Sheep
- Industry Profile
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Industry Profile
Sheep have been feeding and clothing man for more than 8,000 years. This is evidenced by Biblical writings, Greek and Roman history and recordings of the Dark Ages, and the Renaissance through present day. Sheep came to the New World with the early settlers, but England only permitted the exportation of lesser mixed breeds with coarse wool. In Piscatagua settlements under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, these sheep met individual family needs for food and clothing but were not economically significant.
Preparing fleeces was a tedious process. Sheep were shorn by an able-bodied family member or by migrant shearers who exchanged their work for room and board. The fleece was handcarded by the young and those too old to do hard work. The big wheel was used to spin an average of five skeins per day requiring six hours of walking. The wool skeins were used to weave fabric, an average of 5-6 yards per day. A famous New Hampshire weaver, Polly Locke from New Ipswich, is said to have processed wool from fleece to a new outfit in 40 hours for her brother to wear going off to the Continental Army. (Hands that built New Hampshire: The History of Granite State Craftsmen Past and Present, WPA Writers’ Program 1940).
In 1809, William Jarvis, the US consul to Spain, in collaboration with the British consul, purchased merino sheep, a fine wool breed. Half of these sheep were imported to farms from Maine to Virginia and formed the genetic basis for US sheep. When this fleece was processed it was soft enough to be worn next to the skin. Thus, the New England textile industry gained prominence. Mill towns such as Ashland, Lebanon and Somersworth harnessed the waterpower of adjacent rivers. The demand for local wool soared. From 1829 to 1835, the average flock size throughout New Hampshire was 500-1,000 head. Walpole recorded 20,000 sheep. Wool could be sold for $1.00 per pound (equivalent today to $100.00 per pound). Many family fortunes were made and expended on historic homes, churches, libraries and town halls. Many acres of land were painstakingly cleared for grazing. Mount Monadnock was grazed to the summit. Extensive four-foot stone walls were built to confine flocks.
Predators, parasites, poor nutrition and over grazing all took their toll. After 1840, climactic changes, central heat, work environment changes from outside to indoors, the growth of the cotton industry in the South, the opening of the Erie Canal and railroads facilitating westward expansion to open ranges, trade and tariff policies favoring imports and an economic depression were all factors that contributed to the decline of the woolen industry in New England.
The meat market also declined due to decreased caloric needs of workers following the Industrial Revolution and to a new wave of immigrants from Central Europe whose traditional cooking didn’t include lamb.
Today sheep still dot the New Hampshire landscape, but the total number of sheep in the state in 2002 was 6,500 with wool prices averaging 40 cents per pound per fleece and meat prices averaging $40 dollars (sheep) and $115 dollars (lamb) per 100 pounds at market (New England Agricultural Statistics, 2002). It is interesting to note that the Northeast is the largest lamb and mutton consuming area in the United States, but 80% of the lambs are raised in the West and South. With a few exceptions, today in New Hampshire, sheep are raised as a hobby and/or to keep land cleared rather than as a primary source of income. New Hampshire is home to a thriving cottage industry of spinners, weavers, and crafters of handsome wool products. Sheep shows are still an attraction at county fairs. Raising sheep is a popular project for 4-H and FFA members. The New Hampshire Agricultural Extension and the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Growers Association (NHSWGA) provide education and marketing support for the state’s sheep farmers. Underpinning the industry is a network of suppliers for equipment, feed, shearing services, wool processing and veterinary care. To appreciate New Hampshire’s rural scenery and charming villages is to acknowledge the enduring legacy of sheep in the Granite State.
(Personal interview Steve Taylor, Commissioner NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food and NHSWGA article by Caroline Owens).
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Most sheep flocks in N.H. have fewer than 20 breeding ewes. The flocks are raised primarily as a hobby rather than as a source of income. Sheep make an excellent 4H or FFA project and are also popular as a wool crafts project or to keep fields clear of brush. About 10% of N.H.’s flocks are raised for commercial purposes as a source of income but all the operations are part-time.
