Sheep can be very tender and affectionate animals, but also very practical if you don’t want to worry about mowing your lawn. They can therefore become your best friends, but also your little gardeners without the slightest effort. Here are all the details if you wish to adopt a sheep, a ewe or a lamb.
The choice
First of all, there are different types of sheep that you can adopt that will suit you more or less according to your expectations. It is nevertheless advisable to choose a sheep of rustic breed rather than improved breed. Rustic sheep have a longer lifespan than improved breeds and live an average of about 15 years.
Age
First of all, there are the lambs. Most of the time, the mother no longer produces milk or does not produce enough, so the breeder has to bottle-feed them. The lamb quickly identifies the person feeding it as its new mother and therefore becomes very affectionate with it. So you’ll have no trouble bonding with a lamb that may even get a little too sticky.
For this reason, it is rather advisable to adopt a lamb that is often more independent and less invasive than the lamb. In addition, once adult, rams can reach 150 kg, which can be a bit cumbersome if you don’t have the proper surface area. This choice is therefore adapted to the criteria you have.
You can also adopt a cull ewe, i.e. a ewe that is too old and can no longer give birth to lambs or that has had an infectious disease that has resulted in the partial or total loss of its udders. Most of the time, these ewes are sent directly to the slaughterhouse. Adopting one would therefore be a way to save her.
Sex
As said before, males often tend to become more imposing than females. This choice will therefore be made according to the size of the land you will give to your sheep.
That said, for smaller breeds, there is actually no real difference between males and females. The ewes would still be milder, but the males can be milder if they are castrated.
Where and how do you get a sheep or ewe?
There are several ways to get a sheep or ewe. You have the choice between a shepherd, a breeder and even on the Internet.
From a shepherd
The advantage of getting a sheep from a shepherd is that the shepherd knows each of his animals perfectly. Indeed, he lives with them and accompanies them every day. He will therefore be very good advice at the time of your purchase, but also afterwards when you have doubts and questions.
With a breeder
There are different types of sheep farms: intensive and extensive. In an intensive breeding, the animals are locked up in small premises for a very large number of animals. They are fed automatically as in the factory. In these conditions, the yield is the most important and the lucrative aspect of the animals takes precedence over the emotional aspect.
In extensive livestock farming, the animals live outdoors and are much less numerous on a much larger living area. They therefore feed on what nature offers them.
On the Internet
It is possible to find ewes or lambs on advertisement sites, but you must still remain vigilant. Indeed, some people simply want to get rid of their animals quickly, sometimes even selling you sick animals without you knowing it. The average price of an adult ewe is on average 140 dollars.
You can now purchase your sheep with full knowledge of the facts.
