Have you heard the expression “chicken math”? In a nutshell, chicken math is the addition to your flock in quantities and breeds beyond what you initially planned. However, this phenomenon is not just contained to chickens; homesteaders are just as likely to do this with sheep and goats and it is easy to understand why. These affable, multi-purpose animals are a popular choice with small farms everywhere. In the United States, there are over 5 million head of sheep and over 2.5 million head of goats. According to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture report on small scale goat farming, almost half of all goats are raised as pets, brush control agents also known as “goatscapers”, livestock show animals and other uses besides meat, milk and fiber production. Sheep reached peak population in the U.S. in 1942 with 56.2 million head. Despite the decline in population over the decades, the number of small-scale sheep operations continue to grow, fueled by the popularity of hair sheep breeds. There are over 88,000 sheep operations in the U.S. that have a total economic impact of $5.8 billion. Whether you are thinking about adding sheep and/or goats to your homestead or are contemplating “sheep or goat math” by expanding your flock, carefully consider your current facilities and plan for upgrades and additions as your herd grows.

Determining a Sustainable Stocking Rate

As more folks explore the benefits of country living, savvy landowners are selling small acreage tracts of 5-20 acres to potential homesteaders.  The amount and productivity of the acreage will determine your stocking rate or how many animals you can have per unit area of land. This is typically represented as acres per animal unit (AU). 26 pounds of forage are consumed per AU.  Extension specialists at Texas A&M have calculated some AU equivalents for sheep and goats (See table 1 below). In the example of an 80 lb. hair sheep ewe, it is estimated that 8 ewes will consume 26 pounds of forage daily. The biggest mistake many homesteaders make is overestimating the stocking rate which can lead to overgrazing. It is important to know how many pounds of forage your acreage produces. There are many variables that affect land productivity, and your local Extension agent or Natural Resources Conservation Service can assist with information that can help estimate a range for your land.

According to Stephen Barnhart, an agronomy professor at Iowa State University, there is a quick, but less accurate way to estimate your pasture forage. All you need is an estimate or measurement of the forage height. Once you have the average height in inches of the forage in your pasture, multiply it by 200. This is an average estimate of pounds of consumable dry matter per acre per inch of forage height.

Purdue University Extension recommends a general estimate of 10 ewes and 15 lambs per one acre of pasture provided that rotational grazing and a proper nutritional plan is implemented.

Table 1. Animal Unit Equivalents (AUE)

Source: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension bulletin: “Livestock for Small Acreage Landowners”, Machen, Richard V. and Lyons, Robert K.

Provide Shelter from the Elements & Predators

Sheep and goats need approximately 10 to 12 square feet of sheltered space per mature animal in the herd. Shelters can be simple lean-to’s that are roughly 4 to 7 feet tall with solid walls on the north and west sides, repurposed sheds, hoop houses or any other shelter that provides cover from the wind and weather.

Planning a working or holding pen with gates that are at least 48 inches tall will make handling the sheep and goats much easier, safer and less stressful for the animals. In addition, you want to plan for proper lambing pens (jugs), chutes for transporting and a means to transport your animals. There are many do-it-yourself plans available online and through local Extension offices – make sure to consult a sheep and goat specialist for specific questions you may have.

Fences to keep the sheep in and predators out are a must. The minimum height is 48 inches and there are many options available: woven wire, high tensile wire, barbed wire, portable electric net, electric wire, and electric rope/tape fences can all be suitable. Predators pose the biggest threat to your animals and are the biggest source of mortality to sheep and goats, so choose the fence that best suits your needs and area. According to the American Sheep Industry Association, 54% of all predator kills are carried out by coyotes, 21% by dogs and 25% is attributed to wolves, bears, cougars, vultures, etc.

Many homesteaders will also use a livestock guardian animal with the herd such as dogs (breeds like Great Pyrenees and Anatolian), donkeys or llamas.

Depending on your farm, you might want to consider additional shelter to store hay or forage, bedding and feed throughout the year.

