Question 1

Dollars and cents

Accepted Answer

Can you make a living raising sheep?

US Sheep Industry
According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, there are 88,853 sheep farms in the United States. Large sheep operations, which own 80 percent of the sheep, are located primarily in the Western United States. Texas, California, and Colorado have the most sheep. Small producers, those owning less than 100 sheep, comprise the majority of sheep operations, but own less than 20 percent of the sheep. According to the most recent census, the average US sheep farm has 57 sheep.

2026 US Sheep Inventory - Top 10 states
 
Source:  USDA NASS - Annual Sheep & Goat Report, January 30, 2026

A small industry
Compared to other animal and agricultural industries, the sheep industry is very small, accounting for less than 1 percent of total U.S. livestock receipts.
 
Source:  USDA NASS - Livestock Slaughter 2024 Summary, April 2025

Over the past 200 years, the US sheep population has come full circle. From 7 million head in the early 1800's, sheep numbers peaked at 56 million in 1945, then declined to less than 7 million head on January 1, 2003.  Now there are less than 5 million sheep in the US.  At the same time, industry emphasis has changed from wool to meat and current trends favor more hair sheep.

Home on the range
Sheep in the Western United States are often raised under traditional range conditions, where flocks graze unfenced pastures under the watchful eye of sheepherders. Some range flocks graze public lands (for a fee), while others graze privately owned land. A range "band" consists of 1,000 ewes and their lambs. Wool production is still important in the range sheep industry. Fine wool breeding predominates. Most range ewes have Rambouillet blood.

Lamb feeding industry
Colorado is the most concentrated lamb feeding area in the United States. Other states that feed a lot of lambs include Texas, California, Iowa, and Oregon. Lamb feeders purchase 60 to 90 pound lambs for finishing in feed lots. Sometimes, lambs are grazed on alfalfa fields. The lamb feed lot industry has struggled in recent times due to higher feed costs and higher feeder lamb prices, brought about by the increased demand for light weight slaughter lambs by non-traditional markets.

Small farms
While the US sheep industry is still dominated by small numbers of large operations, these operations continue to decline for various reasons. At the same time, small flocks are increasing, especially in the eastern half of the United States, where the majority of lamb is consumed. To be profitable, small flocks must be productive and have access to excellent markets. Sheep are especially popular on small farms where sustainable farming practices are favored, such as pasture-finishing of lambs.

Making money with sheep
As with other agricultural enterprises, sheep farming is not a "get-rich-quick" scheme. The profit margins are narrow. To make money raising sheep, you would need at least several hundred ewes, probably more than 500. While there are some farmers who make a majority of their income from sheep farming, sheep raising is more often a part-time or secondary enterprise of a farm. For some, it is a hobby, retirement activity, or 4-H project.

Sheep farmers derive their income from the sales of lambs and wool and related products. Though it varies by state and farm, most income comes from the sale of lambs. Dairy sheep farmers have three sources of income: lambs, wool, and milk (or dairy products). Some farmers receive income by leasing their sheep out for grazing or receiving payments for grazing under solar panels. Some sheep are raised for bio-medical purposes (research, blood, etc.).

World sheep numbers
According to the Food & Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, there are more than 1.2 billion sheep world wide. Sheep production is increasing in some countries; declining in others. While China and India have the most sheep, Australia and New Zealand  still dominate world markets for lamb and wool.

World Sheep Population - Top 10 countries
 
Source:  World Population Review, accessed 02/11/26

The United States is not a major sheep-producing country. Lamb and mutton imports usually account for more than half of US. lamb consumption. In 2024, the US imported $10.4 million in raw wool. Eighty-five percent of US retail wool consumption is from imports.  The US is one of the world's biggest importers of sheep cheese.

Question 2

Mary had a little lamb . . . or two

Accepted Answer

How many babies do sheep usually have?

Spring lambing
Mother Nature meant for sheep to mate in the fall so that lambs would be born in the spring when the weather is mild and the grass is plentiful. This scenario offers the best chance for lambs to survive and thrive. Of course, it also creates a food supply for young predators that are also born in the spring.

Ewes are mostly "short-day "breeders. When day length becomes shorter (in the fall), this triggers the ewe's brain to release hormones that jump start her reproductive cycle. The further away from the equator the sheep breed originated, the more likely it is to exhibit these seasonal breeding patterns.

