sheep farming – Me, Myself and I

February Update of 2024

A life ever changing, a changing life. We are face with challenges and seasons every year, month and day. Strength is gained in challenges. We learn from successes and failures, if we choose to.

Working forty hours per week as posed a challenge to getting other things done. I am glad I participated in Bloganuary again this year. I missed a few daily prompts. I am still trying to read what others wrote in response to the daily Bloganuary prompts. I have lesson time to write, therefore the book I am writing is taking longer, but progress is being made. My goal is to have my first book published this year. I think I will get this goal accomplished.

The You Tube channel my husband and I are starting is still a work in progress. First lesson, it is hard to video with a phone and work the sheep. Second, my phone does not seem to have enough memory for very long videos. Solution, we purchased a video camera we are learning how to operate. There is learning involved in creating an interesting video. We video, watch the video, see our mistakes in recording and video again. My husband and I are having fun working on this project together.

The sheep farm is doing well. Most of our ewes have lambs by their sides. The lambs are growing well. We are close to weaning of the first lambs that were born. The young ewes coming a year old this spring are with a ram. In four to five months there will be some more lambs being born. The two nanny goats we have are getting ready to have their first kids. We sold some older lambs and did well. Hit a day the market was high for selling lambs. We have a few ewes and lambs from this latest group of lambs to be sold in a month. There is a Dorper Sheep show and sale in April we are planning on showing a few of our sheep.

Planting time is around the corner. The garden area is being prepared for plants and seeds. This week I will be starting some plants for future planting. The garden will be larger this year. Part of the reason is there are areas on the farm that needs to have something planted in order to keep the topsoil in place and developing the soil to provide a good grazing area for the sheep. In these grazing areas we will be planting radishes, sugar beets, peas, carrots and other vegetables the sheep enjoy eating. The planting will improve the soil, and provide the sheep with a treat to graze in the summer months.

There are a couple of other projects that we are starting with hopes we can produce an income from these projects. Keep an eye out for the launch of these new projects as well as our You Tube channel.

amtolle

“Playtime”

Daily writing prompt

Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?

View all responses

We live in a world with many distractions and stereotypes of how people should behave or be. I do have “playtime” in my life, I make time to have fun at whatever I am doing. When I was in high school, several decades ago, before computers and cell phones, an English teacher stated in class, “Attitude determines Altitude”. At the time I related the statement to career altitude and success. Today, I relate the state to having happiness and joy in my life daily.

Everyone is searching for happiness and joy in life. There is no need to search, for happiness and joy come from inside the person. I make a decision each morning to be happy. Oh, that does not mean my life is without challenges and disappointments. I choose to not let life circumstances steal my happiness.

I work in a small town grocery store. If a song comes on the income that I want to move my feet to, I do it while putting product on the shelf. When someone comes by, I always greet them with a smile. At home, if I want to dance, I dance. I have songs for mopping the floor, or doing the dishes. I tried to have a song for vacuuming, but the vacuum cleaner is to loud, so I just sing loudly when I vacuum. Whatever I am doing, I work at having fun while I do it.

In doing the chores for the sheep, I talk to them, scratch on them. I take time to watch the lambs run their races, jump and play. My stallion and I have a “game” when it comes to his feeding time. He runs, rears and shows off for me when it is feeding time. And I am the only person he performs his movements of strength for. The dogs and I run and play, although I do not run as much as they do. Staying active keeps me young, keeps my body strong and moving, maintains my flexibility and balance.

I do have my extra activities of crafts, making jewelry, sewing quilts or clothes, and creating items with epoxy resin. There is also the gardening. Running my bare hands through the dirt brings joy.

Perhaps it is my age, as I have lived six decades, I believe life should be fun. The only way to have fun is to make everyday tasks fun. I do not care what those who see me moving my feet and hips in the aisle think when they see me, as I am too old to give much thought to what others think. I am alive and work at enjoying my life.

amtolle

Try and Try Again

I am headed for a new adventure. Due to the circumstances of my husband being laid off November 2023, and the need to increase the income in our budget, we are trying some new things. Baby boomers using technology to increase income. One stereotype I really dislike is when people say Baby Boomers do not know how to use technology. We are still able to learn. I would like to see the younger generations use a computer requiring all commands in DOS. I wonder, do they know what DOS is?

