How Many Sheep Can I Have Per Acre?

[@navarrohillsranch]

We use the 1 cow unit = 6 hair sheep units in our area. We could probably up the number to 7 but I like a buffer.

[@tonydoggett7627]

In Australia, each rural land title will have a stocking rate DSE number which stands for Dry Sheep Equivalent. It gives you an idea of the stocking rates without harming the environment. You also have to factor in Kangaroos that jump fences 🦘

[@alexboros1751]

The environment is a fukn mess. That standard is BULLSHIT! I think I have higher standards then retarderers. That's my problem yeah.

[@Hassaan911]

Actually over the past month I was doing this exercise for all animals I want to raise on my retirement homestead in time. I researched Chicken pasture area requirements, Ducks, Rabbits, Goats and Sheep. Of course I kept in mind the rotation resting principle before re-grazing. And I’m interested to learn more here to correct my analysis if so. Thank you for the video.

[@fl3082]

His hat is 1/3 a cow unit

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

:)

[@raybankes7668]

Dont let the wind blow

[@이현인-b5i]

Hello! The animals on the farm look happy. from South Korea

[@maddog8148]

Dan the man!!! Thank you again my friend!! God bless you and the family!!! Stay safe my friend!!👍-Marc.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

You're welcome! I hope this was helpful!

[@deelg8344]

This is so great! Thanks Dan for your generous advice!

[@sheppyoutside5836]

short answer most pastures can handle 3-6 sheep/acre not including winter feed

[@matthewquirk4680]

Is “pasture” a unit of measure?

[@sheppyoutside5836]

@@matthewquirk4680 pasture: land covered with grass and other low plants suitable for grazing animals, especially cattle or sheep. acre: a unit of land area equal to 4,840 square yards. sheep: a domesticated ruminant animal with a thick woolly coat and (typically only in the male) curving horns. It is kept in flocks for its wool or meat, and is proverbial for its tendency to follow others in the flock. sheep/acre could be considered a unit of measure, pasture is just a place, like forest or mall or parking lot

[@bettinah.7429]

Great idea on the new ‘series’,I am sure this will definitely help many people out. While I have never fed animals with the intention of creating food for myself I have spent many years of my life feeding animals. My horses in particular required careful feed/pasture management,their were times my pastures were very small and my hay grain requirements were greater. Different times of the year the pasture itself has different nutritional value, spring is very rich where the heat of the summer and the later fall the nutritional make up changes. Bush hogging the fields and manure management keeps the optimal grazing length and helps deal with parasite and weed pressure. Also with my horses age and wether they were in training or work also impacted feed. The same principles apply to any grazing animal really.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

yes!

[@kenlee5015]

Hey Dan, excellent presentation. Glad to see you back at it. Just found you again because of your trip to my town, Troy, MT. Hopefully YT keeps us in touch this time.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

You're in Troy?!

[@kenlee5015]

@@TheGrassfedHomestead yep. Last we talked I was in Newport, Wa and you hooked me up with a realtor. He didn't work out, that happens. But we found our acreage just over the border in Montana and loving it.

[@bohemoth1]

I know that I am going to love your channel since I have a farm in Puerto Rico with over 90 acres of land and a non navigational river flowing through the middle of my farm.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

wow! That's amazing!

[@incorectulpolitic]

can non citizens own farm in puerto rico and live on the farm?

[@jakekeese1522]

Great idea in a new series

[@akindofmagick]

Great new series, Dan!!

[@spudgn]

I’m leasing 7400 square foot farms in the Philippines. They call it pawning. I pay a fee and have use of the land for the contracted time. This includes all fruit harvest on the farm during the lease period. At the end, my original money is returned or the lease is again for that period of years. This repeats until my investment/ loan is returned. I want to rotational graze between the trees in the orchard. You video was quite informative and an easy thing to follow.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

I'm glad it was helpful!

[@muchimi]

thank you thank you thank you!! I'm just beginning to look for land to lease.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

You're welcome! Be sure to check out this follow-up video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3m2dnWlm9Noqsk

[@davidfoeckler7942]

How can I keep a ram with a few ewes on a little over an acre? Keeping the ewes and ram separate with rotational grazing seems complicated

[@melody1096]

Depends on the conditions

[@williambryan2804]

Hi Dan. Nice description.

