Adding More Farm Animals to Fill the Void in My Soul
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ย. 2024
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About Gold Shaw Farm: Gold Shaw Farm is more of a farm-in-progress than an honest-to-goodness farm. We dream that someday we can transform our 150+ acre parcel of land into a regenerative and productive homestead and farm.
Time to add more native animals. Install bat houses, martin houses, owl houses and fields set aside for native grasses and flowers to draw in more pollinators .
Actually a great idea
Does he have bee boxes? It might be worth setting aside a portion of the upper fields and growing flowers and such and then introducing bee boxes. May have to enclose them in a sturdy barrier to protect them.
@@kalerebornhis neighbor just built a solar array and he's planning to have native flowers for pollinators grow around them
@@kalereborn He has bee hives. Doesnt show em often.
@@kalereborn Yes. He keeps a couple of hives.
As a knitter, you have no idea how excited I am about you adding wooly sheep to your flock!!! There’s a community of knitters, spinners and weavers who love traceable yarn or fibres to work with! You can also see if there’re local mills who can process the raw fleece for you. There’s also an annual wool & sheep festival in Vermont, if I’m not wrong. Can’t wait for the sheep, Morgan!!!
I recently bought some amazing woolen socks from a Vermont company so perhaps he could become a supplier?
I was thinking the same thing.
Same as a needlefelter! 💙
There is a Wool Arts Tour, visiting several sheep farms in southern NH, on Columbus Day weekend.
I would love to be able to work up some projects using Gold Star Farm wool. I have found this great pattern for amurgurumi highland cows that are so cute.
Back in the 80's my family and I raised sheep in Wyoming. We had nearly 2,000 head. I personally love sheep and baby lambs are some of the cutest animals on earth. We never tried using electrical wiring on the farm, it was all barbed wire fen ing which I'm not too big of a fan of now. That being said, I would be slightly concerned of them escaping electric fencing due to their thicker coats not being very conductive. Also, you will definitely need to field rotate them behind the cows and be careful not to allow them to eat too deep. Sheep eat grass way down towards the roots/soil level and cows do not like to be in fields behind them because of that. Out on the prairies, our cows would avoid sheep fields all together.
Finally, we get to hear from someone who knows something about sheep.
Insightful points in respect to his farm.
I like this, strong points from a person with knowledge. Thank you for the insight. He did JUST finish separating his upper pasture, so perhaps building an internal stronger wire fence around the electric to stop the sheep, and leave the electric for predators? Sounds like a sensible call to me for at least a test year?
Cows are racist against sheep....good to know
@@lylecoglianese1645always fingers for me!
As a beginning sheep farmer I would highly suggest the Shetland sheep there small so you can get a large biomass with lots of body’s as there smaller very good for one person to handle and sheer weight the wool is of fine quality and soft and they can be milked as well so there’s an additional bonus if you so choose hope this helps
Hi, Morgan. I am Simon a poultry farmer in south africa. I also have sheep. I choose native breeds as they are more hardy and familiar with weather, parasites, etc. Sheep is not as messy like pigs but also manure anywere the want, like in their shed and in their water. But their manure is great for gardening. I let my chickens walk with the sheep as they spread their manure. Great animals. Meat, lots of offspring, wool and in a few breeds milk. Nice videos!
Hi Simon, you got any plans to do a channel and record your day to day?
@@daggaboom Not realy mabe in the future
Well composted sheep urine/droppings make GREAT fertilizer for gardening, make tomatoes taste sweeter.
The crows around here tend to eat a lot of them, our dogs seem to like them also.
All the cows waiting in line for you to finish talking so they can have fresh grass was so cute. You have them trained to your system very well 😂
Plus, it really shows the "pecking order".
I think a donkey is in order. Theres an animal that'll cover grass consumption, inside your lines protection, and give a good laugh.
He’d have to bring it up young around the dogs or the donkeys will attack them as well
As soon as the video started I said, "He needs a donkey in his life"
If trained, donkeys can be farm tractors/motors too, and they're smart cookies. Sheep are targets.