Conversely, sheep breeds developed in the tropics or nearer to the equator are less likely to display seasonal breeding patterns. Breeds in the US that have less seasonal breeding patterns include the Dorset, Rambouillet, Polypay, Karakul, Merino, Finn, and hair sheep.

Ewes are also called "seasonally, polyestrous" because their reproductive cycle is controlled by the photoperiod (season) and they come into heat (estrus) every ~17 days (until they become pregnant), but only during their fertile period. Photoperiod is the relationship between light and dark in a 24-hour period. In fact, it is possible to manipulate the photo period and "fool" ewes into thinking it is fall and time to breed.

During their fertile period (or season), ewes will come into estrus (heat) every ~17 days until they are bred or their fertile period is over. Only during estrus will a ewe allow a ram to mate her. The duration of estrus is 24 to 36 hours. A ewe in heat will seek out the male. She may sniff, lick, or nuzzle him. She may fan her tail. The classic behavior response of the ram when he detects a ewe in heat is to lift his nose in the air and curl his upper lip. This is called the Flehmen response. Many mammals exhibit the Flehmen response.

First-time moms
Though it depends upon breed, nutrition, and management, ewes can become mothers by the time they reach their first birthday. This is okay if the ewe lamb has achieved approximately two-thirds of her mature size (weight) before being bred and is fed and managed separately from the mature ewes. Thus, for some producers, it is commonplace to breed well-grown ewe lambs when they are 7 to 9 months of age. Other producers wait until their ewes are 18 months old before breeding them to lamb as 2 year olds. Different breeds of sheep reach puberty (sexually maturity) at different ages.

Rams
A healthy, mature ram can probably mate 100 (or more) ewes during a breeding season, though a ratio of 1 mature ram to 35 to 50 ewes is more common to make sure lambing is not too spread out. Seven to 8 month old ram lambs that have achieved approximately 50 percent of their mature size can be used for breeding. Ram lambs are usually put in with fewer ewes, 15 to 25. It is best not to mix young rams with mature rams. Some rams may show a preference for ewes of their own breed or kind and vice versa.

Artificial insemination
Artificial insemination (AI) is less common and much more difficult in sheep than other livestock for various reasons. The ewe has a more complicated cervix than other animals, making it difficult to pass a standard insemination rod through her many cervical rings. Ewes show fewer visible signs of estrus, making heat detection more difficult. A teaser ram is often used to detect heat, or a timed inseminations are done, after the ewes have been prepped with artificial hormones. However, good conception rates are possible when ewes are inseminated with fresh semen deep into the vagina. Good results can also be achieved if frozen semen is injected into the uterine horns via a surgical procedure called laparoscopy. Trans-cervical AI requires special equipment and is still being perfected for sheep.

Being pregnant
A ewe is pregnant for 142 to 152 days, approximately five months or slighter shorter. Pregnancy is also called gestation. Since ewes gestate for only five months, it is possible for them to lamb more often than once per year. While annual lambing is most common, lambing intervals of 8 months are also realistic, especially in the tropics and with breeds that are less seasonal in their breeding habits. Cornell University has developed the STAR lambing season, in which ewes have the opportunity to produce lambs five times during a three year period.

Extra food for Mom
During her last month of pregnancy, a ewe needs extra nutrition because her lambs are growing rapidly inside of her and her mammary (udder) tissue is developing. Approximately 70 percent of fetal growth occurs during the last month of pregnancy. The growth of the fetuses also reduces the ewe's rumen capacity, making her require a more-nutrient dense diet, especially if she is carrying multiple fetuses.

If a ewe does not get enough feed during late pregnancy, she may get sick because her unborn lambs are taking most of her nutrients. Thin and fat ewes and ewes carrying multiple fetuses are most prone to a metabolic disorder called pregnancy toxemia (or ketosis), caused by an inadequate intake of energy (calories) during late pregnancy. For this reason, it is common to feed some grain during late gestation. On the other hand, if a ewe eats too much feed, especially grain, during late pregnancy, she may have trouble delivering her lambs because they may get too big to fit through her pelvic cavity. Fat ewes are also more prone to having problems at lambing time.