We are starting a YouTube channel to help bring attention to our sheep farm. The focus is to increase the sale and sale price of our sheep. The eligibility requirements of being paid by YouTube for advertising means there will be no income from YouTube directly for awhile. I am approaching this new adventure one method to bring attention to our sheep and our homestead.

Making a video is not as simple as it seems. There are challenges to setting up a camera phone on a makeshift tripod, then getting the sheep to cooperate with the videoing. Containing emotions and vocabulary when the sheep go the wrong direction because the herding dog had his own idea on where we wanted the sheep. Or practicing what you want to say as in introduction without stumbling over your words. Only to learn that the video stopped due to lack of storage on the cell phone.

After a couple of hours transferring the 974 photos and videos of my grandchildren to my computer. Deleting the said photos from the cell phone. I now have storage to make video footage for our new adventure. Only the sun went down and the lighting is horrible.

I will practice more in the mirror on speaking into a camera. Work at editing the small amount of video we did capture. Tomorrow we will try again to get video for this new adventure in our life.

All In a Day’s Work

There is so much happening on my little farm this month. So, much to do and last night I was sloooowed down. There are three main projects on the farm that need to be completed before the end of September: the horse pens and terraces, cleaning out the barn for a new water filtration system, and training up the two young dogs to do the work my Hank used to do.

Since Hank’s back injury in March, he has recovered to about 80 to 85% of the use of his back legs. He has lost some of his ability to work sheep in difficult situations. There are also times after doing simple work with the sheep, his back hurts. I need a dog to help me with the work, and we have two of Hank’s sons that need their training completed.

What caused my slow down? I was doing chores last night, and while feeding a group of ewes, and trying to train a young dog on working sheep I was literally knocked off my feet. Probably would have made a great video. I was trying to have the dog stop and lay down as I walked to the grain feeder. He had been circling the sheep, bringing them to me, which is what I was wanting in the beginning, and now the dog need to stop and hold them. Suddenly, a white creature came racing in front of me, hit my right leg and I was airborne. I landed on my side with a spilt grain bucket next to me, twenty sheep and goats vying for position to eat the grain. Not a good place to be. Sheep are very pushing when they are eating, even grazing pasture they will push each other around for a choice bit of feed.

I raised up on my left knee and hands, not wanting to put weight on the right leg due to the pain coming from the right knee area, and starting to evaluate my circumstances. Then I noticed a black hairy dog right under me, nipping at the sheep between my left leg, my arm and hand that were holding me off the ground. Now, I could not move because my young dog was working hard to keep hungry sheep from pushing me down again as they fought for position to eat the spilt grain.

My husband did not see the situation resulting in me being on the ground surrounded by sheep. He called out, “Are you ok?” I responded, ” I am not sure, but I need help.” He enters the pen and walks to me, fights the sheep and goats back with yelling, which sent my young dog into ‘Time to get out of here’ mode. “What do you need?” he askes. ” I need help getting up without putting weight on my right leg.” I grab is strong arm and he lifts me to my foot, and I test to see how much pain and weight my right knee will handle if I put weight on my right foot.

I put some weight, no much pain, and the joint felt stable. I took a few steps, the knee joint was stable, though sprained a little. I knew I would have some bruises show up and there were a few areas of scrapped skin. Not bad considering my age, and the situation.

I looked for my young dog, he was at the gate trying to find a hole to leave the country. This young dog, named Junior, is a very talented herding dog, lots of desire and easy to train. Junior is very soft to the handler, meaning it does not take much action from a person to have the dog want to quit and hide. My husband’s yelling and pushing sheep away from me, was too much for the young dog. While still in the sheep pen, I called Junior to me. It took a few tries before he came. I petted him and told him he was a good dog, which he was before and during the time I was down. Petting him also let him know I was ok, he was not in trouble, and he left the sheep pen with a ‘happy’ feeling. The yelling and pushing the sheep my husband did, would not be remember the next time he entered that sheep pen.

It takes months to train a young dog enough to have solid commands of the dog’s movements in containing a flock of sheep. Junior is a month into his training.

I made some mistakes in this situation. First, I should only have had Junior in the sheep pen with me. I also had his brother, Rusty, in the sheep pen at the same time. Second, I should not been trying to teach that specific lesson with Junior while holding a bucket full of grain in a pen of hungry sheep and goats.

