New to sheep

[horsejacks]

I am looking to start sheep breeding and I am trying to get as much info as possible. Can anyone suggest some great links, forums, info sites. Where to buy ewes from and rent rams? I live in BC Canada.
Thanks

Jackie

[Smithy]

Hi Jackie,

This is an interesting forum:

https://www.listserv.uu.se/archives/sheep-l.html

Here are a few links I find handy:

http://www.fraservalleyauction.com/mark
etreport2.htm

http://www.mcclarystockyards.com/msframe.html

http://www.valleyauction.ca/MarketReport.htm

http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app68/livestock?cat=Sell&cat1=Sheep %26 Goats

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/

http://www.cansheep.ca/

I am in northern BC and the local Buy and Sell and Bargain Finder usually have ads for sheep. If you are into purebreds, google them to bring up associations. They usually have a list of breeders.

Enjoy your new critters.

[woolpuller]

I don't believe in renting rams
You have to decide if you want to be in the commercial meat business, wool or show sheep.
Lots of web sites.
Maryland small ruminant
Many others.
Ontario gov't livestock
Codan-suffolks.com
Best of luck in your sheep project

[cakadu]

To add to what you've already been given, you have to decide if you want to be in the commercial sheep business or sell locally. The breed you buy will also have some impact on your marketing choices. Please note that I said marketing because there is direct marketing from the farm, working with a group of fellow sheep producers or working in the commercial sales end of things.

You can raise your sheep to a certain size and sell them to a feedlot for finishing or to a lamb buyer - much the same as cattle - or you can raise them to market weight and market them yourself.

Bear in mind that wool is pretty much a "give away" and has been for a number of years. Many folks find that the value of the wool just pays for the shearing costs. You can raise a hair sheep breed but often the lamb buyers will discount hair sheep breeds because they are not as aggressive in the feedlot.

We've been raising sheep for 14 years and have direct marketed the lamb for the entire time. This allows us to be in control of the product pretty much all the way through the entire process.

Things to look for in any breed are fertility and how will you handle multiples,whether they breed year round, what their maternal instincts are and so forth.

Ask the breeders questions that you need answers to in order to make an informed decision.

Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of sheep.