Yeah, I don't think Morgan will be happy with sheep because they are ridiculously stupid.
@@ginacirelli1581They also share diseases with chickens.
Morgan, the Vermont sheep and wool festival is in Tunbridge World Fairgrounds at the end of the month! Lots of very experienced sheep farmers with every breed imaginable. Maybe us sheep folk will see you there!
If you're considering wool product sales you may want to reconsider alpacas. Yarns produced from alpaca sell at a premium compared to many sheep wools. Either way I'm excited to see this next project!
Alpacas also produce high quality poop! Alpaca poop is like the gold standard for gardens! The poop actually works out to be more valuable than the fiber they produce. It’s less smelly than other animal manure and since they poop in communal dung heaps, it’s easy to collect. Also, in comparison to sheep, alpacas absorb more nutrition from their food than sheep. You need to get at least three as they are very much herd animals and need to be kept with their own kind. Males and females should not be mixed though….either get all one sex or you will have to keep males and females separated….
As a breeder of alpacas for the last 19 years, I say research, research, research! To get that premium yarn, you have to have premium animals. Try $5000-9000 EACH. And, although we can produce many things with the various grades, the fiber (we don't call it wool) will gradually coarsen with age and you won't get that premium quality anymore. Plus, processing to get it to that yarn stage will cost over $30/lb. Average prime blanket is less than 7 lbs. Shorn once per year. You can save costs by shearing yourself or pay a shearer $40/head plus farm set-up fee of $100-150. Plus, they require more monthly care than cows or even sheep. In Vermont, they require ivermectin shots for meningeal worm (not an intestinal parasite) every 30 days.
As a knitter, I find alpaca difficult to work with. It’s wonderfully soft, but doesn’t have the spring and life that a nice wool does.
I couldn't do alpacas.
@@janicelindegard6615exactly. I was going to comment that. And real 100% wool is quite expensive per skien as well.
Hearing ''good morning large white farm dogs'' melts my heart. Every. Single. Time.
I love how he's talking at the end and the cows are lined up like "SiR wE jUsT wAnT oUr FrEsH gRaSs!"
same thing i was thinking lol
Donkeys notoriously hate dogs and will even attack them, not sure how a donkey would do around Abbey.
Well as a Yorkshire Lass, i can only say one, Swaledale, Magnificent horns, good lambs - rough wool though mind you 😂
Proper answer now, Romney are great dual purpose beasts, fit lambs and thick wool. Pretty also.
Ryeland are the friendliest ive ever come across and so easily managed next to other breeds, good meat and a Lot of wool!
Proper excited to see whatever sheep you get up on the top pasture. I think if you can find a breed with a personality that suits for you, You're going to be a sheep farmer cos you're going to love it 😄😂
I applaud your restraint regarding adding animals to your farm and the way you carefully plan and integrate the animals into your farm! Funnily enough, the only other farm youtuber I watch as much as you is Sandi Brock. I love her channel on youtube and how her vlog really shows the cycle and maintenance of sheep farming! It is a lot of work but seems really rewarding!
Everyone loves Sandi and her family.
Sandi shows some of the reality of keeping sheep. She’s definitely worth watching if you want to keep sheep
I watch Sandi too! She does show the pros and cons of sheep raising! Of course, Morgan is my favorite and White House on the Hill would be 3rd!
Love how the cows form a duck line while they patiently wait for Dad to stop talking to the black box.
As a knitter, I recommend Icelandic sheep. Great wool.
There is another advantage of sheep that I have seen around many solar farms. As sheep do not jump all over the solar panels as goats etc. do, lots of solar farms use sheep to keep the grass under and around the solar panels mowed down. Just another thought for you going forward.
I love the cows waiting in line at the end for him to let them into the new paddock. So cool.
Morgan, I have an idea. I appreciate all the artwork in your new book about Toby and the farm. I am a colorist and would love to see these drawings available in a coloring book.
Oh man thatd be cool
Agree, this would be awesome 💗
That would be awesome.