When I fell, Rusty froze in position, confused as to what to do. When my husband entered, and was pushing sheep away, he was looking for an escape hole as well. Rusty is not as soft to the handler as Junior, but no dog likes it when my husband gets angry. Once I was up and walking on my own, my husband relaxed and Rusty came to my husband to see what they were going to do next.

My husband works with Rusty, and I work Junior and sometimes Rusty. I usually work the dogs individually. This day, we were trying to get chores done and both dogs worked, and that was a mistake.

Dogs have different personalities, just like people. To create a great working pair of dog and human, matching those personalities is key. I am a soft trainer of both dogs and horses. My husband is a very dominate personality in meaning he is strong in his opinions and very protective of his wife. Our training methods are different as we are have to adjust to the animal.

I have a good amount of patience, can be forceful when necessary, but try not to be. My husband had a very different process of training a horse, stick with it until the horse or dog does what you want. The concept of accepting little steps was new to him when we met. I have learned to expect a little bit more during my training times, he has learned to have a lot more patience and give the animal time to learn. His biggest challenge in training is be a little softer in presenting and teaching his commands. During the training process, the dog or horse learns to adjust to his loud voice and naturally strong stance. For me, the dog or horse has to learn, my soft command is just as strong as my husband’s natural command.

One aspect of training my husband and I both strongly agree is that bonding is key to training success. If the person giving the commands bonds with the animal, the animal tries harder to please and do things right, and forgives the person’s mistakes. Yes, as trainers and working partners with our animals, we will make mistakes and the dog or horse knows it, but will do our bidding anyway.

I love my border collies. They desire to be affectionate, obedient and are happiest when they do something that pleases you. Border Collies are listed as being the smartest breed of dog. Their intelligence requires that they are mentally stimulated every day with some activity. A Border Collie is never a coach potato type dog. Consider what your lifestyle is when selecting a dog, and pick a breed or individual that loves your lifestyle. Realize that puppies, regardless of the breed, need exercise and mental stimulation until they are mature dogs and settle into their breed personality.

As for today, and the next few days, I will continue to ice and elevate my right knee. Takes chores and tasks at a much slower rate allowing my knee to heal. Things will get done, the sun will set and rise, and soon I will be back at full speed.

amtolle

August Summer

The temperatures are hot, very hot. The grandchildren went home with their parents the first week of August. I cried the first week they were gone. “Empty Nest” all over again. The sounds of little foot falls in the early morning as everyone is greeting a new day is what I miss the most. There are the video calls to keep up with how they are doing. Video calls such a nice way to visit with grandchildren who grow up in a short time. I did not have video calls when my children were little.

With the grandchildren gone, it was time to catch up on the farm projects. Before they arrived in April, I had started cleaning shelters and doing some reorganization of sheep pens. When they arrived all those projects were put on a very slow snail pace towards completion. After crying for a week, it was time to get to work. Winter and lambing time are going to be here and these projects need to be completed before their arrival.

The hot temperatures and drought in our area hinder my progress of completion. Heat stress on the animals and myself has been a constant concern. In order to avoid heat stress in 110 degree Fahrenheit temperatures, I have to work early in the mornings for just a few hours. My biggest chore has been keeping water full for the animals. Watering the trees and shrubs around my home is done daily, moving hoses and sprinklers. At night, I am exhausted, not from the amount of work I have done, but from working short periods moving hoses, sprinklers during the extreme heat.

There is no pretty corner garden this year. The time of working with grandchildren and the extreme heat, I could not keep the ground moist enough for the corner garden. The animals needed water more than my little garden spot. But do not fear, I have plans for a fall garden in my little corner. As with every summer, summer will come to an end and the cooler temperatures of fall and winter will soon be upon us.

I have sold several sheep this summer. But any profit has gone into purchasing hay to feed, since I do not have pasture for them to graze. I have plans of planting winter wheat as a cover crop on the pasture for winter grazing, hoping for rain to water the seed and help it grow.

I move forward one day at a time as any farmer does. Getting done what I can each day, with the next day already lined out in advance. Every farmer has hopes that the next year will be better, the weather will cooperate with the plans made. Maybe farmers are a mental lot, always hoping and working for a brighter tomorrow. But I would not be anything different. I enjoy being a sheep farmer, grandmother, mother and wife.

amtolle

Still a Sheep Farmer.