[@teachingandlearning]

The state will also have codes to regulate the quantity of sheep per acre. In my state it's either 10 or 15.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

I've never heard of that. That's bizarre.

[@betimbektesoski4601]

Thank you

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

You're welcome

[@tedbastwock3810]

Probably my favorite of your videos. Thanks for this. P.S. I'm in GA and want St Croix so bad, but having hard time finding them within a reasonable distance.. any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

St. Croix's are part of the katahdin gene pool. You'd be more likely to find katadhins but check local harvest dot com and eat wild dot com and you can find lamb producers in your area. Go to their websites and see what they're raising. You might find shepherds on there who don't advertise on any other space.

[@tedbastwock3810]

@@TheGrassfedHomestead nice, thanks so much

[@edkempfer4012]

You could ck. with Greg Judy. He is in Missouri but may know of someone closer to Ga.

[@Kim-J312]

Best knowledgeable info on sheep on u-tube. ! Thanks !

[@watchinb]

Looking for advice. I have just over 2 acres. I live on 1/2 an acre. I am wanting to fence off about an acre and only keep 1 ram and 2 to 3 ewes. I am not doing this for money, I am wanting to be more self sufficient. My land is slightly marshy where I would have the sheep. I am just going to be farming these for food for my family, and selling any additional possibly to the processing plant just to cover my expenses on the upkeep. Is this a TERRIBLE idea? I am not sold on doing this, but it is something I want to do besides my chickens.

[@theblossomingmagnoliaebay]

Thank you. Can you address the question of can single men or women be successful at regenerative farming? I'm an older, single woman. I'd really appreciate it.

[@SomeoneStoleMyHandle]

I'm new to sheep, but have kept pigs and goats using regenerative farming techniques, I will say you can with the condition being if you have plenty of free time. Alternatively you could see if neighbors or their children are willing to help in exchange for a portion of milk/wool/meat; also if you live close to a school with an agricultural class, there might be students willing to help that don't have the acreage to have their own farm but want experience, that's how I got into raising livestock.

[@kathygalvin4325]

Good video!

[@Mansahx]

Hey. How do you butcher your sheep? And at what age do you butcher them? Thx

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

I harvest only using a knife at around 7 months

[@andylyon3867]

If you can irrigate from the pond that will really benefit the animals. Can easily double production with just now and then using heavy irrigation to supplement rain.

[@andylyon3867]

It's the keeping grass from going into dormancy when soil dries out that keeps it ready to grow when rain comes, other wise a certain amount of rain must occur before dormancy ends then growth finally starts again.

[@ClaireOSullivanAuthor]

Question will be at the end if you want to skim or skip this part. Our neighbors are raising 17 sheep/lambs + 2 goats + 2 horses, chickens, ducks. While I love that, they acreage seems quite small. They have 3 acres, some of which is house + chicken/duck coop. So we are giving them our lawn, our back acre as well, putting that to 5 acres. The neighbors next door to me are willing to have their acreage mowed down as well. That's another 3 acres. Everything varies. The "lawn" area took about 2.5 weeks (weeds that pretend they are lawn). The back 1/2 acre, about 3 months when the growth was so high we were considering a bushmower; now it takes about a month for them to mow that. The neighbors takes at least 2 months. We have paddocks er, per se, just simply by having gated front yard, backyard, back acre. Since the goats push around the sheep, they have to be kept separately with the horses... meaning thus far, the rotation plan isn't going well. We feed the pregnant ewes and their lambs creep and green hay, and the rams, hay, grass, and everyone gets a little bit of corn once a day as a treat. So they get to graze on what's left, they are fed twice a day and we are aiming at approx 4 pounds of forage/hay/pellets (oh yes they get that too). I know they plan to get their lambs and a ram or two to market but they have more lambs and goats on the way, soon. They lamb and kid twice a year. Anyway, this was good information. I don't want to be the bossy neighbor but I also don't want to see them not wormed and starving. Right now as the neighbors are building a barn, we've cleared out the carport and bedded it down with straw to keep them warm in this colder, wetter weather. How often should the goats, sheep, and horses be dewormed? I have heard some folks say they rotate three different dewormers. We purchased the creep and pellets, and they have dewormer in them, but I know that they have to have a routine dewormer or according to one, if you can rotate the paddocks until there are a good 4 inches or more, and measure the sward, switch them to another paddock at 2 inches - worming may not be necessary... SO many questions. THANK YOU FOR THIS information.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Yeah, I do rotational grazing and when I had breeding stock, I did garlic/molasses drenching quarterly which combined, work really well at mitigating parasites and making pharmaceuticals unnecessary. That's for sheep. I don't know anything about horses, though.