Protecting the lambs with vaccinations
It is usually recommended that ewes be vaccinated during late pregnancy for the clostridial diseases that most commonly affect lambs: Clostridium perfringens type C & D (overeating disease) and tetanus. Clostridial diseases are caused by gram positive bacteria that are commonly present in the environment and/or the gut of the sheep.

By vaccinating the pregnant ewe, the lambs acquire temporary, passive immunity when they drink the colostrum, the first milk produced by the ewe after lambing. In fact, a pre-lambing vaccination is the only way to protect lambs against type C enterotoxemia and to provide protection for early docking and castration, though anti-toxins can be administered to provide immediate, short-term immunity.

The periparturient egg rise
A ewe's natural-acquired immunity to internal parasites (worms + coccidia) is weakened around the time of lambing. Scientists call this phenomenon the "periparturient egg rise." The periparturient egg rise often occurs at the same time hypobiotic (inactive) worm larvae are resuming their life cycles in the spring. Thus, it is used to be common to deworm ewes during their last month of pregnancy with a dewormer that is effective against hypobiotic larvae.

Due to the widespread emergence of drug-resistant worms, a better strategy is to increase the protein content of the late-gestation ration, as the primary parasite that affects sheep is a blood sucking worm (barber pole) that causes blood and protein loss. Higher protein rations have been shown to reduce fecal egg counts in periparturient ewes. If deworming is done, it is recommended that treatment be applied selectively to ewes that need treatment or would benefit from it. For example, if ewes are scanned for fetal numbers, those carrying multiple births can be selected for deworming, while those with single births can be left untreated. Thin ewes (body conditional score 2 or less) and those with FAMACHA© scores of 4 or 5 should also be targeted for treatment.

Lambing
Ewes usually give birth to 1 to 3 lambs at each birthing event. Birthing is called lambing. The technical term for all species is parturition. Twin births (two babies) is most common in well-managed flocks and with many breeds of sheep. First-time moms, especially yearlings, are more likely to have single births, though twins are not uncommon in some breeds. Ewes produce their largest litters of lambs when they are between the ages of 3 and 6.

There are some breeds of sheep that average more than two lambs per litter. In the US, the most prolific sheep breeds are Finnsheep and Romanov. The hair sheep breeds (Katahdin, St. Croix, and Barbados Blackbelly) also tend to be quite prolific, with mature ewes averaging more than two lambs per lambing. The East Friesian, a dairy breed, is also known for its high lambing rate. The Rideau Arcott, a Canadian breed is very prolific due to its higher percentage of Finn blood.

The more lambs a ewe has the more feed she needs to produce milk for them. Oftentimes, extra lambs need to be cross-fostered onto other ewes or artificially reared. Prolific breeds are not recommended for novice shepherds or in situations where nutrition or management are limiting factors.

Because some sheep are raised in more difficult environments, sometimes it is more desirable for a ewe to have just one lamb. This is because there may not be enough food for the ewe to support the growth of two lambs. If the flock has to travel far for food and water, it is often better to have one strong lamb than two or three smaller lambs that may struggle to keep up. Smaller, weaker lambs that lag behind the flock are more likely to starve, die from exposure, or be killed by predators.

How much do newborn lambs usually weigh?
The weight of newborn lambs varies by breed, sex of lamb, litter size, and ewe nutrition. The lambs from medium to small breeds are similar in size to human babies, usually between 5 and 12 pounds, with an average of 8 to 10 pounds. When birth weights get too large (relative to the size of the breed or cross), difficult births can be encountered. In fact, there is a quadratic relationship between birth weight and survival. Medium-size babies (for the breed or cross) tend to have the highest survival rate.

Question 3

A day in the life of a sheep

Accepted Answer

How sheep are raised varies by farm (or ranch), geographic region, and production system. On this page, you will learn one production system:  The Baalands in Clear Spring, Maryland USA.

Breeding

At the Baalands, the "sheep year" begins in the middle of October when the rams are put in with the ewes for breeding. Only one ram is put in with a group of ewes so that the sire of the lambs will be known. The rams are switched around after the first and second heat cycles in case some ewes do not become pregnant after being exposed to the first ram.