Many N.H. sheep producers lamb in January or February to take advantage of the Easter market and for show ring purposes. Typically these lambs are raised on grain concentrate diets to promote rapid growth. Increasingly, due to rising grain concentrate prices, producers are lambing in April or May to utilize lower cost pastures to raise the lambs.
Most sheep in N.H. are pastured from mid-April or early-May to late-October or early-November or later if the weather allows. The rest of the year they are housed in barns or sheds. During the winter (and occasionally to supplement pastures) they are fed stored forages usually dry hay, although silages can be fed to sheep. On the average, N.H. sheep farms utilize a stocking rate of 3-4 sheep/acre. Most sheep farmers purchase all of their forages, but a few grow their own feed.
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Sheep have a ruminant digestive system and utilize a wide variety of food stuffs. Typically sheep in N.H. are maintained on pasture for at least six months of the year. Properly managed pastures can easily meet the nutritional needs of sheep. During the winter months sheep are typically fed rations of dry hay and grain concentrates. Some of the larger flocks are also fed silage. All sheep should have free-choice access to clean water and a granular salt/mineral mix designed for sheep.
Generally rations are balanced according to the National Research Council (NRC) recommendations. Typically medium sized sheep weighing 150 lbs at breeding will eat about 800 lbs of good quality hay, 150 lbs of grain concentrate, plus pasture per year. Lambs are typically weaned from their mothers at 60-90 days of age. Lambs can be raised either on high quality pasture or on a grain concentrate and stored forages diet.
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N.H. has a shortage of large animal veterinarians. Most sheep producers learn the basic skills needed for routine animal care and only use a veterinarian for emergencies or to treat high value animals. Refer to UNH Cooperative Extension publication “Sheep Health Management” for details on sheep health management.
To maintain good animal health and minimize the spread of disease, UNH Cooperative Extension has done extensive work in the area of bio-security. Farm practitioners are encouraged to wash their boots or wear disposable ones. Producers have been encouraged to limit visitors and arrange their farmsteads to minimize contamination from older to younger animals during routine chores.
N.H. has a Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program. For details on this program contact: N.H. State Veterinarian, PO Box 2042, Concord, NH 03302-2042, Telephone No. 603-271-2404.
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The state of N.H. uses the Best Management Practices (BMPs) for agricultural production. These guidelines were written by agricultural specialists representing the Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food, USDA agencies and UNH Cooperative Extension. It is a voluntary program, but any violations are mediated by the N.H. Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food.
The BMPs establish practical guidelines for handling water run-off, manure storage, fertilizer application and other practices that promote good environmental stewardship. Guidelines also exist for the land application bio-solids. Bio solids are monitored closely by the state and allowed in most towns.
UNH Cooperative Extension strongly promotes soil testing and recommends fertilizer levels in accordance to the land’s production capacity, soil type, nutrient content and crop produced. Soil testing forms are available at each county extension office.
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Agricultural engineering expertise is available to N.H. farmers through the support of the Andrew C. and Margaret R. Sigler Foundation of Norwich, Vt. This grant covers the cost of a consultant’s on-site visit to N.H. farms to deal with agricultural engineering issues. The consultant engineer is Dr. Stan Weeks, formerly a Cornell professor and an Agway engineer, who now works independently.
Stan specializes in dairy, but can cover a broad area of technology issues.
He has helped farmers with irrigation, apple storage, barn design, manure
pits and other issues. To obtain an appointment with Stan, call John Porter
at (603) 225-5505 Ext. 22.
UNH holds one of the most complete collections in the country of the old USDA
Plan Service files. These files include old idea plans for agriculturally related
buildings, animal handling equipment, and specialty facilities. These are organized
by the USDA plan number system and contain many items of interest to small
scale and beginner farmers. These are accessed by calling your local UNH Cooperative
Extension office.
