On-line (PDF) version.

While lambing season is fresh in your mind, take a few minutes to reflect on what happened, how it happened, and why it happened as it did.

Instructions to build a "diagonal Strainer brace". This design is less expensive and a bit easier to build than other "kiwi" strainer braces.

Having an understanding of sheep behavior can greatly improve one's ability to handle sheep. By recognizing that the sheep has instincts and using them to your advantage a great deal of stress both to the animal and the people can be avoided.

Paper covering some of the factors that influence how an animal may react during handling.

IACUC Learning Module.

This site contains information regarding livestock handling and stress reduction.

Describes method of determining the condition of a sheep (too fat, too thin, just right) which is convenient, and is much more accurate than a simple eye appraisal. Includes pictures.

Provides pictures and instructions for building a simple creep panel out of rough cut lumber using simple tools.

The following are thoughts to help the new producer with the care of their lamb.

Learn more about a new project to evaluate composting cattle, hogs and sheep carcasses at the University of Minnesota's Southern Experiment Station, Waseca.

Describes method of classifying ewes into groups according to fullness of muscling and amount of fat cover and how to adjust feed regimine according to the condition score and stage of the production cycle.

Sheep and goats can be effective tools to complement herbicides for control of leafy spurge. In addition, their control efforts can generate an economic return from land that other livestock won't graze.

Information about sheep production and management from Cornell University.

Summary of contents of the Missouri Dead Animal Disposal Statute, which was passed by the 86th General Assembly and became law on August 28, 1992.

This article examines the pros and cons of early and late lambing systems and how they can fit individual producer's goals and operations.

In spite of price volatility, it is important that we know our costs and determine how we can cut costs, improve management, and improve productivity, so our operation remains profitable.

Article helps the shepherd identify and evaluate resources that are available on the farm and to match these assets to an appropriate production system.

This site is the homepage of Ewe Byte, a comprehensive and affordable system available for managing sheep production and health.

Livestock Guardian Dog Comprehensive Resource about both companion and working dogs

FlockFiler is a computer database for keeping health, management, and breeding records of sheep. For Windows and Macintosh, FlockFiler is suitable for any shepherd and for flocks of any size.

Keeps records on entire flock of sheep. Allows producer to keep track of ewes in relation to other ewes in flock. Printouts show entire history of ewes, including lambs produced.

Introduction to using guard dogs to control predation of sheep.

This paper summarizes some of the management guidelines and other factors which may improve the likelihood of a donkey becoming a successful livestock guard animal.

Having the barn ready before the first lambs arrive is one way to get the lambing season off to a good start.

Information about boundary style herding.

Bibliography and audiovisuals.

This "self-instruction" module in sheep and Goat Care was created for the research staff of the Department of University Animal Care. It does include some useful and interesting information(e.g., normal blood values and physiological signs).

Proper management of the flock at key times of the production cycle can reduce young lamb mortality. A realistic goal of 10% lamb mortality is attainable by most producers.

Features links to sheep care education and information, breeds and wool information, sheep jokes, and foot and mouth information.

Australia's system for describing genetic worth of animals used in sheepmeat sheep industry.

Guard dogs are an effective method to reduce predation on livestock. Guard llamas and donkeys also appear to reduce losses but appear less effective than guard dogs. Guard dogs can be used in farm flock/pasture operations, on open range, and in feedlots. Llamas and donkeys are most effective in fenced pastures less than 300 acres.

Cattle, horses, sheep and pigs are common livestock species in Colorado. Accidents caused by livestock every year account for a significant number of the deaths and injuries to people.

Web site offering book for sale, entitled: Living with Sheep: Everything You Need to Know to Raise Your Own Flock" by Chuck Wooster and Geoff Hansen.

This section of the University of California's Sustainable Ranching Research and Education Project site provides a good introduction to Bud William's Stockmanship techniques. It also provides some good anecdotes and makes a strong connection between stress, productivity and your bottom line.

Separation at weaning can be stressful for both lambs and the ewe. Management goals should be to keep this stress as low as possible, thereby reducing incidence of disease and health problems in ewes and lambs and allowing the lambs to grow at a normal rate.