It’s nice to see the trees that you planted , flourishing 😊
One thing you can do with wool is wrap whatever excess you have around your bars of soap. It will act as a scrub or loofa. I have one myself and it is literally a homemade bar of soap wrapped in wool and it is a very soft scrub and has become my favorite scrubber to bathe with. And once you are done with it, you can just throw the wool away and its biodegradable. So more eco friendly than most store bought scrubbers.
I'm SO EXCITED for sheep! I follow Sandi Brock on TH-cam, she runs a sheep farm and has her favorite sheep grazing that she calls the Golden Girls.
I would absolutely love if you got sheep!
Me too! Love Sandi Brock!!!
I just became a goat owner in April, first with 12 does, then added15 more in July. I didn't know they would be such a blast. We're using ours for a brush goat service, but some will go for meat as we get into breeding next year. People had me a nervous wreck saying goats get loose all of the time, but we haven't had any issues with that at all.
I raise katahdin hair sheep and I love them. Easy, no birthing issues, parasite resistant, no shearing and hardy. Mine are trained to hot wire and rotational grazing. The hair sheep is a little smaller then the wool breeds but the meat is very mild flavor which I prefer. I wanted an easy, hardy animal to raise for meat and I feel the hair sheep are it.
As I commented on an earlier video, I like the idea of multi-purpose sheep. Just make sure you research which plants are toxic to sheep, as that might differ from other grazers. As to breed, I still think Icelandics or Shetlands would be good to start with. They're hardy, don't need a fancy barn for winter, and produce nice wool and tasty meat. Icelandics are still double-coated, so you'd have to make sure you have a wool mill nearby that can handle that type of wool. If they do, you can get three types of yarn from them: inner coat only (very soft and warm), outer coat only (very rough, but interesting for rug weavers), and the mix of both types processed together (think Lopi sweaters). Both Icelandics and Shetlands come in a variety of colors too... And Icelandics can be milked (I don't know about Shetlands), if you're interested. Otherwise, yes, as others have commented, stay away from pure Merinos. They have very fine and soft wool, but it is actually not the easiest to spin. Mixed breeds are easier to keep, to shear and their wool to spin. My favorites for spinning are Cormo and Romeldale/CVM. Check the Livestock Conservancy for breed ideas too....
From what I have seen in YT videos about Highlands Cattle, they can browse as well as graze, so you could potentially have set your fences out further into the forest and secret pasture to allow them to move into those areas in late fall for buds, and other browse as the grass browns out. Hogs are not the only animal that can be used to restore the grasslands. You could potentially accomplish this with the existing herd if you had someone hay the better central parts of your pasture to store for winter, keeping the cattle on the periphery of the pasture and into the forest.
Hi Morgan, I am so so excited about you adding sheep to the farm! If you can make yarn from the wool, I would 1000% buy that at a premium. Also, they would be so cute 🥺🥺🥺
You seem to be most comfortable with the cattle so you should add more of them to the farm.
Yes you like cattle. Do what you like
yeah, more cattle and they are probably lucrative. But adding a donkey for herd protection and amusement would be great too.
@@claytonberg721donkey breeding for live stock guardians might be a good idea.
I would agree, in many ways simply adding more cattle would make a lot of sense.
@@claytonberg721donkeys and dogs don’t like one another. I would hate for Toby or Abby to be injured by a donkey.
If you're thinking about doing sheep i recommend talking to Sandi Brock
Shes farm TH-camr in Canada who deals with large scale breeding and selling sheep
I believe she would be a great person to get input from.
I think she could help you decide what breeds would go best for the farm your doing and potential problems she has already gone through that might help!
I love watching her TH-cam channel
Sandi would be very little help to the average farmer, she raises her sheep in confinement and is high production. It would be completely different as to how he would raise sheep.
The overgrowth of a wet summer, constant rolling fog, and brief miasmas of flies that block out the sun...Gold Shaw farm is looking like a farm in the Russian Far East! A bit like Scotland, too, as you mentioned.
