We run a flock of about 70 sheep.  We have two breeds: Coopworths and Katahdins.  The Coopworth is a wool breed prized by handspinners for its lustrous, crimpy fleece.  The breed was developed in New Zealand as a dual purpose breed (meat and wool) which would do well on a grass-based farm.   The Katahdin is the complete opposite--a sheep without wool!  They have a hair coat similar to goats.  The Katahdin was developed in the state of Maine as a meat animal which would not need shearing.

Both breeds have an important place here at the farm.  Our  Adopt-A-Sheep families, Sheep Camp kids, and other folks appreciate the traditional wooled breed.   However, we need lots of sheep for the lamb we sell to folks looking for local, grass-fed meat. Since I do my own shearing, I don’t mind not having to shear the other sheep!

Our sheep are out on pasture all year except for 6 weeks during lambing when they are in the barn under close observation. They eat grass from April to as late in the fall as possible, then they eat our own hay from the farm. During the last 6 weeks of pregnancy, the nutritional demands of the growing lambs cannot be met with forage, so we supplement with grain.
We use a variety of strategies to control worms including careful rotation to clean ground and selecting for genetic resistance.  We worm selected individuals only on an as-needed basis to avoid chemical resistance in the parasite population.