[@fugaspapa2818]

Great channel; keep going. I live in Tamworth England and wanting to start a homestead on just a 2 acre land. However, all the videos i see on utube are american and for a while i thought buying a Dorper sheep was the best thing! My main goal; is to raise goats and sheep on the 2 acre land. My objectives are 3 fold in the following priority: 1. Produce healthy meat for my family; 2. Keep the lawn and bushes in order 3. Sell any excess to buffer the costs. I have read and listened to so so much but they are all confusing now. set up barns and shelters for all of them; create paddocks with fencing capable of keeping goats in; use electric fencing 😂😂 etc. start with sheep first as they are more manageable and later add the goats which previously my first choice? 1 Ram and 6 ewes for breeding? Suffolk sheep in tamworth?😂. I also want to be 100% grass fed! mmm. of course, i have several businesses so this is a childhood dream which i want to fulfil. Used to do it as a child in africa where it was not this complex! of course the weather is different! I think i need to visit a sheep farm and actually see what they do! one question though; did you finally stop using the electric fencing and dividing all your land with wooden fencing? Acre is 2 lands

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

After downsizing to just two feeder lambs a year, I switched to using a mobile pen instead of fussing with electric fence. It works great if you have just a couple sheep.

[@cjtheprop-maker]

Hi Dan. I live part time with my dad on a farm in Richmond KZN, South Africa. My father has a flock of Dorper/Damara sheep and I'm pretty sure he has too many sheep for the amount of land we have them grazing at a time. See, we have 40 sheep in our flock (not counting new lambs that are continuously being born). According to what I read online, the reccommended ratio is 50 sheep per 1 hectare (10000m2) All well and good so far, only our land is barely 2 hectares, (1.9 hectares being generous) and my dad is a right skin-flint and refuses to spend money on proper coralling equipment and fencing materials. Brcause of this, we wind up having to free-range graze our 40 sheep on half of the whole property at a time but because they are free to roam where they will, they tend to want to break through to the neighbour's property or worse, the nearby side of the road to get at fresh grazing. Should I take him to task about it? If he does currently have too many sheep, is he in danger of any kind of penalty? I beg you to answer my questions, if anything, just so I can give veritable evidence to show him he's doing it wrong.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Over-grazing will degrade pasture quality and you might see an increase in parasite issues. I think Alan Savory does management intensive grazing teaching in South Africa. Do some searching on experts like him doing work in your region and see if you can get your dad to watch some of their content.

[@webstuff56]

Well done video. You covered all the bases and explained them well.

[@kenman200]

Outstanding! Blessings

[@DiverseKitty]

This is great! I was just wondering this question. I can't wait for that other guy to come!

[@dmpwa]

Thanks Dan - good info

[@catherinedarling433]

Great vlog!!!

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Thank you!!

[@t0dd000]

Have 11 cleared acres. 56 sheep at our peak. This was fine during 3/4 of the year. Katadhins in North Carolina. Enough acres then, but not enough acres to produce the hay needed for the winter. Hay gets crazy expensive FAST feeding that many sheep. Also, our farm was a horse farm beforehand. Continuously grazed, therefore the pastures were pretty degraded. Market. Wholesale, we could sell a zillion sheep in no time at all. Per cut is slower by a lot. There is a big market for sheep, just a less obvious market. Experiment. Over time you'll need more infrastructure. Plus, don't neglect deworming and vaccinations. Parasites are rough on sheep. Cover. You need shade, not cover (depending on your location). I'll put them into the woods during hurricanes and that's about it.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

All good points! That's great you have such a huge market. By me, it's not great.

