What livestock is good for a beginner?

[Womwotai]

HikerFrog, please don't be offended. I think everyone here is doing it because they get pleasure in some way from their animals and/or farm in addition to any other purpose the livestock may have. I think BossRoo only wanted to be sure you are aware that barnyard animals CAN harm you in ways that domestic pets usually can not.

I personally do pretty much think of my livestock as just that. They don't get named and each species was selected specifically for what they can provide for me - food. That is not to say I don't get enormous pleasure from them. Just yesterday I went to stand in the sheep/goat shelter for an hour in a blowing snow-storm that piled up drifts several feet high in places, watching the sheep and goats contentedly munching on their hay. Because watching them gives me pleasure.

I have friends who think of their animals as their children. They refer to themselves as "Mommy" and "Daddy" and their multiple animals will be referred to as "brother" or "sister" in reference to each other. They live in the house and wear people clothes and get people food treats. Most of all, their every interaction is interpreted as if they ARE people and while I respect each person's right to raise their animals as they wish (as long as no cruelty or neglect is involved), it is only the latter that I believe is a mistake. For example, a chicken doesn't run to you because it loves you - it's little brain isn't even capable of that emotion. It runs to you because it has learned that sometimes when you approach you carry treats and therefore it is worth running to you every time "just in case". A rooster who spurs you doesn't do it because he "hates" you - again, he isn't even capable of hate. He spurs you because he sees you as a threat to his hens, and his instinct is to protect his hens from threats. Interpreting the behavior of a dog or cat as if it is a human is usually not dangerous, but doing the same with a sheep, goat, pig, cow or horse can result in injury.

But there is nothing wrong with getting sheep or goats because you like seeing them out grazing and you want to give them names and be able to handle them. You don't have to breed them or use them for meat, milk or fiber in order to enjoy them. It is good for pasture to be grazed and have the by-products of the grazing animals added as fertilizer, so I say "go for it"

 

[Womwotai]

He wanted a cow but I didn't feel my land was large enough. It is about 2.25 acres where about 1.5 will be used for the livestock.

Cattle are social animals and one kept alone won't be very happy so the real question is "is the pasture big enough for two cows?" 1.5 acres would be pushing it and would require a LOT of supplemental hay. So I think you are making the smart choice thinking about sheep and goats instead. Besides, cow hooves are much harder on the land, and cow pies are visible from far away. Sheep and goat poops keep the pasture looking nice unless you're right on top of them

 

[Mike CHS]

This link has a members page with information for quite a few farms in SC with several upstate. When we first started looking we used a similar page in Tennessee to locate farms with live stock we were interested in. We have already made a couple of close friends after visiting their places.

http://www.scsheep.com/index.htm

 

[hikerfrog99]

I know you probably are asking Bossroo the question in your last post... but I'd like to add something.

Often people like some small goats or sheep to keep down brush or help mow the grass so to speak. There is NOTHING wrong with that and these animals are such great company! I have a doe that is a Nigerian Dwarf... she is sweet not all in your business all the time and we LOVE her... she is a low producing (milk) goat that generally has singles. I go back and forth about selling her... honestly I need higher production... she would make a great pet and would be good if someone wanted too have a little milk but doesn't necessarily care one way or another. So why is she still here??? Because we really love her and are very attached we would want her to go to a "more pet-like" home, but also a forever home. We also have a goat that is completely infertile, made it through listeria, is a bit wobbly from it ... where is she? In our field. Yep... the forever "pet". Each person makes their own personal decisions reguarding these issues. I hatched 100's of chicks every year... only people want pullets not cockerels... so we raise them up with great care, free ranged, quality feed, always respected but at 16 weeks we slaughter and fill our freezer. Some ask how we can do it. I guess because we know what our animals eat, know they have had a good life, ans we know we slaughter humanely.

I am excited that you will be venturing in to another area of farming. Hopefully you will keep us posted on your journey!

I sure will!!

 

[woodsie]

I you want pleasure / pets and perhaps some milk I would strongly suggest a few mini-milker does. Especially ones that were bottle raised and disbudded. I think this would be a great start for what you are looking for. Mine are easy on the fences, comical and very sweet. They come up to you looking for attention and treats and are not too big to be a danger or even intimating.