While adding new animals is fun, the reason I like your channel so much is because of how responsible you are when it comes to animal husbandry.
If you have more grassland than the cattle can handle, maybe consider using it for growing your own hay, and baling it for your cattle feed during the winter, and save on buying the bales you have been getting.
Not only could you produce your own hay for feeding your animals, but there’s also the economic value of selling it if you ever have too much.
But haying is another whole operation that takes time and planning and equipment. It isn't something every farmer wants to do.
He really should be growing sun flowers and sourgum and millet.
So dumb that he isn't growing his own feed
@@barbaradeitz1853 you don't need all the equipment, he just needs a helper and a pitch fork
@@sean-or1nc an experiment for another year, seeing as the bird feed experiment he was running this year got half decimated in a single day by this season's goslings
I love the cows ‘come’ when you call them. Thanks❣️
Sorry for those not wanting spoilers for the mystery animal coming to the farm!
As far as getting sheep, getting a hair sheep (one that doesn't need shearing) for the experiment would be a good idea. Whatever your cows don't eat, the sheep should and any parasites the cows might get, the sheep won't. They might all be ruminants but they still disrupt each other's parasite cycles. Having them either graze together or one after the other would work out perfectly well.
As far as wool breeds, I'm looking into getting shetlands since I don't want a large flock when I move to an area that'll allow livestock. They're good for milk, meat, and wool so that's great for me. Shetlands and Icelandic sheep are very very hardy sheep but there's many different wool breeds. Maybe see if Merino sheep would work for you? They're fairly large sheep. Starting off maybe a katahdin sheep or a dorset might be a good starter though around here folks like blue faced leicester too. Those are all hair sheep which won't need shearing but will be very tasty!
Shetlands would do very well there. They are acclimated to colder, wetter climes. I’d check with the local Ag office on what breeds do best, then visit a couple of sheep shows.
Sheep and cows both get barber pole stomach worms, whip worms, tape worms, and a few others.
Gregg Judy [in Missouri] has a flock of worm resistant sheep, they're hair sheep. They're guarded by Livestock Guardian Dogs and live outdoors even in winter.
agree on starting with a hair sheep as a meat only breed. They are very much like goats and will take down any tree they can get (including my pear trees in 1' high lush orchard grass!) buyer beware
I think you should try sheep. worst thing that happens is you dont like them, best thing that happens is you love them. give it a go, its always good to get more experiences in life and personally i think sheep are very cute and fluffy and would love to see a few introduced next year.
Morgan and farm family, thanks for including us all in your daily life. You bring a peace to all your viewers across the world that cannot be matched/measured.
It has been marvelous watching your farm/knowledge grow.
*Stay curious!*
.🐛🦋
I can’t wait to see how sheep work out on the farm. You won’t know until you try! Im excited to follow along! 🐑 🐄 🪿 🦆
I love seeing the evolution of the farm over the years it's crazy that it's been 5 years now.
I like the idea of adding sheep for meat and wool. I also like that if you chose to sell either you'd be selling something useful as oppose to the common practice of selling bad ideas or fear mongering some other channels have become entangled.
Also, channels like this are super for those like myself that live within city limits, or in my case rural town limits. I can daydream, learn, make plans, and one day hopefully have land in the middle of nothing other than wild abundance.
It's always a great day when Morgan uploads! Thanks for bringing us with you along your journey, I hope you know that you are a shining light here on youtube for many people who live vicariously through you and your adventures. Thank you for the time and dedication you put not only towards your animals, but towards the videos and education you provide to us along the way. I'm already looking forward to the next one!
Sheep are an excellent idea. They will eat what the cows do not. Also love that you keep things small and manageable.
If you get sheep, you’ll need something to guard them like a llama or a donkey
Llama will not be able to guard against the bears. Would need more LGD. And probably some with Anatolian blood.
thats true@@lynnbetts4332
Livestock Guardian Dogs where especially created to help shepherds with their flocks. Marramas are an Italian LGS.
I use electric fencing and a Marama to keep my flock safe.