With fall breeding, most ewes will get pregnant within the first 17 days of the breeding season. This is the average length of one estrus (heat) cycle. Fertility is high when breeding is during the most natural time (fall). The flock will stay on pasture until the grass is depleted, usually around Christmas time, earlier if it was a drought year.

Winter housing

During the winter months, the sheep are housed in a "hoop house," a greenhouse-like structure with an arched metal frame and a fabric covering. They are fed grass hay. They are allowed out to pasture for exercise. Rams are maintained separately. It is not a good idea to leave rams with ewes after breeding is done.

Extra feed

Starting in late-February, grain is added to the ewes' diet to support the growth of their fetuses and development of their mammary tissue. About four weeks prior to the start of lambing season, the ewes are vaccinated for clostridium perfringins type C and D (overeating disease) and tetanus so that their lambs will receive immunity when they drink the colostrum.

No shearing

Wooled sheep are usually sheared prior to lambing or in the spring before the onset of hot weather. Katahdin sheep at the Baalands naturally shed their coats, a mixture of hair and wool fibers, so shearing is not necessary. In fact, lambs will generally shed their coats their first year.

Lambing

Lambing usually starts in the middle of March. Yearling ewes are bred to lamb three weeks later. Ewes give birth to lambs in a large "drop" pen. Sometimes, if the weather is nice, the ewes will have their lambs outside. Ewes almost always lamb on their own, without any assistance or interference from the shepherd. Most of the ewes give birth to twins or triplets, sometimes quadruplets. The lambs are quick to get up and have their first meal.

Jugging

After a litter of lambs is born, they are put in a small pen (5 ft. x 5 ft.) called a "jug" with their dam (mother). Their navel cords are shortened, if necessary, and treated with a disinfectant, usually iodine. Being together in the jug helps the lambs and ewe bond and provides for easy observation by the shepherd. One the second day, the lambs are weighed and ear-tagged. The birth date, sex, weight, and ear tag number of each lamb is recorded. At the Baalands, lambs are not docked or castrated. Docking would be a common practice on farms where wooled breeds are raised. Lambs will generally stay in the jugs for 1 to 3 days.

Mixing pens

After several days, the lambs and ewes are moved to mixing pens: larger pens with three ewes and their lambs. After being butted a few times by other ewes, the lambs quickly learn how to recognize their own mothers. Once they get used to each other, the lambs will huddle together to sleep and keep warm.

Twins and triplets
After a week or two in the mixing pens, groups of lambs and ewes are put with the rest of the ewes and their lambs. The lambs will be able to go anywhere in the barn. Ewes nursing triplet lambs are penned separately from ewes nursing twins, because they receive extra grain to produce milk for their extra lamb.

Creep feeding

By the time the lambs are two weeks old, they will have access to a creep area for creep feeding. A creep is a pen that is fenced so that young animals can enter but adults cannot. Creep feed is feed given to young nursing lambs. At the Baalands, the creep feed is a mixture of soybean meal and cracked corn. The lambs will also have access to fresh water, high quality hay, and minerals in the creep area. Even when they are not eating, the creep area is a place where the lambs like to hang out. It is a "mall" for lambs.

Question 4

A shepherd's best friend

Accepted Answer

How do dogs help shepherds take care of sheep?

Breeds

Not just any breed of dog is used for herding. Common herding breeds include the Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Australian Kelpie, New Zealand Huntaway, and Australian Cattle Dog. Other breeds with herding instinct include Corgis and Shetland Sheepdogs.

The Border Collie

The most popular breed of herding dog in the U.S. is the Border Collie .The Border Collie originated in the border country between England and Scotland. It is considered the world's premier sheep herding dog. The Border Collie is noted for its intelligence, work ethic, and desire to please. Since Border Collies are bred for working ability and intelligence rather than for physical beauty, conformation varies widely.

For the love of dogs

Many people get their start raising sheep because of their love and interest in training herding dogs. They raise sheep so that their dogs have sheep to work. Some people keep flocks of mostly wethers whereas others develop productive sheep flocks that they simultaneously use to work their dogs.

Not ideal pets

Border Collies are not ideal pets for people who have no plans to spend a lot of time with them. These dogs are too intelligent to lie around the house all day with nothing to do. These lively little dogs have boundless energy and thrive on hard work and play. Prospective owners who are looking for just a family pet should consider other similar, but calmer breeds, like show line Australian Shepherds and Shetland Sheepdogs.

