All About Dairy Sheep (An Incredible Multi-Purpose Homestead Animal) | Rachel of Whoopsy Daisy Farm
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- čas přidán 7. 08. 2023
- After listening to this episode, you are going to be itching to add dairy sheep to your homestead! Rachel gives an overview of all of the most commonly asked questions about getting started with dairy sheep: milk quality, sheep breeds, breeding, milking, feeding, and more! Sheep are an incredible multi-purpose homestead animal that can thrive even on small acreage. If you want to be part of the sheep movement in the homesteading world, this is a great episode to help you consider whether dairy sheep are a good fit for you!
In this episode, we cover:
- What makes sheep such a great multi-purpose homestead animal
- Exploring the health benefits and taste of sheep milk
- Description of dairy sheep breeds and which are best for beginners
- Managing the breeding and lactation cycles of dairy sheep
- Various approaches to the nutritional needs of dairy sheep
Thank you to our sponsor!
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ABOUT RACHEL
Rachel Hester is the author of ‘The Guide to Homestead Dairy sheep’ due to be released by Sawdust Publishing in the fall of 2023. She lives in central Kentucky with her husband and son on 8 ½ acres. Using regenerative agriculture methods to reclaim denatured hayfields into a thriving farm while also supporting her husband’s occupation in Emergency Services has led her to some out of the box management styles for her livestock. In addition to dairy and heritage breed sheep, she has chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, honeybees, angora rabbits and a Jersey cow on her farm. She is a fiber artist and loves handspinning and knitting her sheep’s wool into garments for her family.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Sign up to receive updates from Sawdust Publishing and Whoopsy Daisy Farm about the release of Rachel’s forthcoming book, The Guide to Homestead Dairy Sheep
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Episode 20 of the HOA podcast with Janet Garman all about wool sheep: homesteadersofamerica.com/e20...
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Website: www.whoopsydaisyfarm.com/
Instagram: / whoopsydaisyfarm
Facebook: / whoopsydaisyfarm
CZcams: / @whoopsydaisyfarm2820
Homesteaders of America
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GET MORE FROM THIS EPISODE
View full show notes and transcript on the blog: homesteadersofamerica.com/e21...
Listen to this podcast episode: podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...
I have the only full blooded Awassi Ewe in Arizona. Will be breeding her this year. They are also Fat Tailed and are highly desired by ethnic groups.
I have a video of her that my shearer made.😆
czcams.com/users/shortsYeq1HEv6gF8?feature=share
Thank you.....this is exact information I was interested in!
Great episode, I love learning all I can. I just picked up my starter flock recently and I am very excited to get started!
We love our dairy sheep!
Thank you Rachel Blessing on your Farmstead for all your information. Hugs, Capt. Dan and Sandra Glover Livingston, TN.
Yay! What a great episode. We purchased East Fresian/Romanov crosses this spring. I can't wait to start milking next year. I also preordered your book. I can't wait to read it. Thanks ladies.
So thankful I found your podcast for dairy sheep and I purchased her book!
This year i acquired 4 lovely Awassi/EF crosses to use for dairy. I so appreciate this information and look fwd to your book. I live in Southern California and should have lambs for sale in the spring.
Im excited for this new adventure and appreciate this info!
Definitely will be interested in your book. This is something I have been aware of, but know very little about. May I ask if your book goes into the pros and cons of various milkers? I have seen a lot online, but don't know the ins and outs as it relates to the sheep.
Fantastic chat. Thank you so very much!
Very cool episode! Would like to check out getting Rachel’s book! 🙏
Thank you for the info! I would love your opinion on Icelandic sheep for milk. This is the breed we've been considering the most. It's hard to choose one to start with!
I'm planning to milk my Tunis, so this was great! My Tunis are great at converting grass to meat and fat. Yeah, they get fat!
This has been super informative, thanks! I'm totally sold on getting dairy sheep, but I am in Italy, so I think I need to do some research on what breeds we have here. One issue I have is that I'm vegetarian, so I'm wondering how realistic it would be to keep dairy sheep for milk and wool, but not kill any of them. Would I end up with a huge number? Or is that when it's better to look for a breed who lactates for much longer after each birth, so that you don't have to breed them so often? What would be the smallest number of sheep you would advise to start with?
We are considering dairy sheep (total newbies) but we live in Central Florida. What kind of sheep can you recommend for newbies and that can handle FL heat? Thank you so much
Clun Forest are common.
Diehard hair sheep fan lol, I DO think hairy dairy ewes are the next big thing. I respect people that are into fiber and fiber products. I really don’t enjoy the wool that much. I would be in heaven with some dairy ewes that shed.
Hairy dairy? That's a thing???
I have some Katahadin sheep that look like the could be great milkers. they produce thick chunky lambs every year so they must be making some kind of milk quantity.
@beckeythompson6965 yes there are some milky kat ewes for sure. Only problem is if lambs are weaned early they typically dry up, so lamb sharing is a must, and even with lambs on them they typically self wean or start to dry off at 4 months. Lactation length is something that dairy sheep have that kat ewes can’t compete with. I’m still crossing my fingers we get to see some hairy dairy ewes!!
And also rouge d’ouest?
♥️♥️♥️
Any opinions on California reds? I’ve heard their wool is great, milk is good, and breeding year round.
Did you end up with any Reds? I’m looking at one tomorrow to join my EF ewes. I’m a new shepherd!
Finnsheep??
That British breed, name?
Clun forest!
Благодарю вас за дельную информацию!!! Книга будет на русском языке? С уважением из Украины.