ConcernedSheep
Ridin' The Range
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2024
- Messages
- 20
- Reaction score
- 67
- Points
- 61
I've had a hard time finding information on rotationally grazing very small areas. We're planning to get some sheep as pets/lawnmowers for our 1.5 acre pasture. My questions are:
1. What's the easiest way to figure out the carrying capacity of pastures in my region? I've searched to the ends of the internet and found nothing except advice for people who already have animals. I understand there's a certain amount of "art" to grazing, but I need to figure out how many animals to start with. I've heard 2-3 is too few, they need a flock, but can our pasture support 4-5? Can I know before grazing them myself? I heard AUM maps exist but I have been unable to find any. When the previous grazier had sheep on this pasture, there were often 15+ at a time, and there was still a lot of plant growth (but he was not rotationally grazing, and also feeding a lot of bread... that's another story).
2. Let's say we land somewhere in the middle and end up with 3-4 sheep. How big should each paddock be? If the paddocks are too small/too large, how can I tell? I see some folks move their animals daily, others weekly or even monthly. Is this just a rhythm we will have to let the animals and the land teach us?
3. There is a permanent shelter in the pasture, but the paddocks would have the sheep moving around. if we create a paddock without shelter will they be okay in the rain/wind? I see folks say sheep don't need a covered shelter, but the thought of them standing out in a storm makes me sad. However I trust the advice of those more knowledgeable than I.
4. How important is soil testing? It isn't too expensive, but seems like kind of a pain. With a small-scale operation like ours, can we just offer mineral supplements and trust the sheep to balance themselves or is that naive?
5. What strength of fence charger should we get for such a small area? I see most of the lower power ones advertised for chickens/small animals, but most of the higher power ones say they're for areas of 20+ acres which seems like overkill for our small paddocks.
I understand I am probably a bit of an over-researcher, apologies if this comes off as neurotic. I know I cannot possibly answer every single question before getting the animals, there will be some things I will have to learn by doing... Thanks in advance for your help!
1. What's the easiest way to figure out the carrying capacity of pastures in my region? I've searched to the ends of the internet and found nothing except advice for people who already have animals. I understand there's a certain amount of "art" to grazing, but I need to figure out how many animals to start with. I've heard 2-3 is too few, they need a flock, but can our pasture support 4-5? Can I know before grazing them myself? I heard AUM maps exist but I have been unable to find any. When the previous grazier had sheep on this pasture, there were often 15+ at a time, and there was still a lot of plant growth (but he was not rotationally grazing, and also feeding a lot of bread... that's another story).
2. Let's say we land somewhere in the middle and end up with 3-4 sheep. How big should each paddock be? If the paddocks are too small/too large, how can I tell? I see some folks move their animals daily, others weekly or even monthly. Is this just a rhythm we will have to let the animals and the land teach us?
3. There is a permanent shelter in the pasture, but the paddocks would have the sheep moving around. if we create a paddock without shelter will they be okay in the rain/wind? I see folks say sheep don't need a covered shelter, but the thought of them standing out in a storm makes me sad. However I trust the advice of those more knowledgeable than I.
4. How important is soil testing? It isn't too expensive, but seems like kind of a pain. With a small-scale operation like ours, can we just offer mineral supplements and trust the sheep to balance themselves or is that naive?
5. What strength of fence charger should we get for such a small area? I see most of the lower power ones advertised for chickens/small animals, but most of the higher power ones say they're for areas of 20+ acres which seems like overkill for our small paddocks.
I understand I am probably a bit of an over-researcher, apologies if this comes off as neurotic. I know I cannot possibly answer every single question before getting the animals, there will be some things I will have to learn by doing... Thanks in advance for your help!