I do have hair sheep, and have a couple that are very friendly and enjoy a scratch, a bottle baby and one that was raised in small pen with lots of kids…the majority will tolerate being touched, maybe, but not exactly affectionate and some are downright flighty or mean. I wouldn't keep them however if we weren't eating them. The goats, I couldn't have a farm without them and would keep them around even if they are econonmic "losers", which they are not right now, I have a good market for babies and love the milk.

I think the warning was not that you shouldn't get them as pets, but that sometimes with livestock you have tough calls to make…they haven't been bred for pets and you do get the occassional "mean one" that needs to be dealt with (as in put into the freezer). I had a sweet ewe lamb that was the most friendly to me but when my kids turned around she would hurl them 5 feet in the air…we ate her even though we liked her.

Hope this helps.

 

[hikerfrog99]

HikerFrog, please don't be offended. I think everyone here is doing it because they get pleasure in some way from their animals and/or farm in addition to any other purpose the livestock may have. I think BossRoo only wanted to be sure you are aware that barnyard animals CAN harm you in ways that domestic pets usually can not.

I personally do pretty much think of my livestock as just that. They don't get named and each species was selected specifically for what they can provide for me - food. That is not to say I don't get enormous pleasure from them. Just yesterday I went to stand in the sheep/goat shelter for an hour in a blowing snow-storm that piled up drifts several feet high in places, watching the sheep and goats contentedly munching on their hay. Because watching them gives me pleasure.

I have friends who think of their animals as their children. They refer to themselves as "Mommy" and "Daddy" and their multiple animals will be referred to as "brother" or "sister" in reference to each other. They live in the house and wear people clothes and get people food treats. Most of all, their every interaction is interpreted as if they ARE people and while I respect each person's right to raise their animals as they wish (as long as no cruelty or neglect is involved), it is only the latter that I believe is a mistake. For example, a chicken doesn't run to you because it loves you - it's little brain isn't even capable of that emotion. It runs to you because it has learned that sometimes when you approach you carry treats and therefore it is worth running to you every time "just in case". A rooster who spurs you doesn't do it because he "hates" you - again, he isn't even capable of hate. He spurs you because he sees you as a threat to his hens, and his instinct is to protect his hens from threats. Interpreting the behavior of a dog or cat as if it is a human is usually not dangerous, but doing the same with a sheep, goat, pig, cow or horse can result in injury.

But there is nothing wrong with getting sheep or goats because you like seeing them out grazing and you want to give them names and be able to handle them. You don't have to breed them or use them for meat, milk or fiber in order to enjoy them. It is good for pasture to be grazed and have the by-products of the grazing animals added as fertilizer, so I say "go for it"

That is exactly what I meant. I get pleasure out of watching my chickens. I sit there for a long time just to hear them chatter. That is the same effect I see when I think of the sheep. Saying hello and just giving a pat. That's all. I don't expect them to play with me or anything

 

[hikerfrog99]

This link has a members page with information for quite a few farms in SC with several upstate. When we first started looking we used a similar page in Tennessee to locate farms with live stock we were interested in. We have already made a couple of close friends after visiting their places.

http://www.scsheep.com/index.htm

Thank you so much! I finally found 1 not so far away

 

[hikerfrog99]

I you want pleasure / pets and perhaps some milk I would strongly suggest a few mini-milker does. Especially ones that were bottle raised and disbudded. I think this would be a great start for what you are looking for. Mine are easy on the fences, comical and very sweet. They come up to you looking for attention and treats and are not too big to be a danger or even intimating.

I do have hair sheep, and have a couple that are very friendly and enjoy a scratch, a bottle baby and one that was raised in small pen with lots of kids…the majority will tolerate being touched, maybe, but not exactly affectionate and some are downright flighty or mean. I wouldn't keep them however if we weren't eating them. The goats, I couldn't have a farm without them and would keep them around even if they are econonmic "losers", which they are not right now, I have a good market for babies and love the milk.