[@t0dd000]

@@TheGrassfedHomestead The Hispanic and Muslim communities demand a lot of lamb. Eastern European as well. We are a diverse region (Raleigh-Durham, NC). Once they know you exist, they come find you. I'd recommend reaching out to those communities in your area. I betcha the market it bigger than you think. Or not. It may be saturated. Here, it isn't.

[@reynaldmontano3640]

How much sheep in one acre

[@Black_Samurai-fish]

I have 2.5 acres of pasture, I’m wanting to get babydoll sheep. I’m in IL zone 5. I want just enough sheep to feed my family. I’m thinking 3 female and one male. Does this sound reasonable? The only other animals on that land is chickens, quail and ducks.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Sounds reasonable

[@bryantaskins4448]

I am familiar with an animal unit but not cow unit. Are these terms used interchangeably?

[@jeepdriver7603]

That all makes good sense, but it's not obvious to the newbie. Thanks.

[@matthewquirk4680]

So, you have 2 acres broken up into 45 pastures on a six week cycle? Is that right? How many sheep per pasture?

[@irenmolnar221]

Grreting from Transylvania we have about 500 for 2000 acre

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

that's awesome!

[@Peter-yk8tw]

ok, this is what I do not get. Call me stupid. but if I have say 30 acres of good grass and just say I am figuring 3 sheep per acre, that is 90 ewes. Now the 30 acres is divided into 6 pastures or paddocks, do I put all 90 sheep on the one paddock for a few days or however long if will take to chew down to 4 inch tall grass and then move them all to the next paddock? And when does the lamb count as a ewe? Or how is it counted?

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Yes to your first question unless you have rams. You might want to consider separating the flock for controlled breeding. As for how things are counted, it goes by animal units which is determined by 1000 lbs. 1000 lbs cow = 1AU or four 250 lb rams = 1 AU

[@bjmanimalsbreedingfarm4489]

Thx so much for da knowledge

[@maryfrancesc714]

Can you use only movable fence to rotate on about 2acres or should you have a perimeter fence and use movable to rotate within that area?

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Having a perimeter fence is definitely best practice but you can do it without

[@maryfrancesc714]

@@TheGrassfedHomestead I have almost 2 acres thinking of getting 4 st Croix sheep. You said you split your 2 acres into 45 paddock’s. Did I miss understand? What size is that. By the way I just discover your channel!! Oh my what a great job you do!! Thank you so much.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

@@maryfrancesc714 no, you didn't misunderstand. Thank you for that feedback!

[@incorectulpolitic]

How did people before water pumps give water to their animals?

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

gravity from water stored at higher elevation

[@cruzbeckham2504]

I'm a new subscriber & I really enjoy your channel .... Even though I'm vegan & don't believe in killing animals.... I do appreciate the way you care for the animals & give them a nice happy healthy life & I'm enjoying learning all the important information your teaching & telling us about homesteading & how 2 raise the animals .... Stay Safe Wear a mask 😷 have a great Sunday ....

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Hi Cruz. Thank you for watching and being respectful about of differences. I do eat meat but I believe in doing it responsibly by giving the animals the best life we can. I appreciate the comment.

[@safffff1000]

You didn't mention the height of the forage you want to leave so the plants recover faster, I see your all at lawn height

[@tonyblast4592]

Hi there, do you HAVE to do rotational grazing if you don't have that many sheep? I have 6 on a little bit less than 2acres of pasture. It seems like a lot of work and I like to see them roam freely on the land. What do you think? I live in a pretty wet temperate area where the grass is green and rich. thanks!

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

It is still best practice to manage the grazing for pasture and livestock health

[@gophersgirl]

Agreed it specifically reduces the amount of parasites, especially if you chase the sheep with chickens 3days later...

[@DiverseKitty]

I have a question! How did you find and transfer your sheep? I'm looking into livestock carriers but they're very very expensive, and I'm not sure on quality. Is it possible to transfer them in an utility enclosed trailer?