An intelligent dog

One of the most trainable breeds, the Border Collie also serves well as a narcotics and bomb detection dog and is a frequent high performer in obedience, agility, Frisbee(TM) trials, police work, search & rescue, Flyball, performing tricks, and competitive obedience.

Question 5

You need a hair cut

Accepted Answer

Shearing

Cutting or shaving the wool off of a sheep is called shearing. Shearing does not usually hurt a sheep. It is just like getting a hair cut. However, shearing requires skill so that the sheep is shorn efficiently and quickly without causing cuts or injury to the sheep or shearer. Most sheep are sheared with electric shears or shearing machines. The fleece is removed in one piece.

Some sheep are sheared manually with scissors or hand blades. While some farmers shear their own sheep, many hire professional sheep shearers. In many countries, including the United States, there is a growing shortage of qualified sheep shearers. Many states hold annual sheep shearing schools.

A professional shearer can shear a sheep in less than 2 minutes. The world record is 37.9 seconds. The record was set in 2016 by Ivan Scott from Ireland. Scott set another record, shearing 867 lambs in just 9 hours. Matt Smith from New Zealand owns the record for shearing the most ewes, 731 ewes in 9 hours. The most Merino ewes sheared in 8 hours is 497, a record set by Lou Brown from New Zealand. The blade shearing record was set over 100 years ago when legendary shearer Jackie Howe sheared 321 sheep in 7 hours and 40 minutes.

Sheep are usually sheared once per year, usually before lambing or in the spring before the onset of warm weather. Sheep with long fleeces are sometimes sheared twice a year. Feeder lambs are sometimes sheared to make them more comfortable during the summer. Shearing prior to lambing results in a cleaner environment for baby lambs. It also keeps the fleeces cleaner.

Skirting

High quality fleeces are usually skirted. Skirting is when the undesirable parts of the fleece are removed from the rest of the fleece. Undesirable parts include bellies, top knots, and tags. A tag is a piece of wool with manure attached to it. While less valuable, the less desirable parts of the fleece still have uses. For example, belly wool and other less desirable wool is being made into fertilizer pellets.

New technologies

Because sheep shearing is so labor-intensive, other technologies are often being explored for more efficient wool removal. Australian scientists created a chemical method of shearing called "bio-clip." With bio-clip, the sheep were injected with a natural protein that caused the wool follicle to break and the fleece to drop off on its own. This technology has never really caught on. Scientists have developed a shearing table so the shearer doesn't have to hold the sheep. They have also developed a "robot" for shearing.

Freshly shorn sheep

Freshly shorn sheep need protection from the elements. It takes up to six weeks for the fleece to regrow sufficiently to provide effective insulation. Sheared sheep also require more feed to maintain their body temperatures, especially during the winter. Sheep should not be sheared in the winter, if protection (usually housing) is not available.

Continuous growth

Sheep grow wool continuously. If they are not sheared at least once a year, they become very stressed and uncomfortable, especially when it is hot and humid. Eventually, the wool will become matted, stained, and difficult to remove. It is inhumane to not shear sheep that require it. Sheep owners who do not want to shear their sheep annually should opt for hair sheep.

Hair sheep

Hair sheep do not require shearing because they lack sufficient woolly fibers or because their coats naturally shed. However, crosses between hair sheep and wooled breeds usually need to be sheared. Their fleeces are not desirable because they contain a mixture of hair and wool fibers. They should not be mixed with wool because they will degrade the value of the wool. It takes anywhere from 1 to 3 generations of crossing to eliminate the need for shearing of the crossbred progeny.

Question 6

Do sheep make good pets?

Accepted Answer

Increasingly, sheep and other farm livestock are being kept as pets or companions. They can make good pets because they are a gentle animal and respond well to human contact.

Especially for children

Lambs make great projects for children. They are suitable for children with most disabilities. Taking care of a sheep teaches children responsibility and respect for animals.

As 4-H projects

Sheep are popular 4-H projects for children. 4-H is one the largest youth organization in the United States. It is open to any boy or girl between the ages of 8 and 18. To learn about 4-H, contact your local county extension office.  Most county offices have web pages and Facebook pages. 4-H is part of the land grant university system.