I think the warning was not that you shouldn't get them as pets, but that sometimes with livestock you have tough calls to make…they haven't been bred for pets and you do get the occassional "mean one" that needs to be dealt with (as in put into the freezer). I had a sweet ewe lamb that was the most friendly to me but when my kids turned around she would hurl them 5 feet in the air…we ate her even though we liked her.

Hope this helps.

Yes this helps alot thank you!

 

[purplequeenvt]

The majority of our sheep would be considered pets by their behavior. They like to get attention and will come asking for it. I was just in the barn a little bit ago and as I sat there, a group of sheep gathered around me. Some were happy to just be near, but others wanted more. They sniffed at my hands, tried to unzip my coat, and leaned on me.

We have 40 something sheep at the moment. EACH and every one has a name, but at the same time, they are still livestock. There are only a few sheep that will stay here past their productive years. You have to be prepared to do what it takes for your livestock, including making the decision to cull or put down an animal.


Picking a sheep breed is a personal thing. I can tell you all about this wonderful breed or that terrible one, but ultimately it is your decision. Everyone has different goals for their flock. Our flock is made up of wool breed sheep (Border Leicester and Shetland) because we like to use the wool. If you don't have a use for the wool/don't want to deal with shearing, then a hair breed such as a Katahdin or Dorper might be more appropriate. If you want meat sheep then something like a Shetland or Finn wouldn't be a good choice. Some breeds are dual or even triple purpose. Our Border Leicesters are dual purpose. They have nice wool, but they also grow well and produce a nice market lamb. Icelandics are a primitive breed that is considered triple purpose - wool, meat, and milk.

We personally love the Border Leicesters. They are a beautiful breed, with useful wool (handspinners and needle felters love it), and the rams are famously gentlemanly (we have a 9 year old ram that is just like a dog). Our BLs are extremely personable.

Our other breed - Shetland - is a small primitive sheep that comes in a wide range of colors. My adult sheep are only 80 lbs. I have seen absolutely insane Shetlands, but most of mine are very tame. The ones that aren't are not crazy, they just don't want the same attention. Shetlands are nice for small hobby farms due to their size and hardiness. They aren't very practical though unless you are just looking for something cute to eat down your pasture. The wool is nice and although you can eat them, there isn't a lot there.

 

[hikerfrog99]

The majority of our sheep would be considered pets by their behavior. They like to get attention and will come asking for it. I was just in the barn a little bit ago and as I sat there, a group of sheep gathered around me. Some were happy to just be near, but others wanted more. They sniffed at my hands, tried to unzip my coat, and leaned on me.

We have 40 something sheep at the moment. EACH and every one has a name, but at the same time, they are still livestock. There are only a few sheep that will stay here past their productive years. You have to be prepared to do what it takes for your livestock, including making the decision to cull or put down an animal.


Picking a sheep breed is a personal thing. I can tell you all about this wonderful breed or that terrible one, but ultimately it is your decision. Everyone has different goals for their flock. Our flock is made up of wool breed sheep (Border Leicester and Shetland) because we like to use the wool. If you don't have a use for the wool/don't want to deal with shearing, then a hair breed such as a Katahdin or Dorper might be more appropriate. If you want meat sheep then something like a Shetland or Finn wouldn't be a good choice. Some breeds are dual or even triple purpose. Our Border Leicesters are dual purpose. They have nice wool, but they also grow well and produce a nice market lamb. Icelandics are a primitive breed that is considered triple purpose - wool, meat, and milk.

We personally love the Border Leicesters. They are a beautiful breed, with useful wool (handspinners and needle felters love it), and the rams are famously gentlemanly (we have a 9 year old ram that is just like a dog). Our BLs are extremely personable.

Our other breed - Shetland - is a small primitive sheep that comes in a wide range of colors. My adult sheep are only 80 lbs. I have seen absolutely insane Shetlands, but most of mine are very tame. The ones that aren't are not crazy, they just don't want the same attention. Shetlands are nice for small hobby farms due to their size and hardiness. They aren't very practical though unless you are just looking for something cute to eat down your pasture. The wool is nice and although you can eat them, there isn't a lot there.

Great advice. Thank you and yes I understand I will have to put them down at some point. It will upset me yes but I understand