@@lynnbetts4332no need for more dogs. 2 is more than enough even with sheep coming in.
Would he need a herding dog to help with sheep, though? Abby seems to work pretty well with the cattle but sheep seem more skittish. That might be a factor in the success or failure of a sheep venture.
I’m a knitter and wool spinner and a farmer like you in Oregon and I’d encourage you to consider heritage breed wool sheep.
If you get a heritage breed of sheep, you can help to keep a dying part of the wool industry alive that is going away due to large wool processing mills being closed. You can sell fiber to habdspinners like me to keep these vital wools available in the world!!
Consider breeds like Dorset, CVM, Rambouillet, Gotland, etc. to keep these breeds going!
Happy to answer questions for you- lots of great fiber events out in Vermont also!
I love all the updates on all the animals ❤ Rosy and her chicks are darling! I was wondering if tossing in some meal worms would make mama Rosy happier? Hens love scratching for their chicks teaching them to forage ❤I look forward to more farm content! Especially keeping an eye on a barn building video 😉
That white with black bars Silky chick is so cute. Absolutely adorable!
The Merino sheep are the ultimate dual purpose animal, not only producing the highest quality wool, but also nutritious and flavoursome meat.
Merino wool is fabulous
but they would be not practical for his setting, because of the way they were bred. they have to much skin and are very prone to diseases because of that. merino sheep need farmers who are very knowledgable so are not for beginners
And there is also the part about getting them all shaved every year.
Also they tend to be harvested at a year old, so it would be another animal like the pigs in how long they are on the farm.
@@TheEleonore18 100% agree... these are not for the novice
@@TheEleonore18 I disagree with your statement. I have a Marino and never had an issue. There quite easy to keep.
The best thing about adding ruminants regardless of the species is that for the most part cattle, sheep, goats and equine can all be combined into a large herd.
Marino sheep might be worth considering, as their wool is considered to be luxurious. i.e. very fine and soft.
Allison would love the super cute Babydoll Southdown Sheep. Here is some Info...Their small size means that they can be used to mow under trees and vineyards. They make a perfect prime lamb, with succulent meat. They have one of the finest wool. The micron count typically ranges from 23 to 29, meaning many people can wear it comfortably next to the skin. I would only start with four.
these were my favorites over my 20 years of sheep farming :) Love those smiling faces... and you are right Allison would LOVE them
honestly at this point morgan I think the best thing you can do is just upgrade your environment, like the layout of the farm, infrastructure etc. It's a pretty complete farm but adding more maintenance of the supporting structure of the farm seems wiser. Like, make sure everything is well organized and usable before adding more.
Just like a filing system, the hard part is creating a filing system with already mismatched items but if you continue to add and do filing half way that's gonna cause a mess. Once you have a good filing system it is easy to add more cause all your support structure are well oiled and work smoothly
Black faced sheep from Switzerland. They are adorable.
I agree that starting some sheep makes sense... you do have the room and by room, I mean grass...I agree with Allison those cute cloud ones!!!🎉
Sheep eat grass very short making it unusable for cattle. It's going to require having two pastures.
@@JohnP538 not if you rotate them often, though? Doesn't that happen when they OVERGRAZE an area?
I don't think he will have a real problem, he has enough land. He will just have to manage it. @@AB-ol5uz
If the sheep follow the cattle they will eat down the stuff the cows leave, then with chicken n ducks following to move the fertilizer in and around a 60 day rotation should still work... but he does have 2 pastures if needed. I am sure Morgan is gonna have a well thought out plan 😀
My friend has a sheep farm and raises about 150 sheep. I go up every year and she has them all sheared and I buy about 4 to 6 fleeces every year. We set up a station together and pick the wool, wash the wool, dye the wool, pick the wool again, then card the wool. It’s a tremendous amount of work, but we have a lot of fun together doing it. Then I take it home and I spin it into yarn and make ponchos, rugs, etc. I either knit, crochet or weave the yarn. Don’t get to fine of wool. It’s way harder to process. A courser wool is a delight to handle.