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Sheep producers market one or more of the following products: meat lambs, breeding stock, wool and wool products, and sheepskins. A few producers in the United States, but none currently in N.H., also milk their sheep and market milk products such as cheese and yogurt.
In N.H., there is essentially no wholesale marketing structure for any of these products. Producers must use their own initiative to search out and develop markets.
Many producers lamb in January and February and market their meat lambs at 40-50 lbs at Easter primarily to Greek and Italian buyers. Some producers have developed markets for 70-100 lb lambs to N.H.’s growing Muslim population. Many other producers lamb in April- May, raise their lambs on pasture, and market their meat lambs at 100-120 lbs in the fall as “freezer” lambs to family, friends, and neighbors. A few producers also market to restaurants and specialty meat markets. Some producers combine all of these practices.
Recently the Northeast Sheep and Goat Marketing Project organized to help producers develop markets for their lambs. Headquartered at Cornell, their web site is www.sheepgoatmarketing.org. The N.H. Sheep and Wool Growers Association, an active group that can also be of help. Their site is www.yankeeshepherd.com.
A few sheep producers with wool breeds of sheep developed niche markets selling “spinning fleeces” and other specialty wool products to a limited craft based market. Unfortunately, most producers have no market for their wool and end up storing it for years in a barn loft, using it for mulch, or taking it to the land fill.
The market for breeding stock is also limited in N.H. Most producers selling breeding stock raise purebred animals, compete at sheep shows to develop a “reputation” for quality stock, and sell animals at the farm or at specialty purebred auctions. These producers enjoy the challenge of genetic improvement and the competition of the shows and sales. This is usually a hobby not a source of income.
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Help in farm management is offered through UNH Cooperative Extension, through personal farm visits and group meetings. Visits may cover budgeting, business planning, estate planning, decision making, goal setting and other topics.
Ag-Biz, a classroom style short course, runs for 4-5 sessions and teaches farmers management principles. Several meetings are held each year under the heading of “Risk Management” and cover crop management, diversification, proper planning and the use of insurance to minimize risk.
Michael Sciabarrasi is the primary contact at: (603) 862-3234. Also see the Farm Business Management section.
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Most sheep farms in N.H. are part-time operations with the owners providing most of the labor. Typically the only labor hired is a professional to shear the sheep. The primary reference for N.H. and Federal labor laws is the “Review of Selected State and Federal Laws that Apply to Agricultural Employees,” supported by First Pioneer Farm Credit and UNH Cooperative Extension and written by Carol Zintel and Michael Sciabarrasi.
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UNH Personnel with sheep expertise
Dr. Pete Erickson – UNH Dairy Specialist
Peter.Erickson@unh.edu
Tel No: (603) 862-1909
John Porter – UNH Dairy Specialist
John.Porter@unh.edu
Tel No. (603) 862-1341
Dwight Barney – UNH Thompson School Professor of Animal ScienceTel No: (603) 862-1044
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- Agricultural Databases for Decision Supports (ADDS)
- American Sheep Industry Association
- Cornell University- Northeast Sheep & Goat Marketing Program
- Farm Service Agency (FSA)
- Iowa State Extension Crop Publications
- Iowa State Extension Livestock Publications
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- New England Agricultural Statistics
- New England Dairy, Crops, and Livestock
- N.H. Farm Bureau
- N.H. Department of Agriculture Markets & Food
- Okalahoma Cooperative Extension
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
- Yankee Shepard
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- Sheep Health Management
- Condition Scoring Sheep
- Harvesting, Storing and Feeding Haycrop Silage
- Beginning a Sheep Enterprise
- Handling Sheep So They Don’t Handle You!
- Sheep Don’t Need Much
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- N.H. Sheep and Wool Growers Association
- New England Sheep and Wool Growers Association
- American Sheep Industry, Inc.
- Breed Associations
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