Description
Raising sheep on pasture requires a basic understanding of pasture management, breeding & lambing, and mitigation methods for common disease. I walk the beginner shepherd through each aspect; sharing vivid pictures, easy to follow instruction, and personal stories from my own journey with sheep.
In 2018, my family bought a flock of 35 sheep to graze on 30 acres. We bought the sheep with no previous experience raising 4-footed livestock.
In our first year, 40% of our lambs died before they hit 8 months old.
This was because we were unaware of the basics of raising sheep.
Over the course of 5 years, my family and I earned a hard and fast education on raising sheep. We also began to practice regenerative pasture management.
Through what we learned (as outlined in this book), death rate on our sheep farm went from 40% in 2019 to less than 5% in 2022! The industry average for sheep is 15%, so this decrease was phenomenal.
In 2021, I purchased the flock from my family to launch a diversified, farming-for-profit operation.
Nothing will eliminate the learning curve, but I have written this book with a desire to soften it for beginner shepherds everywhere.
The information in this book is best suited for small flocks on 30 acres or less. View this information as a springboard for continuing education and not as a complete guidebook. As a shepherd, the learning never ends…
Christina Strickland (verified owner) –
LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! I think I was expecting a little less with this book when I bought it then it actually is. This hardcover book is absolutely beautifully put together, organized, the pictures are close up and sharp, the information presented is thorough, I highly recommend any newbie or want-to-be sheep farmer to buy this book, and work your way through it to accomplish your farm goals. I am even going to share this with more established sheep farmers that I know because some have complained of some of the issues this book covers how to overcome! In short it is worth every penny and I am so very glad that I purchased this before making my decisions to go forward with my own small homestead! This gives me a clear understanding of what to do and how to do it, so I can waste not, want not. I also love the glory it gives our Creator throughout and know He is well pleased with what was produced here as well.
D Carter (verified owner) –
I was super excited to hear the shepherdess was putting out a book digging deep into pasture sheep. And I was not disappointed! I read the whole thing in one day. It’s very informative with lots of helpful photos. It’s a step by step all -ewe- need to know about getting started raising and properly caring for pasture sheep. Things to be aware of, solutions for when problems arise (and we all know they will), product recommendations, the list goes on and on. Each page is beautifully laid out and easy to follow. I highly recommend it!
I have found many farmers (local and online) don’t want to be so reliant on grocery stores, but yet a large number of them are reliant on a feed store. I thought surely there is a better way. It didn’t take much searching to run onto Joel Salatin and others who are on similar missions. All of which are wonderful resources. This is definitely right up there with them, as a useful book I can reference to again and again!
James Henry (verified owner) –
The Shepherdess has created a book that is more than just a book! It is a multi-media experience that will benefit anyone contemplating raising sheep on pasture. The information provided is rooted in experience and wisdom, and the photography is exceptional. QR codes will take the reader to videos that provide further hands-on, practical help regarding a variety of subjects related to sheep and pasture management. The chapter entitled “9 Things Your Sheep Farm Needs” is invaluable for anyone thinking of adding sheep to property that has previously been used for cattle, horses, or other livestock. Even if you’re not considering sheep right now, this hard-cover book is beautiful and inspirational! I could not be happier with my purchase of this book, and I highly recommend it to everyone who lives and loves the agrarian lifestyle.
Hannah Gaudette –
Absolutely invaluable resource! Even if you don’t raise sheep, you need this book. Besides the wealth of information, the layout is incredibly easy to digest. Clear, professional, and engaging. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! This book needs to be part of every farmer’s library.
Julie Brinker –
We were having brunch with my extended family when the book arrived. I had the girls get it from the mailbox and quickly opened it. We love all the pictures and the explanations, even Grandma agreed. This book is great for the beginner sheep farmers or anyone that wants to learn more about grazing and land management.
Paula (verified owner) –
This book is beautifully and thoughtfully done. We have other books to learn about sheep but I love the perspective of a novice going through from the beginning what is what… Not to mention the qr codes linking to videos. We are super visual and this book is top notch on that end. My daughter is preparing to purchase her first sheep in the spring and she’s soaking all of this in. Thank you for this resource and your content.
Rachel Hester –
At first glance, this is one of those gorgeous ‘coffee table’ books you leave out for company to leaf through and admire the pictures. The photographs are absolutely stunning. But then you take a closer look and read the information the photos are illustrating and realize there is a goldmine of information. Finally in your third read through, you see that the author has sprinkled gems of wisdom amongst the photos, along with fun little antidotes and quips from the sheep. This book is great for all ages of shepherd. My four month old loves staring at the pictures and my husband and I have gained insights into better animal husbandry by reading what the author has to share. I definitely recommend this to any shepherd, especially those invested in making a pasture based sheep system work.
Allen Jones –
It’s been said “a picture is worth a thousand words”; whilst the text is direct and spot on informative, the effective use of real meaningful pictures convey complex wisdom into a simple and complete understanding. The sections are well organized to quickly find the information I needed in my dairy sheep operation of East Friesians raised on pasture. Even though it says it scope is “The Basics of raising sheep on pasture”, this should be appreciated as the building blocks of sheep management holistically. Enjoyed it and I am sure you will find it very useful! Thanks for the Shepherdess to devote time to produce such a well developed multi media experience!
E. Ehlinger –
Crisp, easy-to-understand descriptions accompany gorgeous, helpful photos. This book is definitely a must-have resource to anyone interested in sheep!
Shanda Morgan (verified owner) –
Just recieved “The Basics of Raising Sheep on Pasture” at the Post Office (it was on time but I was late to pick it up)…absolutely LOVE it! It was exactly what I’d hoped for as it provides necessary information and direction for those interested in getting started in raising sheep! Wonderful work, and from cover to cover this is a piece of art that I enjoy leaving out for others to view and appreciate… thank you so very much!
Best regards!
Bradley David Good (verified owner) –
Great book, easy fun read. Get it!
William Hollingworth (verified owner) –
Everything I hoped for! This books holds no information back; with great visuals and scalable QR codes, this will provide everything you need and more!