Still love the beautiful shots of the land . Very picturesque.
Morgan- you are SO smart not to get too many animals too soon. We did that on our farm along with fruit and veggie plantings and I feel so stretched. I feel like nobody gets enough attention. Please don't make the mistakes we did.
Very exciting! Sheep are great. Go for “beginner” sheep that do well in your area. Some commercial crosses are good options, they are usually easy keepers and productive. If you go purebred, production Dorsets are dual purpose for meat and wool and are a good size. Polypay are another nice breed, similar to Dorsets in terms of being good mums and productive though not as well known. Good luck!
I died seeing that old clip of baby Toby.... Tooooo cute... Help🤣🤣🤣😍😍😍😍
I've had the pleasure to interact with Valais Blacknose sheep on a farm in Switzerland, and it was lovely.
Considering you have Highland Cattle, I would assume this breed of sheep would fit in well.
Who is going to send a Valais Black-nose to freezer camp? LOLOL
They’re expensive and very hard to find. The breeders are pretty much only selling wethers.
Having raised sheep of all breeds over the last 20 years, I would say that if you go with a wool sheep, it will cost more money and your profit margin will be lower because they put energy into wool production over meat. You also must take into consideration the cost of having them shorn, and the processing of that wool. Wool sheep are more likely to become wool bound (caught up on brush) and even in fencing, they are also more difficult to fence in with electric fence because they are insulated and once they get a head through they are gone. Meat sheep / hair breeds are great because they are efficient ruminants in feed conversion, they are also better at browsing weeds, they are easier to fence behind electric and typically are better equipped to handle the moist, green - lush environment without foot rot. If you are interested in playing with wool products for additional farm business, just ask a local farmer about having some spare wool around and you will be surprised how many bags they have stuffed in their barns. I used to give it away for free, lol. Another angle to consider is to specialize in registered pet sheep like shetlands or southdowns/babydolls. These are dual purpose animals that are typically smaller and easier to handle and have a good value as a lamb or adult. They have great value particularly as a bottle lamb, as they are highly sought after as pets. I think that as an experiment, you may want to consider purchasing some inexpensive short yearling lambs of any breed next spring and grow them all summer, butcher them in the fall just like your pig adventure. This will give you a feel for it anyway. Do yourself a favor if you do settle on sheep, consider an investment in electro-netting from premier 1 - you will thank me later haha.. Best of luck in your decision. Can't wait to see which way you go.
Great choice for putting Abby around chickens! If she gets out of line, Rosie will spring into action 😂
Honestly sheep sounds good! You would enjoy it and my guess is Allison would too.
As a viewer, I like the IDEA of adding sheep to the farm, as there are so many items in the "plus" column for them. But my advice is to find farms in your general area that have wooly sheep and see if they will allow you some time to apprentice with them periodically over a couple of seasons so you can get some hands-on experience with them. You may find getting fiber animals overwhelming without having dabbled in the community resources. I know there is a lot that goes with them, such as proper nutrition, hoof trimming, and fleece gathering. You'd have the option of hiring someone to come in periodically through the year to shear the sheep or learn how to do it yourself (with purchased equipment). And then, decide if you want to do any of the processing of the fiber yourself or if you will take it to a facility for cleaning, sorting, and spinning. Sheep without this added consideration would be hair sheep, which are much lower maintenance, but do not offer the fleece that can be sheared (but could be dairy and/or meat producers). From my view, it depends on your time and financial considerations. Hair sheep might be a better way to "get your feet wet" with being new to the animal, though comments say you'd have a ready market if you chose to get wooly sheep. I do not envy being in your position, but look forward to seeing whatever new animal you decide to add.
From what I've heard sheep are very simple but just as messy as the pigs. Alpacas and llamas tend to be quite mean, especially towards farm dogs, you could try getting some working animals like horses or donkeys. Or possibly go in a completely different direction and raise something like earthworms to further cut down on food costs for the birds at least. Not really sure though, to be honest.
oh yea donkeys would be awesome
Sheep are pretty easy, my biggest problem is coyotes.