Provide the Proper Feeders & Waterers for a Healthy Herd

There are five main types of feeding and watering equipment you need for the herd: grain feeders for adults, creep feeders for lambs/kids, hay feeders, mineral feeders and a dependable waterer.

“Feeder design whether it is for grain, hay or mineral is really important for reducing food/mineral waste and also important for health,” said Susan Schoenian, Sheep and Goat Specialist at the University of Maryland’s Western Maryland Research and Education Center. “When looking at sheep and goat equipment, you really need to pay attention to how it is designed. Can you keep it clean? When it comes to grain feeders, unless they are of a design that can keep the goats and sheep out of it, you should almost always remove them or turn them over when feeding is done to keep that feeder clean and reduce the chance of manure getting into it. Creep feeders for young animals better have a design that keeps them out of the feeder, while keeping the adults away. Those lambs and kids just love to curl up in feeders!  I know there is a temptation to repurpose other items into feeders but sometimes it pays to spend the money on well designed, quality equipment. Reducing feed waste/spoilage and keeping your equipment clean to keep your animals healthy will save you more time and money in the long run.”

Water is the most important nutrient you provide your animals and is the one you provide the most of on a per pound basis. Sheep and goats need anywhere between a half gallon to four gallons a day depending on their age, diet and reproductive cycle. During the growing season, high quality lush forages can provide a large amount of their daily water requirements. Make sure your animals always have access to clean, fresh water on demand.

“My dad taught me a simple rule when it comes to water,” said Schoenian. “If you wouldn’t drink it, then why should they? Sheep and goats are not going to drink dirty water; they can be finicky. They also don’t like water that is ice cold in cooler weather or way too hot in the summer. I definitely think water quality is taken for granted and I am a strong proponent of automatic waterers because they stay cleaner longer and are one of the best ways to provide frost free water. You don’t have to worry about frozen buckets or tubs with a good quality automatic waterer. I know a lot of small producers or hobby farmers don’t want to make the initial investment up front but again, it doesn’t really pay to go cheap when you think about the time spent hauling and cleaning buckets, breaking ice and dragging hoses throughout the year.”

When you are ready to invest in an automatic livestock waterer, you’ll find many options available. The long-time industry leader is a 100-year-old company, Ritchie Industries, based in Conrad, Iowa. The founder, Thomas Ritchie, was an innovative farmer and the inventor of the first automatic waterer valve in 1921. With over 3 million automatic livestock waterers sold worldwide, these red and yellow waterers can be seen on big and small farms alike. Ritchie was one of the first to offer a sheep and goat waterer that is specifically catered to the needs of hobby farmers and small-scale homesteaders.

“The Omni-2 Special model is designed with the sheep and goat farmer in mind,” said Robert Amundson, President and CEO at Ritchie Industries, Inc. “It has a low drinking height of 11 inches and features a stainless-steel trough with thermostatically controlled heating elements for frost free water in the coldest climates. This fully insulated poly unit is easy to clean, easy to maintain and has a fast refill valve that provides fresh water for up to 100 head of sheep in a compact footprint. We also offer the Genesis series – a portable, non-insulated option for pastures and rotational grazing pens. The G1 or G2 Genesis models are all about convenience. The biggest advantage for smaller operations is the easy installation – no digging, you just hook up a 200 PSI garden hose to the waterer and you are in business. Ritchie waterers have been made in the USA for 100 years and we are the industry leader because we are always listening and designing products that are cost effective, energy efficient and time saving for farmers, ranchers and homesteaders who raise all types of animals from alpacas to zebus.”

Best Selling Ritchie Waterers for Sheep & Goats

Source: Ritchie Industries, Conrad, IA  1-800-747-0222

It All Adds Up to A Happy Herd

A little planning goes a long way towards to maintaining a healthy and happy herd. When you think about adding sheep and/or goats to your homestead make sure you calculate how many animals your land can support, provide adequate shelter and fencing, invest in quality equipment and most of all, plan on enjoying spending time with your herd.