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

when I got breeding stock, my breeder delivered them in a livestock trailer but I've transported many a sheep in a cage in the bed of my pickup truck. You can see it in several of my videos. An enclosed trailer would be ok for short distances during cool weather. Transporting livestock is stressful for them and doing so over a long distance in the heat would be problematic for them without ventilation

[@twk178s]

I haul my goats on a flatbed trailer with a cage I made from 2 wire cattle panels. Cost $45 to build and all cut/bent/wired. No welding. Have hauled 10 goats with it behind a Kia Rio before. Sure gets a lot of looks. LoL

[@Islamicworld-vi6is]

Thanks bro I got alot information

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Happy to help

[@ohdear14]

Rule of thumb 4 sheep to one acre, and one cow to one acre.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

that's a good starting point

[@marip6291]

THANK YOU RACHEL!!! I knew it was something like that because I learned all that 30+ years ago in my Animal Husbandry classes.... It seems that things are becoming over complicated where simple rule-of-thumb formulas are over looked fotr a more complex (and overly technical) answer; where you find at the end of it; the question is still not answered... Thanks so much for your imput; I've been trying to get that question answered for a while now. Shalom.

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

@@marip6291 the technical answer is how small scale becomes profitable…. The rotation allows for less parasites, better forage, with still a larger number of animals. If you don’t want the technical answer, than you won’t be profitable at small scale.

[@lynnbrewer43]

Good info. Thanks

[@dorothyallen3614]

Great information

[@applesmith9137]

If you don't have pasture, or at least, only an acre of it (I basically live in a suburb), is it fine to supplement their diet most of the year?

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Yeah, I feed a lot of hay since my pasture is not the best quality.

[@rebeccadees2300]

Is it worth raising 2 or 3 wool sheep for their fleece?

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

I'm not sure how many is a good minimum to make it worth it. I don't have fiber experience

[@zeneithsarkar9362]

Sir how and when should we exactly shear a sheep especially merino sheep

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

I believe the spring is the best time but if you don't know how to shear, you need to hire an expert to do it. It is a skill that comes with training

[@redouaneyahiaoui2970]

شكرا

[@monsanto.official]

so how many?

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3m2dnWlm9Noqsk

[@monsanto.official]

@@TheGrassfedHomestead gotcha, so like 20 per acre

[@TJHutchExotics]

👍🏻

[@irenmolnar221]

Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania

[@irenmolnar221]

the more land you have is the better they like to move miles

[@suyantooo1188]

Domba yang terbaik, my hoby is piara domba 👍

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Domba bagus untuk dipelihara

[@lettytinycreations]

Can you have a cow with sheep's together

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

yes

[@lettytinycreations]

@@TheGrassfedHomestead Thank you

[@Ptitnain2]

Excellent vulgarisation.

[@alexboros1751]

With TREES build a HIRISE GROW , GROW levels of grass & flowers to eat & breathe using minimal space & water. get a treadmill they can power the massage machines & wateva else they NEED 2b CONTENT/HAPPY. Do the math. Or you can not think about it & do wat everyone else says.

[@s.venkateswarpatnaik2484]

My Request to you all and scientists and Farmers market to grow such biggest Farm in my State Odisha, Bhubaneswar, Khurda, Cuttack in Odisha state in India

[@waltobringer2928]

Hello!

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Hello!

[@matthewjohnson6360]

If I had a farm I'd do sheep and sell to a Koshar butcher

[@TheNOT4REAL]

🤯

[@Lucius_murrius]

The music are so bad in the background

[@jahangir2515]

✌️🇧🇩🇧🇩🇧🇩🇧🇩😍

[@YathishShamaraj]

That pink shirt??? Why??? It just put me off😢

[@Gee-lo6cb]

Does not ever answer the question.

[@jennifermorgan5846]

Creeks are better

[@steyer-crmg]

My first question about the 14 Acre property would be “how big is the lake?”.

[@TimothyShook-fc3hw]

Lol no help

[@iringsofer9703]

So how about just answer the question. A ball park figure is better than to go on and on the way you do. Is that so hard for you to do. 5 sheep per acre. See I did it for you.

[@lonelylion3582]

Honestly you made it long story talking about yourself and addv ??? Its very simple example , you can say in one acr you can raise 100 head the rest on him to figur out about feeding

[@shaunnorthcutt3027]

That shirt is worse than your dad's politics.

[@junefields1512]

Thank you