Our llama has never been mean. Only time I've seem him spit is in another sheep when she wanted his treats.
They are hostile to dogs but they seem you know with dogs are a threat and which are okay.
He doors however hump our ram from time to time
A couple of adult llamas might be good as source of wool and guard animal better suited to live on the upper pasture rather than abbey dog. I know they are good against coyote but not sure how well they would be against a bear. Of course they could live with the sheep also as guard animals. So many choices and only you can make the decision.
Donkeys are great guard animals but will go after dogs as well if they’re not taught from a young age
@@private15 I personally dont think llamas or alpacas are as good as dogs in the context of LSGs. I think the prey animals (llamas/alpacas/donkeys) work more as defense while the dogs are offense. The predatory animals in the area hear his dogs and stay away cause those animals dont want to take that risk. So they just dont. From what I know with the prey animals is they might not do anything until the predator is already on the property. At that point anything could happen. The predator could run or grab grab a snack on the way out. If he were to get sheep I think he should think about a real cattle dog. Get it trained for herding and if he gets a breed with a built in bark he has the deterrent too.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Cattle chores are your favorite farm tasks to do and if you love doing it then expand your supply of cattle. If anything you could always experiment getting different breeds of cattle too.
Two of my favourite channels, besides this one, are Sheepishlyme and The Sheep Game. Both are entirely different ways of keeping sheep, totally indoor vs outdoor.
I would say they are going to be some tasty pigs considering the diet and stress free life they had 😊
I am so jealous of your bravery to try big things. Your content gives me bravery to try little things, though. Thanks for that. Engagement for the Engagement gods!
I'm sure you mean envious.
@@forced2makethisbloodyaccou355 I looked it up just to be sure. You can never be too good at knowing words!
jeal·ous
/ˈjeləs/
adjective
adjective: jealous
feeling or showing ***envy*** of someone or their achievements and advantages.
"he grew jealous of her success"
We're both right! Love being on your useful word team. I hope you make tons of happy moments today.
Oh my God, those black and white sheep where they have a little black face, those are so stinking cute! Baldwin, welsh mountain sheep might be perfect for Vermont. They look like a stuffed animal. 🥰
I'm glad to hear you are going with tried and true animals. I think you should consider getting a couple different breeds of sheep. You never know if you might like one and not the other.
Edit: Also more highland cattle!
If Morgan gets two different breeds he could get 3 of the black face ones and 3 icelandic sheep.
@@lauriemartin7358 That's exactly what I was thinking.
The echo of your cow call was amazing!!!
Yes to sheep!! I’d love to watch you raise sheep and learn more about it. Blackface sheep are my favorite. There’s no reasons for that other than I think they’re cute.
If you go to Abundance +, there is a woman (I think it was the Divergence Series) that grew a particular kind of sheep. They are known for their meat and wool, as well as withstand frigid temperatures.
I think sheep would be the perfect addition to your farm. You would also have the support of friends like Jess Sowards and Justin Rhodes.
Yes! More animals! Emotional support friends It would be fun and interesting to see sheep added to the farm but more cows seems more practical
Abby’s thinking she’s got new roommates and how is she going to live with them.
@@barbaraheinrich1885 haha so cute!
I definitely think sheep are a must at some point!! Like you said it would just work so well to have them be used for both wool and meat. And if you can get them Valais Blacknose are super quirky lookin’ and adorable!!
For sheep, make sure to find a sheep mentor and if you want shearing sheep, try and find someone local to learn how often for each breed! Right Choice Shearing is based in Texas, but I'm sure they could offer advice, either directly or through their own content. They can also point out how to find a shearer who would be happy to do smaller contracts and what sort of set up you'd need to best assist them!
I think Sheep would also be a great compliment to the cows, but you've spent time at the Rhodes, so you'll know that better than I!😄
Your ecosystem mindset is honestly so wonderful to see. Thanks for another great vid and an update about possible new animals!
