for a

How to Be a Good Neighbor While Raising Sheep

Sheep are ideal livestock animals to keep in a homestead because of their gentle nature. They are relatively easy to handle compared to other farm

How to Create a Business Plan for Sheep Farming

If you plan to raise sheep for profit or at least try to break even while raising sheep, one of the most important steps you

Chances are you’ve heard the old saying…anything worth doing is worth doing right.Keeping sheep on your farm and deciding to become a sheep producer is

Sheep Farm Setup Basics & Advice

Next, let’s dig a little deeper and explore how to set up your sheep farm for success.

There are things you’ll need to know when brushing up on sheep farming for beginners. Learn about the different options for sheep housing, fencing, and more right here.

An Introduction to Pasture Management for Sheep Farms

Grass or pasture is the primary source of food and nutrients for ruminant mammals like sheep. Because of sheep’s unique digestive system, farmers need to

Rotational Grazing Paddock Design Options and Ideas

Rotational grazing can be extremely important in sheep farming operations. It’s the process of separating large fields into small paddocks in which sheep graze more

Our helpful guide to sheep fencing costs offers a short but thorough overview of some of the most popular types of fencing for sheep used

Sheep Herding Dogs

Shepherds have been usingsheep herding dogsand guard dogs to move, manage and protect their flocks for thousands of years. Whether you raise your own flock

There are two schools of thought for providing housing for sheep: provide plenty of shelter, or provide next to none. Selecting the perfect option for

Sheep Trailer Options (choosing the best kind for you)

Trailers transport livestock to pasture, to fairs and livestock shows, from farm to farm, to auctions, and to the slaughterhouse. Sheep trailers vary in size

Common Sheep Farm Projects

Sheep farming is hard work, and there are some projects and tasks you’ll be required to do pretty regularly. Understanding what these projects are, and what’s involved will help you understand the basics as a beginner to sheep farming.

Here are just a few of the projects you’ll be responsible for when you own sheep:

A Guide to Docking Sheep Tails Safely

Docking sheep tails, or sheep tailing, is a flock management practice of shortening the tail of sheep to improve the health of sheep and lambs.

If you are a sheep farmer or hope to have a flock one day, understanding the different medications and antibiotics for sheep that exist, and

Ear Tagging Sheep (a guide)

Tagging sheep ears is an important flock management practice which is inexpensive, and can make accurate record keeping much easier. In addition to the numeric

How to Shear a Sheep (step by step with video)

One of the annual tasks that’s part of nearly every sheep farm’s annual ritual is shearing. Often, shearing the sheep on your farm will become

How to Trim Sheep Hooves (step by step)

One of the least enjoyable, but very necessary duties of the shepherd is trimming sheep hooves. If you’re just getting started or have somehow (miraculously)

If you’re searching for the best wormer for sheep, you’re not alone. There are so many different sheep drench and dewormer products on the market

General Information about Sheep Care and Husbandry

Now let’s take a step back and think big-picture. In this section you can learn some of the basics of caring for sheep the right way.

Learn about your flock’s nutritional needs and how you’ll need to provide for your sheep.

How Many Sheep Per Acre of Pasture is Ideal?

One of the most common questions asked by both new and experienced shepherds is “How Many Sheep Per Acre of Pasture is Ideal?”. While there

Raising Sheep for Wool

For thousands of years shepherds have been raising sheep for wool in countries all over the world. Sheep wool is a preferred fiber because it

Sheep Nutrition for Wool Production (what to feed)

Shearing, skirting, and spinning are part of the cycle for farmers on sheep fiber farms. They are activities that require hard work to ensure that

Sheep Nutrition Guide: Sheep Feed Requirements Per Day

If you’re to achieve and maintain a healthy flock, your sheep need specific amounts of energy, vitamins, energy, minerals, water, and fiber. Ensuring that the

What Do Sheep Eat?

Whether you’re a new shepherd or you’re just curious and want to learn a little more about sheep food – it’s important to answer the

What is the Best Hay for Sheep?

Did you know that sheep are notoriously picky eater? These woolly creatures need different kinds of hay than other farm animals, like horses or cows.

Don’t stop now, let’s keep learning! Next up, we’ll explore all about growing your flock and grazing best practices.

Advanced Flock Management