Facts on Sheep Herds & Shepherds

Shepherding is an old fashioned profession that is still alive today. Hundreds of millions of sheep graze on farms around the world, producing tender lamb meat, warm wool and tangy cheeses such as Feta, Romano and Ricotta. Most sheep live on large-scale operations, but many thousands of small farms still enjoy their own private herds, using long time methods and simple tools such as fresh grass and sheep dogs.

  1. Who Raises Sheep

    • Sheep are raised primarily for meat and wool, although there is a market for dairy products in Europe and the Mediterranean. Most profits come from selling lambs for food. The global market is dominated by Australia and New Zealand, while China has the most sheep at 128 and one half million head. In the United States, Texas and California have the most sheep, but total national profits from raising sheep equal less than 1 percent of the livestock industry.

    The Sheep Year

    • Sheep breeding season takes place in the fall, after which the herd is housed indoors for the winter, fed grass hay and let outside for exercise. Shearing takes place before lambing (birthing) in the spring, although some breeds like Katahdin shed their wool naturally. Ewes typically give birth on their own, to two or three lambs a time. By the time the spring grass has grown, they are able to go out to graze. Most lambs will be sold before one year of age, while the best are kept to add to the flock.

    Sheep Dogs

    • Sheep herding is still done largely with the help of well trained dogs. Sometimes four-wheelers or trucks are used, but those lack the ability to communicate with the herd the way a dog can. It is, however, no longer necessary to drive the sheep to market, as trucks transport the flock. Another type of dog often used is a guardian dog, raised from a pup with the sheep so that it bonds and becomes protective. The job of the guardian dog is to chase away predators.

    Grazing

    • Most of the sheep in the world today are still raised using old fashioned grazing techniques. Sheep eat grass and other pasture plants like clover and forbs, a broad-leafed, flowering plant. In the United States, sheep herd owners often lease out public lands for grazing. In wet climates, the pastures are richer, so shepherds raise lambs, while in arid climates it's easier to support good quality wool sheep. Hay and other stored plants may be used when fresh grazing is not possible, with grain as a supplement.