Some may wonder why my husband and I went to the sheep show and sale when a few days before we received three small grandchildren to care for. The stress of trying to get things done between diaper changes (all three are in diapers), feeding and caring for the children was enormous. Yet, it all had to be done.

Being a sheep farmer or in an agriculture business is not like other occupations. There is no emergency time off, as the sheep need fed. The sheep show and sale is a major influx of cash flow to the sheep farm. To miss the sheep show and sale is to cut 1/3 of our income from the sheep.

As a sheep farmer, I am doing something I enjoy, and raising sheep for an income. I had spent a year sorting through and selecting the sheep I would sale. Feeding and conditioning the rams for this show and sale. I had two rams I was feeding and working with for this show. When I clipped both of them, I noticed one ram was not ready for the show. The ram was a little light weight for this show date. The ram stayed home.

In order to show two rams, I had to show three ewes. I carefully selected three ewes. One ewe I had purchased at this same show/sale last year. One of the requirements is the sheep have to be guaranteed to produce lambs. This ewe had already produced a lamb and was pregnant again. The other two ewes were less than a year old, and I was going to keep them, but we needed the income we hoped to obtain from the show/sale. The ewe lambed on Easter morning, the Sunday before the show on Friday, and sale on Saturday.

Showing sheep is work. Work in prepping them for the show, clipping and bathing. Work in teaching them to lead and stand for judging months before the show date. Exercising the sheep daily to get muscle definition and condition on the sheep.

The Monday before the show, I was driving down the highway, wondering how I was going to care for three small children and show the sheep. I had to have a system or plan to get everything done. Driving for ten hours, gives a person time to think about a plan.

We did the sheep show, not all according to my plan. I had to make a decision, have my husband take care of and show the sheep and I care for three small children. I walked a lot of miles in a small area, hoping to see some of my sheep show while trying to keep children busy and not screaming. I was unable to see any of my sheep show. I only saw one sheep sale. We came home after the sale, very exhausted. On the drive home, I was thinking how am I going to care for my sheep and the children. I had to come up with a plan and schedule.

Along with a plan and schedule for the children and sheep, I had to figure out where to put children, their clothes and other items they needed. My house was no way “child proof”.

The schedule was made and over a week adjusted to get the care of children and sheep done each day. With little bits of time between caring for children, I have been “child proofing” my home, goal is to have all the “child proofing” done before the baby starts walking. I am close to reaching this goal, and the baby is close to walking on her own.

In the evenings, when my husband is home to help keep an eye on two very active toddlers, I spend time working on the projects I need completed for the sheep farm. The toddlers help do chores, although their help is more following us where we are going and not straying too far. Evening chores take longer as their little legs do not take the big steps we do while walking. Our pace is slow and steady to get the job done.

They take turns riding with me on the small tractor cleaning out sheds and moving dirt. There are times I have to remind them not to move the lever or push on a pedal. They do enjoy steering, while I keep a firm hand on the wheel. As they grow and learn, they will be able to do more, and be a real help.

I am still a sheep farmer. I can not turn off a light and have all the sheep stay where they are until I have time to turn the light back on and continue where I left off. I will work slow and steady to get the jobs done. As they get bigger and understand about the farm, they will be able to help more. Perhaps one day, one of them will be a sheep farmer as well.

amtolle

March Madness 2023

My plate over flows. Often at holiday gatherings with family, I fill my plate with more than I will eat. The food looks delicious and I am hungry. There are times when I over fill my plate of duties with more than I can handle or think I can handle. Such is my March Madness 2023.

In January I started working a job other than what I do at home. I enjoy this job and the majority of people who I work with. My primary duties are working in the “meat room” or meat department preparing and stocking items of various meats to be sold. The other duty is stocking the freezer section and then shelves when the truck arrives with supplies of product to sell. Everyone needs to eat, and a grocery store sells things to eat. It has been a little of a struggle emotionally to be working outside the home. But overall I have enjoyed the challenges and the work. I have grown as a person, getting out of my comfort zone of home, and learning I can cope with the outside world and being a part of that world.