Predisposing factors.

Boost your fall lambing percentages. Here's how.

NSIP offers a computerized genetic performance evaluation program,designed to help identify high-producing replacements, cull poor-producing animals, and assess overall management strengths and weaknesses.

An independent agency that assists the U.S. sheep and goat industries through loans and other financial assistance means.

Care of the newborn lamb from VA Cooperative Extension.

Steps to prevent "empty gut disease" caused by the inadequate supply of nutrients.

Dr. Morrical's area of research is sheep nutrition, forages and fetal and baby lamb survival.

Reviews the basics of guarding dog behavior and methods for starting a pup with sheep. Reprinted February 1999.

Ewe lambs born in March and April are excellent candidates to be used as replacement ewes in spring-lambing flocks. With proper feeding and breeding management, spring-born ewe lambs should be in production by the time they are 12 to 14 months of age.

Ever been victimized by a dog attack? Here is information to help you.

This is a delightful, general information site on sheep designed by a youngster as a 4H project.

Instructions for making Sheep Coats to protect wool fleeces.

Using Estimated Progeny Difference to make genetic improvements and increase flock performance.

A good working or handling facility whether permanent, temporary, or portable can reduce the physical demands of handling sheep to a very manageable level.

Classic reference containing information about how to build an efficient sheep system. Provides detailed layouts so the shepherd can construct his/her own equipment.

General management practices throughout the production cycle.

An aid to basic sheep management practices in today's sheep business.

This publication helps sheep producers plan for optimum spacing requirements for different classes of sheep.

Discussion of the pros and cons of docking, and recommendations regarding tail length.

Some people are interested in taming older sheep, some people are interested in the halter training. There are some points common to both activities. Brief summary of the process that we used at Fibre Works Farm over a three week period this summer.

List of references regarding the effect of transport upon sheep.

Instructions to help you build your own portable skirting table.

The purpose of this factsheet is to aid producers and livestock evaluators in distinguishing between losses caused by predators and non-predator causes. If predation is the cause of death then it is particularly important to identify the species responsible so additional control measures can be implemented to minimize future losses. Heavy emphasis is placed on distinguishing between coyote predation and dog predation, since they collectively account for almost all predator related losses in Ontario flocks.

Flock and pasture management techniques used on a low-input, pasture-based sheep farm located near Meaford, Ontario, Canada. Includes pictures of homemade handling devises.

Discusses the various costs involved in starting or expanding a flock of ewes. For sheep producers and those needing information on sheep production.

List of resources for small flock owners located in Central Maine; and for people thinking of becoming small flock owners anywhere in the US. Has links including everything from mills for processing fiber, to books and periodicals, to husbandry tips.

One of the leaders in livestock behavior and welfare; lots of good information.

Links to herding-related sites.

Realistically, an ideal lambing season is not likely, however, we can manage the ewes to approach the ideal as close as possible.

SFIP is a home testing genetic improvement program designed to assist Ontario purebred and commercial sheep producers in the evaluation of potential breeding stock and to provide a measure of the comparative productivity of ewes in the flock. Enrollment information and data available.

Government foundation supporting sheep production and coordinating industry's research priorities. (New Zealand)

Information about Border Collies and herding. Contains articles on general information, activities, veterinary information, breeding, culture, books and magazines, and products.

Weaning lambs should not be done on impulse, but should be a well-planned activity.

A number of the procedures necessary to sheep and goat production are stressful, but benefit the animals overall. Alternative methods of restraint, castration, tail-docking, and fostering are available and should be compared to determine relative stressfulness.

With the cessation of pasture growth, more inputs of labor, management and harvested feedstuffs are required for the ewe flock. Actually, the winter period and nutrient needs of the flock may be as much a function of when a producer lambs as what the weather is.

An animal can be expected to respond to stimuli from both the handler and the environment. This publication looks at each of these factors more closely.

ZooEasy offers complete and user-friendly sheep breeding software for pedigree record keeping.