shep:sheep

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shep:sheep [2026/03/12 20:02] – [Related topics] Simon Grantshep:sheep [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Sheep+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Sheep ======
  
  
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-## What are sheep?+===== What are sheep? =====
  
 They're 4-legged grazing ruminants - i.e they have a rumen (part of the digestive tract) that contains bacteria that breaks down cellulose in plant material. Sheep were first domesticated from the wild [mouflon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouflon) around 10,000 years ago in the Middle East and really symbolise the beginning of settled agriculture as we know it. They're 4-legged grazing ruminants - i.e they have a rumen (part of the digestive tract) that contains bacteria that breaks down cellulose in plant material. Sheep were first domesticated from the wild [mouflon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouflon) around 10,000 years ago in the Middle East and really symbolise the beginning of settled agriculture as we know it.
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-## What are the benefits of keeping sheep?+===== What are the benefits of keeping sheep? =====
  
 Generally nowadays, sheep are kept primarily for their meat, but if you are a smallholder then the quality of the wool could also be important. Wool can be cleaned and used for insulation, stuffing in cushions and duvets etc. It can also be teased out into primitive rugs, felted into cloth or spun, then woven and knitted into clothes. A commercial ram (such as a Texel or Charollais) bred with a local sheep such as Suffolk or Dorset Horn will generally produce a good butcher’s lamb, as well as a decent fleece. Generally nowadays, sheep are kept primarily for their meat, but if you are a smallholder then the quality of the wool could also be important. Wool can be cleaned and used for insulation, stuffing in cushions and duvets etc. It can also be teased out into primitive rugs, felted into cloth or spun, then woven and knitted into clothes. A commercial ram (such as a Texel or Charollais) bred with a local sheep such as Suffolk or Dorset Horn will generally produce a good butcher’s lamb, as well as a decent fleece.
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-### Getting started+==== Getting started ====
  
 Before you obtain sheep make sure that you know what you're getting into. You need to learn all about the various problems, diseases and pests that can affect sheep. Attend a course, or ask your local large animal vet, smallholders association or agricultural college, and read as much as you can. You may know a local sheep farmer who might welcome a hand. You'll learn a lot, including which breed might be best for you and your land, and you might get help in return when you need it. Before you obtain sheep make sure that you know what you're getting into. You need to learn all about the various problems, diseases and pests that can affect sheep. Attend a course, or ask your local large animal vet, smallholders association or agricultural college, and read as much as you can. You may know a local sheep farmer who might welcome a hand. You'll learn a lot, including which breed might be best for you and your land, and you might get help in return when you need it.
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-### Transporting+==== Transporting ====
  
 Movements must be reported within 72 hours to your local animal movement officer based within your local authority. Every time you move any animals onto your land the other animals (whether sheep, pigs, cattle or goats) will be subject to a ‘standstill’ period - a number of days that they are not allowed to be moved from your holding. Search online for current guidelines, as it changes. Moving a sheep off your land affects the destination, not departure holding. Movements must be reported within 72 hours to your local animal movement officer based within your local authority. Every time you move any animals onto your land the other animals (whether sheep, pigs, cattle or goats) will be subject to a ‘standstill’ period - a number of days that they are not allowed to be moved from your holding. Search online for current guidelines, as it changes. Moving a sheep off your land affects the destination, not departure holding.
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-### Care+==== Care ====
  
 Sheep will need preparing for tupping (mating), lambing, worming, vaccinating, and of course shearing. If you can’t do these things yourself, keeping sheep will be inconvenient and expensive! Shearing is a skill, but one that can be learnt so that you can turn your sheep, get their wool off and rolled for spinning, treat them to prevent disease and parasites and check that their hoofs are healthy and not overgrown. Sheep will need preparing for tupping (mating), lambing, worming, vaccinating, and of course shearing. If you can’t do these things yourself, keeping sheep will be inconvenient and expensive! Shearing is a skill, but one that can be learnt so that you can turn your sheep, get their wool off and rolled for spinning, treat them to prevent disease and parasites and check that their hoofs are healthy and not overgrown.
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 As long as your sheep are fit and well you can more or less leave them alone, apart from a quick check every day. However if you plan for the year and work with your sheep to avoid problems and prepare for big events, then mainly all will go well. When you are used to your flock and they know that they can rely on you, you'll quickly notice when something is wrong. As long as your sheep are fit and well you can more or less leave them alone, apart from a quick check every day. However if you plan for the year and work with your sheep to avoid problems and prepare for big events, then mainly all will go well. When you are used to your flock and they know that they can rely on you, you'll quickly notice when something is wrong.
  
-### Lambing+==== Lambing ====
  
 Lambing can be stressful, and is not for the faint-hearted. Ewes who birth badly, reject their lambs or suffer a prolapsed uterus should perhaps be given a second chance in a small flock, or culled if you don’t want a second vet’s bill. Big animal vets are good value, but quickly get expensive. You must go on a lambing course and then decide if you have the stomach to deliver a dead lamb or to tube feed a failing one at three in the morning. Watching lambs bouncing around in a field or racing the older sheep is a lot of fun. You will have ewe lambs that you can keep to add to your flock, or ram lambs which with a bit of skill you can castrate and keep with their families until at least the autumn. Lambs are a way to get a bit of money back so that even a small flock should break even on financial outlay at the end of the year. Lambing can be stressful, and is not for the faint-hearted. Ewes who birth badly, reject their lambs or suffer a prolapsed uterus should perhaps be given a second chance in a small flock, or culled if you don’t want a second vet’s bill. Big animal vets are good value, but quickly get expensive. You must go on a lambing course and then decide if you have the stomach to deliver a dead lamb or to tube feed a failing one at three in the morning. Watching lambs bouncing around in a field or racing the older sheep is a lot of fun. You will have ewe lambs that you can keep to add to your flock, or ram lambs which with a bit of skill you can castrate and keep with their families until at least the autumn. Lambs are a way to get a bit of money back so that even a small flock should break even on financial outlay at the end of the year.
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-### Meat production & slaughter+==== Meat production & slaughter ====
  
 If you plan to raise sheep for consumption by yourself and your immediate family, you can dispatch animals yourself provided it is done humanely. Slaughtering the animals on farm could be considered the compassionate option, saving them the stress of a long journey and the unfamiliar environment of the slaughterhouse. If you plan to raise sheep for consumption by yourself and your immediate family, you can dispatch animals yourself provided it is done humanely. Slaughtering the animals on farm could be considered the compassionate option, saving them the stress of a long journey and the unfamiliar environment of the slaughterhouse.
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 +===== Forum =====
  
-## Further resources+This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Accidental Smallholder](https://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/livestock/sheep/) - guides & articles on keeping sheep - [Accidental Smallholder](https://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/livestock/sheep/) - guides & articles on keeping sheep
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 - [Small Shepherds Club](https://www.smallshepherdsclub.org.uk/) - training & support for small flock keepers - [Small Shepherds Club](https://www.smallshepherdsclub.org.uk/) - training & support for small flock keepers
 - [Rare Breeds Survival Trust](https://www.rbst.org.uk/Pages/Category/sheep-watchlist?gad_campaignid=1654325401&Take=28) - rare sheep breeds - [Rare Breeds Survival Trust](https://www.rbst.org.uk/Pages/Category/sheep-watchlist?gad_campaignid=1654325401&Take=28) - rare sheep breeds
 +- [[wp>Sheep]]
  
  
  
-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
 - [[drys:Dry stone walling]] - [[drys:Dry stone walling]]
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-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • shep/sheep.1773345759.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/12 20:02
  • by Simon Grant