Being a part of a working environment also brings the challenges of unwanted attention from others. One coworker would at time say things inappropriate or touch. I filled a report of several incidents with the HR department in February. One coworker thought I had some vendetta against the person and wanted them fired. I did not want anyone fired, only a behavioral change at work. This is an aged worker who should know what sexual harassment is and not to do so. I do not want to work in an environment where I have to constantly be watching my backside to keep from being touched, and no other worker should have to do the same. Fortunately the manager and HR department was supportive. One complaint from me or any other employee and this coworker will be fired.

Then on Saturday, March 25, while doing morning chores, my top hand Hank hurt himself. We are not sure what he did to cause his injury. We were moving the sheep and was going to another pen of sheep, and he was not there. Looking back to see where he was located, we were met with a sickening sight. Hank had lost the total use of his hind legs, and was dragging them tangled with each other behind him. I spent hours on the telephone trying to get into a vet without any results. He was not in any pain, he did not make a sound when he injured himself, but he was unable to move or stand on his hind legs.

After a very long weekend, I was able to make an appointment for Monday. At the vet’s office, if we placed picked up Hank’s hind quarters and placed the legs under him, he could stand on one leg. The vet thought Hank had twisted and strained his back causing one of the disc’s to herniate. The condition required some attentive care, and waiting six weeks to see what use of his legs he would regain. There were three possible scenarios after the six week wait: one he would not gain use of his legs and I would have to make a hard decision; two he would gain the use of the one leg, but not the other with a different decision of possible amputation of the no functioning leg or three he would regain enough use of his legs to live a life, but would not be a working herding dog. Hank has given me six years of good faithful work everyday. I had to do what is required to give him the best possible outlook for life.

With three medications and instructions to give them twice a day, keep him quiet and still, some physical therapy and massage, and help him to go outside and to potty, we were sent home. Hank had no control in urinating or bowel movements. I was constantly cleaning up where he laid resting. And taking him outside, he required assistance in performing the outside duties. I also needed to massage his back muscles and move his legs to help keep them working and stimulated as the swelling in the injured area went down.

I went to work and had my hours cut back. The only days I work is for the meat department on Thursdays and Sundays. I needed to be home to help Hank get better. I purchased a pet massage/vibrator and used it on Hank’s back and legs four times a day. I would carry him outside to potty. Clean up his messes. After a week, Hank began standing and moving using only one hind leg, the other hung limp. He started gaining the ability to control his bladder and bowels. Hank would still make a mess when he would get up, but at least he was going on his own, not me having to put pressure in certain areas for things to release and expel.

Almost three weeks into the treatments, Hank is starting to use both hind legs. His balance is not good, and he falls when he turns too fast. He is able to control his bladder and bowels. I still continue the medication, massage treatments and moving his legs in the motion of walking and running. The outlook is not so dim, although he is fully retired from herding work.

March was also the last month for lambing, and we had lambs arrive. We had five sets of twins and a lot of singles arrive in March. Fifteen ewes lambed in March.

I had selected two rams and a ewe to show and sale at a yearly show in April. In February I entered the sheep in the show, I learned the rules had changed. In order to show and sale two rams, I had to have three ewes. I selected two more ewes and started feeding them to be ready for the show and sale in April. I also had to seriously work at training the ewes to lead with a halter. I had worked with the rams, but not the ewe and now had two more ewes to train. I also had to get blood work done on the rams, and health papers for each sheep. Fortunately I had made the appointment weeks in advance, but still had to get them to the vet on my own. The sheep also have to be clipped for the show. As of this post I have two clipped, and three needing to be clipped. The weather has not cooperated with the time schedule for getting the task done. Cold temperature and severe storms have kept me from clipping the sheep. The task will be completed this weekend as the weather is warm and sunshine.

All of this on my plate along with the regular duties I do each day of feeding and caring for the sheep, housework and getting a garden planted for this year. My plate overflowed. I am still going, still doing and hoping everything turns out well.

Life throws us curve balls, it is up to us on how we handle those situations. Will we give up and quit or will we push forward, take each day one step at a time and work towards the hoped for goal? The choice is ours to make, the steps are our to take.

amtolle

Fold or Perserve

For my occupation I am a sheep farmer. I raise sheep for meat and breeding stock. I enjoy being a sheep farmer. Watching lambs being born, growing and playing is my “television”. I do not care to watch television or a movie much. Watching the lambs is enjoyment.

