If you’ve been shopping for a suit or other fine woolen garment, you may have seen several marketed as being made with worsted wool. But what is worsted wool and what can you expect from a garment made with this natural fiber? Let’s find out in today’s article. I’ll also explain the process used to created worsted wool. Worsted Wool vs Regular Wool Worsted wool is a yarn of the highest quality. A village in England called Worstead was the place where manufacturing of this yarn first took place in the twelfth century. Worsted woolen material is smoother, finer, and more durable than regular woo ..read more

To keep your sheep safe, you’ve got to know about all of the plants that are poisonous to them. Although sheep will often avoid eating these plants instinctually, this isn’t something you can count on. And there are many poisonous plants that sheep will try to eat. In this article, I will explore some common sheep poisonous plants that you may find or identify in your pastures. These plants all pose a risk to sheep health and may lead to illness or even death. You should remove all of sheep poisonous plants from your sheep’s pastures. After sharing the list of toxic sheep plants, I’ll discuss ..read more

Are you thinking about getting into sheep farming and wondering what creep feeding is? What on earth is a “creep,” anyway? These are questions I’ll tackle today. I will explain why creep feeding is important, as well as provide tips for creep feeding lambs for maximum growth. I will also discuss how to prevent overeating disease (enterotoxemia) until lambs are vaccinated for it. What is Creep Feeding? A creep is basically a separate pen where young sheep (lambs) can enter and exit through a creep panel, but mature sheep (ewes) cannot because the gaps are too small. There is hay and grain avail ..read more

Whether you own a small hobby farm or run a commercial operation, there is a proper marketing technique for wool fiber or wool products when raising sheep for wool production. This includes marketing your raw fleece, yarn, knitted and felted items, or even crafts. Marketing strategies need to be adjusted to the changing trends. Whether you are a seasoned wool producer who has become stagnant or just starting off, it’s best to check out the necessary info to keep your wool selling. In this article, we’ll go over the basics of marketing wool and wool products, as well as tips for determining fai ..read more

If you are a sheep farmer or hope to have a flock one day, understanding the different medications and antibiotics for sheep that exist, and how to administer them is essential. In this guide, we will go over the different types of medication for sheep, important medications to have on hand for sheep, and dosage charts for sheep antibiotics and other commonly used medications. Remember, always consult with a veterinarian before making decisions on medication for your sheep. This article is designed to provide general guidance and information only, and should not be taken as a replacement of or ..read more

If you have sheep or you plan to start a flock, you need to understand their teeth and how important they are for the animal’s health. Dental health is important for any kind of animal, and it’s especially vital for sheep. After all, they are grazing animals. How well a sheep can graze depends on its dental condition and health. Beyond this, sheep teeth can help you determine a sheep’s age. In this article, I’ll explain how to age sheep by their teeth. I’ll also explain some dental problems to watch out for and avoid when selecting breeding stock for your flock. Understanding Sheep Teeth There ..read more

Rotational grazing can be extremely important in sheep farming operations. It’s the process of separating large fields into small paddocks in which sheep graze more intensely before they are moved into the next paddock. A good rotational grazing system can reduce parasite load, improve pasture quality, and mean your grasslands produce more feed for your sheep. Today, I’m going to talk about rotational grazing paddock design. I’ll share some options and ideas to help you design the right rotational grazing paddock system for your farm, including tips that can save you time and effort over the g ..read more

New to knitting or crocheting? There are many different types of yarn for knitting to get acquainted with. There are handspun and machine-spun yarns, as well as yarns made from different materials, such as wool and acrylic. Keep reading to find our complete guide to the different types of yarn you can use to knit. In addition to covering the different types of yarn for knitting, how they differ, and the types of projects each type of yarn is best suited for, I’ll also share some details about yarn weights and how to choose the perfect yarn for your knitting project. Handspun and Machine-Spun Y ..read more

As a sheep farmer, you must know how to wean lambs from their mother’s milk. It’s essential to put them onto grain and hay correctly and at the right time. Weaning lambs improperly leaves lambs at risk of different issues and problems developing later in its life. In this article, I’ll go over how to tell when the best time to wean lambs is. I’ll also include some tips based on my 20+ years of experience raising sheep to do so properly. When is the Best Time to Wean? Weaning occurs when lambs no longer have access to milk from their mothers. Generally speaking, weaning also separates the lamb ..read more

Like hay, haylage and silage are forage, and they’re often fed to sheep. They are different from hay, however, in the fact that they are ensiled, which means that they’re fermented. Today, I’ll explore key differences and compare haylage vs silage for sheep, so you can choose the best type of feed for your flock. The amount of moisture in forage when it’s baled is a crucial factor. It usually determines whether it will be regular hay or ensiled. If it’s ensiled, it will be either haylage or silage. Other factors involved include storage form, the type of forage, palatability, cost, and nutrit ..read more