-
There are Many Ways to Solar Graze
·
In part two of our “Solar Grazing“ series, learn more about the different options for solar grazing and its potential profitability. Our last article offered a definition of solar grazing and a basic outline of what’s involved. Now we’ll cover a little more detail about different ways to get into solar grazing, including as an independent contractor, leasing…
-
Guardian Dogs for Sheep
·
Guarding means that the dog views the livestock as members of its own pack. In 2011, I wrote an article for the Small Farms Quarterly about “Livestock Guardian Dogs.” In the past nine years I gained many additional insights and had new experiences, which I want to share in this new article. A heavy…
-
Solar Grazing: Livestock as Landscapers at Utility-Scale Solar Arrays
·
Solar grazing is the use of livestock to maintain vegetation under solar panels. Utility-scale solar arrays may cover 3 million acres across the US by 2030, according to the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). This is causing tension with farmers and farmland advocates, as the panels are often sited on good ag land, displacing…
-
Why Twinning in Lambs is a Winning Combination
·
A sheep that twins means increased farm profit. One of the most productive measures of a ewe is her ability to have twins instead of just having one lamb. A sheep that twins is more likely to make you a profit. A sheep that has consistently just one lamb may cause you to lose money. So, you would want as many ewes as…
-
Grazing Goats with Your Flock of Sheep
·
The benefits of keeping Kiko goats with sheep. People who pass by my farm are often surprised to see goats in my flock of White Dorper sheep. “Why do you have goats?” they most often ask, if they can spot them. So, why do I have goats? Goats have a different grazing behavior than sheep. They prefer coarser plants. They love to browse.…
-
Track Sheep Bloodlines During Breeding Season
·
How to effectively use breeding harnesses and spray paint for sheep. A customer of mine asked me: “Do you use a breeding harness for your ram?” She did and had problems keeping it on the ram. Her question prompted me to write this article, explaining how I make certain that I know which ram breeds…
-
More Than a Matter of Taste, Part II
·
This excerpt is from Fred Provenza’s book Nourishment: What Animals Can Teach Us About Rediscovering Our Nutritional Wisdom (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2018) and is reprinted with permission from the publisher. Feedback from the Gut Microbiome In 1968, near the Department of Defense’s Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah, 6,400 sheep were killed instantly by aerially applied…
-
Rotational Grazing: How Often Should I Rotate?
·
By Ulf Kintzel Failure in grass-fed sheep enterprises is still very common. I hear about it often since I am the one being asked why it failed. Among the many reasons why grass-fed sheep operation failed is the misconception of the frequency of pasture rotation. When breeding stock I have sold is picked up from…
-
More Than a Matter of Taste
·
By Fred Provenza This excerpt is from Fred Provenza’s book Nourishment: What Animals Can Teach Us About Rediscovering Our Nutritional Wisdom (Chelsea Green Publishing, November 2018) and is reprinted with permission from the publisher. Liking for foods is typically thought to be influenced by palatability. Webster’s dictionary defines palatable as pleasant or acceptable to the…
sheep
Receive news and resources as they are released by joining our newsletter.
Join the Small Farms Newsletter
To start your subscription and start receiving content, you will need to complete our full sign-up form on the following page.