Sheep also make excellent FFA projects. FFA is a youth organization that prepares future generations for the challenges of farming. Youth usually join when they are studying agriculture in high school.

Bottle babies

Lambs raised on a bottle usually make the best pets because they naturally trust people and are not afraid to be near people. When you bottle feed a lamb, it bonds to you and thinks you are its mother. Its flight zone evaporates.

The best pets

Any breed of sheep can be kept as a pet. Breed choice is usually a matter of personal preference or circumstance. Pet sheep should should be females (ewes) or neutered males (wethers). They should not have horns. As sheep are a social animal, you should get at least two, preferably a small flock (5 to 6).

Basic sheep care

Pet sheep have most of the same basic needs as sheep being raised for production. They need shelter and protection from predators. They need proper nutrition and health care. They need their hooves trimmed. Wooled sheep need to be sheared annually in a timely fashion, by a trained professional.

Hair sheep

Hair sheep do not require shearing because they lack sufficient woolly fibers or because their coats naturally shed. However, crosses between hair sheep and wooled breeds usually need to be sheared. Their fleeces are not desirable because they contain a mixture of hair and wool fibers. They should not be mixed with wool because they will degrade the value of the wool. It takes anywhere from 1 to 3 generations of crossing to eliminate the need for shearing of the crossbred progeny.

Question 7

In sickness and health

Accepted Answer

What diseases can you get from sheep?

A disease that can be naturally transmitted from animals to people is called a zoonotic disease. There are a handful of diseases that people can get from contact with sheep.

Diarrhea
If infective sheep feces are handled, diarrhea infections such as cryptosporidium, salmonella, or e. coli 0157:H7 are possible, though uncommon. The risk is greatest for children and those with compromised immune systems. Prevention is simple: wash your hands in warm, soapy water after handling sheep and/or their feces.

Abortion

One of the biggest health risks sheep pose is to pregnant women. This is because some of the same organisms that cause abortion in ewes can cause a woman to abort (miscarry). The most common causes of abortion in sheep are enzootic (chlamydia), vibrio (campylobacter), and toxoplasmosis. Domestic cats are the common carrier of toxoplasmosis. Because of the risk, pregnant women should not be involved with ewes that are lambing. It is always a good idea to wear gloves when assisting with the delivery of lambs or handling fetuses or placental fluids.

Soremouth (orf)

Soremouth (orf) is the most common skin disease affecting sheep (and goats). It is caused by a virus in the pox family. It can be transmitted to humans and cause painful sores on the hands, arms, and face. The virus can be transmitted by handling infected sheep or by administering the live vaccine to animals. A study in England showed that 23 percent of sheep farmers and sheep farm employees have been infected with orf.

Ringworm (club lamb fungus)

Ringworm (also called club lamb fungus) is a fungal disease that can be transmitted from sheep to sheep and sheep to people. The lesions in people appear as a red, thickened rash. In extreme cases, ringworm can cause disfiguring scars.

Injuries

People, especially children and older people, can become unnecessarily injured when working with livestock, including sheep. Safety should be the primary concern when handling all livestock. Safe handling is also less stressful to the livestock. The use of specialized handling equipment minimizes the stress and risk of injury to both the shepherd and animals. You should never corner a sheep or try to catch it in a big pen. Sheep can be unpredictable when they are frightened.

Don't get rammed

Some shepherds have been seriously injured, even killed, by rams (intact male sheep). Rams do not need to have horns to be dangerous.  Under no circumstances should a person trust a ram and turn his or her back on a ram. Rams castrated after puberty may still show aggressive behavior.

Even the most docile ram can become aggressive when you least expect it. It is a ram's natural behavior to charge, if he thinks you are challenging his dominant position in the flock. Rams are especially aggressive during the rutting (mating) season. Overly aggressive rams should not be kept.

No "mad sheep"

Sheep (and goats) can get scrapie, a fatal, neurological disease that is in the same family of diseases as "mad cow" disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy), chronic wasting disease (of mule deer and elk) and classic and new variant Creutzfeld-Jakob's disease (affecting people).

There is no evidence to suggest that people can contract scrapie or any other transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) from contact with livestock or by consuming sheep meat or products made from sheep milk.

Raising sheep