Most of my ewes I have owned since birth. I know their personality and the sound of their baa. I have selected my sheep from the best that I had, selling off other lambs. Seven years I have worked to have the sheep I currently own.

It is time for me to purchase hay for the winter. We have been purchasing hay from an individual the past two years. Because my flock has been growing larger the last two years, we inform him how much hay for winter we will need in the spring. We let him know this spring how many bales of hay we would need, and he said he would have them for us at the end of summer when we pick up the hay. When we contacted him, he said he sold all his hay to a the local feed store for $105.00 USD per bale. The feed store is charging $260.00 USD for the same hay. I can not continue to raise sheep with hay cost at $260.00 USD per bale. The only place to purchase hay in my area is from the feed store or hay brokers in nearby towns who charge the same amount. I am forced to go to another state and haul my hay to Texas.

Since I am going to have travel to purchase hay, and purchase the hay at one time, I do not have the ready cash for such a purchase. For the first time, I am going to have to borrow money to keep my sheep business going. I have worked for thirteen years to get our personal finances out of debt. I am very reluctant to go into debt to keep the sheep.

I have worked hard to raise the quality of my sheep. I have four sheep consigned to a special Dorper sheep sale in October. My business plan for 2022 was to keep two lambs, a ram and a ewe, to grow up and show and sale in April 2023, and this is on schedule. I have four ewes that are going to have lambs in September, 15 ewes that will start having lambs in October. Five lambs will be ready to sell as market lambs in November/December. The plans were made last January on when I would be having lambs, when they would be ready to sale.

A lot of sheep farmers and cattle ranchers have sold off all their animals. They have folded with hopes of being able to rebuild next spring. There are some who are borrowing money, to keep going and hoping for a better year next year. With fewer sheep having lambs next year, and the demand for lamb meat staying the same, hopefully the price will go up on the market lambs that are produced, and the sheep farmer might be able to recoup the loss of paying so much for hay this winter.

The sad news is, if the price goes up for the market lambs raised by the sheep farmer, the price will go up for the consumer buying lamb meat for dinner. Once ewes or cows are removed from herds producing offspring to be sold for market, it takes a year or two to build those numbers back up to what they were this year.

Should I fold, call it quits or go into debt and preserve to keep all my hard work going forward?

After much prayer and contemplation, I am going to persevere, push ahead to keep going. I will not have the profit margin I calculated last January, I am going forward hoping to do well. I am hoping the market lambs I sell in December/January will bring a high price. The two I am raising to show and sale in April as breeding stock will bring good money. The plans of breeding ewes, producing lambs, and selling market lambs will provide more money than I did this year. Hopefully the drought ends, the hay grows abundant for all farmers.

amtolle

Fall is Upon Us

September is here and fall is not far behind. Fall the time of year this change preparing for winter. The trees change their color to golds and reds, as their leaves begin to die and fall, getting ready for winter. The birds fly south, some leave and others move in for the winter. Fall is a time of reflection as celebrations of All Souls Eve when we remember those who are gone, Thanksgiving with those who are around us recalling the blessings received. Fall is the time for preparing for winter if you are a sheep farmer, making sure there is enough hay and feed the animals will need.

This summer has flown through with exciting adventures with family and blessings to share and remember. It seems as I gain in years, the years get shorter. I have been preparing for a special event in September, the delivery of my youngest daughter’s triplets. I will leave my husband the responsibility of the sheep and animals, as well as himself when I go to my daughter’s on September 11. It is hard to leave my husband alone with the house and sheep. I like to make sure his laundry is done, food on the table at a set time, and food for his lunches ready for him to take in the morning. I know he is a grown man and able to take care of himself, but there is a part of me that will miss doing it for him. I do those things for him because I love him, not out of society prescribed duty or it is expected of me. I want to make sure he has his comforts and the things he needs because of love and care.

My staying at my daughter’s to care for my granddaughter is a gift of love and care. My daughter and her husband will be busy when the triplets are born. I will be there as a servant to assist in whatever needs to be done. While my daughter and the babies are in the hospital, I will be responsible for my granddaughter getting to school, checking on homework, and other household duties. I am looking forward to spending the one on one time with my granddaughter, a time to make special memories together. It will also be the first time she has been away from her parents. Although she knows this is going to happen, being able to maintain her regular schedule and routines will help her deal with the stress of her parents not being there.

