Sheep (Meat, Wool & Dairy) โ FarmPal
Sheep are incredibly versatile producing meat, wool, milk, and even landscape management services. Heritage breeds offer hardiness, parasite resistance, and multi-purpose value that commercial breeds have lost. Perfect for small acreages and diverse homestead operations.
Space/Animal
15-20 sq ft indoor shelter. 5-8 sheep per acre on managed pasture.
Fencing
Woven wire (4-5 ft) or electronet. Sheep are easier to fence than goats. Portable electronet is ideal for rotational grazing.
Feeding
Daily Ration
Good pasture: 3-4% body weight in forage daily. Hay: 3-5 lbs/day. Lactating ewes: supplement with grain (0.5-1 lb/day).
Sheep-specific mineral (NO COPPER lethal to sheep)
Free-choice salt
Selenium if in deficient region (most of eastern US)
Vitamin E in late pregnancy
Kelp meal for trace minerals
Maturity
7-9 months (breed ewe lambs at 65% mature weight, minimum)
Gestation
147 days
Litter Size
1-3 lambs (twins most common, triplets from prolific breeds)
Frequency
1 lambing per year for seasonal breeds. Some hair sheep can lamb every 8 months.
Primary Product
Meat (lamb/mutton), wool, dairy (breed-dependent)
Yield
Lamb: 45-80 lbs carcass weight at 5-8 months. Wool: 5-15 lbs fleece/year. Dairy: 1-3 quarts/day (dairy breeds).
Market Value
Live lamb: $250-350. Direct-market cuts: $600-1,200. Raw fleece: $10-30/lb (heritage breeds). Breeding stock: $300-1,000. Milk: $8-15/gallon.
Startup Cost
Starter flock (5 ewes + ram): $1,500-5,000. Fencing (5 acres): $2,000-5,000. Shelter: $500-2,000. Total: $4,000-12,000.
Annual Cost/Animal
Feed: $200-400/ewe. Health: $20-50. Shearing: $8-15. Processing lambs: $100-175 each. Total: $350-650/ewe.
Revenue/Animal
Market lambs (twins): $500-2,400 direct-market. Wool: $50-200/fleece. Breeding stock: $300-1,000. Total per ewe: $550-2,600/year.
Break Even
Year 1-2 with direct-market lamb. Wool adds income starting year 1.
Breeds (4)
๐ Katahdin (Hair Sheep)
๐ Icelandic
๐ Dorper
๐ Jacob (Heritage)