Sheep husbandry is the raising and breeding of domestic sheep. Sheep farming is primarily based on raising lambs for meat, or raising sheep for wool. Sheep may also be raised for milk. Some farmers specialize in breeding sheep to sell to other farmers.

Animal care

Shelter and Environment: Sheep are kept in flocks--either in pens, in a barn, or on pastures. In cold climates, sheep need shelter in the winter.

Health Care: Sheep are vaccinated when they are newborn lambs. Farmers work with animal nutritionists and veterinarians to keep sheep healthy and to manage animal health problems. Lambs have their tails shortened for cleanliness and to protect them from biting insects.

Water, Food and Air: Sheep need fresh water from troughs or ponds. Upon being weaned from ewe’s milk, they eat hay, grains and grasses. They are usually given feed twice a day from troughs, or they are allowed to graze in a pasture. Sheep are most comfortable when the temperature is moderate, so fans may be needed for fresh air if sheep are kept in barns during hot weather.

Management of flocks

A sheep farmer is concerned with keeping the correct ratio of male to female sheep, selecting traits for breeding, and controlling under-/over-breeding based on the size and genetic diversity of the flock. Other tasks include sheep shearing, crutching and lambing the sheep.

Sheep breeders look for such traits in their flocks as high wool quality, consistent muscle development, quick conception rate (for females), and quick physical development.

Another concern of a sheep farmer is the protection of livestock. Sheep have many natural enemies, such as coyotes (North America), foxes (Europe), dingoes (Australia) and dogs.

Sheep may be kept in a fenced-in field. The farmer must ensure that the fences are maintained in order to prevent the sheep from wandering onto roads or neighbors' property.

A shepherd and a sheep dog may be employed for protection of the flock. Today, on large farms motorcycles, dogs, or riders on horseback may herd sheep.

Life cycle

The female sheep is called a ewe. Ewes are pregnant for just under five months before they lamb, and may have anywhere from one to three lambs per birth. Single lambs are most common, twins and triplets less common. A ewe may lamb once or twice a year. Lambs are weaned at three months. Sheep are full grown at one year weighing between 70 and 125 kilograms. Sheep can live to eleven or twelve years of age.

Sheep production worldwide

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (http://www.fao.org/), the top ten sheep producing countries in order of quantity are:

1. China

2. Australia

3. India

4. Iran

5. New Zealand

6. UK

7. Sudan

8. Turkey

9. South Africa

10. Pakistan

While New Zealand rates number 5 on the list of total number of sheep produced, it has the highest number of sheep per-capita.

Related

List of sheep breeds