Fall marks the time to get all the Christmas gifts completed for my grandchildren. This year I will be completing several of them while I am at my daughters. I will not have the duties of being a sheep farmer to keep me busy during the day, when my granddaughter is at school. I will have the gifts there to keep my hands and mind busy. I know my daughter loves me, but if I were to spring clean her house without her present would not put a smile on her face. I know my weakness, I have prepared things for my stay to keep my hands and mind occupied.

It is easy to do things for those we love. Helping others and bringing a smile, is my reward for the work I am doing. I know my daughter and her family appreciate this help being provided. I know my husband appreciates what I do for him. All things I do, I do because I love.

This fall marks the arrival of a long awaited blessing for the whole family, aunts, grandparents, cousins, nephews, nieces and others. We have been watching, praying for my daughter and three babies. Fall the babies will arrive.

amtolle

A Little Bit of Rain

Last night and today, we have been receiving some much needed and prayed for rain. The area I am in has been in a drought all summer, no rain. Rain is what we depend on to water our pastures as there is no irrigation type systems in this area. No one irrigates or uses farm sprinklers to water their fields and pastures. Rainfall is very important.

I am many things, but my main occupation is being a sheep farmer. I raise Dorper sheep for market lamb. I enjoy this occupation of caring for the sheep. Being a sheep farmer is more than just taking care of sheep. I have to manage the pasture and other resources in order to care the sheep and make a profit.

One of those resources is my pasture. When we first purchased our small homestead, the pasture had been overgrazed. There was way more weeds than grass, and large bare areas of dirt. Not much feed for the horses we were raising at the time. Building up a pasture that has been overgrazed takes time, there is no quick fix.

Our lives took a change, we sold the horses and I became a sheep farmer. In the beginning as a sheep farmer, I did not have very many sheep, five to seven. Sheep love to eat weeds, 70 % of their preferred diet is weeds and brush. I had plenty of both when I started raising sheep. As the sheep grazed the weeds, not allowing the weeds to produce seeds and replant, my pasture starting changing. The weeds being controlled by the sheep allowing more moisture and sunlight for grass, the grass started growing and spreading. Today, my pasture is mostly grass, the few weeds I do have are weeds sheep and other livestock do not eat.

This spring we did not get the usual amount o rainfall. The summer was dry, no rainfall and heat. The grass in the pasture became tan, short, dry and had stopped growing. In July, I stopped grazing the sheep on the pasture, and kept them in pens with limited grazing around the sheds and house. I did not want to overgraze the pasture and stress or kill the grass I had managed to build up. I was able to water the grass around the sheds and house using the water from our well. This week, I stopped grazing the sheep totally. The grass around the sheds and house were not able to keep up with the sheep. I did not want to overgraze this area either.

Being a sheep farmer is more than just taking care of the sheep, it is managing the resources needed to care for the sheep. My sheep pens are placed on a hillside above the pasture. When we do receive rain, the water naturally sheds to the pasture. As the water moves through the pens, it becomes a manure tea, fertilizing the grass in the pasture. The past few years, there has developed a darker green and more lush grass nearer the sheep pens than in the back of the pasture. The darker green grass area has been growing large each year.

When I clean out my sheep pens, I compost the manure for more than 30 days, usually a few months, before applying it to the pasture. Letting the manure compost helps with internal parasite in the sheep, not allowing the larva to infect the sheep. After thirty days, if the larva have not been introduced into a sheep’s system, the larva dies.

Having the sheep pens on a hillside allows for faster draining and drying of the sheep pens, than the rest of the property. Keeping the sheep pens drained helps to prevent footrot, a bacterial infection of the sheep hoof that destroys the hoof. The placement of pens and shelters is also a management decision for a sheep farmer.

Yes, we have received a little bit of rain, but this will not break the drought. This little bit of rain will give the grass a breath of life. The pasture will take more rain, and time to rebuild from the stress of the drought before I can have the sheep graze it once more. I will continue to feed the sheep hay in their pens until spring arrives. I am managing my pasture to feed the ewes and lambs this spring and next year. If I overgraze or let the sheep graze too soon, I will hinder and possible destroy the work of the past few years to build up and improve my pasture.

amtolle