Good video Morgan nice to see some American highlands😂
Sheep are a good idea. For many reasons:
- They have a very strong herding instinct. All you need to do is get the leader sheep and lead it where you want the herd to go and they will generally follow. In a small herd. For a larger one you better get a herding dog.
- You can make use of their wool, their meat, and their milk.
- They are not as large or dangerous as cows.
- The sheep my family worked with were extremely docile and submissive. They would just let you grab them. Shearing is easy, they stay in place during milking, etc. We had a very shy sheep that would grow tense when people approached. But despite its apparent fear, it still froze in place and let you pet it and milk it. They also let you close to their lambs. Although they do display protective behavior towards them.
The con we had was that sheep in general are more dependent on people. If they get stuck... you have to help them. We had sheep fall over and we needed to help them stand back up.
They have also the tendency to abandon their lambs. Maternal instinct does not form properly if the sheep had difficult birth. for example. Or it had more lambs than it can raise. But bottle raising lambs is relatively easy.
Rams are a different can of worms I dont want to go into. I dont think you will get a ram for some time.
As for what kind of sheep you need... Definitely a hardy one. We didnt have them but I heard Shetland sheep do well in colder winters and are good grazers. They are also more independent, so they are not as helpless as regular domestic sheep. You could call them 'primitive sheep'. More ancestral.
You forgot the bees!
Yep, and the barn cats.
The first were the barn cats.
That is absolutely awesome that you include the viewers/ subscribers in your next choice of animals to the Farm. You are an amazing human. For real. Thanks for the great content and let the sky be your limit. 😊. Watching from Las Vegas. My grandpa had a farm in Ohio when I was young that we all loved to go to.
If you want wool sheep then Texel is the way to go - good feed conversion and parasite resistant.
you do have to watch out cause Texels can have problems giving natural birth because of their short stature
@@k1nkyshouto372 When selecting for that large head, especially like a Dutch Texel phenotype you typically have lambing issues due to the large head compounded with a bad hip/pelvis alignment. Lambing ease can be bred by selecting for a less coarse "bulldog" type head and selecting animals that wedge right (the shoulders need to be narrower than the hip). Obtaining stock from breeders who focus on this issue is the best way to avoid it.
If you go with wool-bearing sheep, what you get should depend on what kind of wool you’d want to produce. There are a lot of sheep farmers in VT…make some friends!Vermont Sheep & Wool Fest is coming up later this month. It’s a good opportunity to talk to other farmers and homesteaders, and to get a sense of the local wool market, breed options suited to the climate and your needs, etc. (Also: fresh sheep’s milk cheese is a whole other level of delicious. I’m just saying.)
We want to see Toby become a father. I have followed him since he was a puppy. I really want to see him become a father and see his puppies
I got a three year old Great Pyrenees that needs a mate
I think Toby carries extraordinary Great Pyrenees DNA.
Awe rosie is a beautiful silkie i mean she truly is beautiful and omg her babies they are so adorable omg
Depends on what you are looking for in your products. The market is oversaturated with merino wool. Jacob and Shetland are small sheep and their wools are delightful. Romney sheep have awesome wool also. I’m a spinner and a knitter.
Your common sense way of making decisions about the farm is great. Your farm will continue to thrive that way.
I understand sheep and cattle eat different plants so having both might be quit beneficial. I know there are blogs online about people hiring sheep herds to clean up weedy overgrown land. So they could help there. My uncle raised Suffolk sheep. The one thing I know that is a plus is they don’t get the wool on their face and feet. So they don’t get wool blind and it makes sheering easier. I’d be careful about considering alpacas and llamas. Make sure you have a vet who is competent on treating them before getting them. I’ve seen on TH-cam that isn’t always the case. A guard donkey sounds like good idea
I don't care what type of sheep you get. I just wanna know what type of sheepdog you're getting. I vote border collie.❤
Our granddog, was a cross of standard Collie and Pyrenees-
in the Dakotas some farms deliberately breed for both traits-
Although our big lug was all LGD in his personality 😂
You should never cross those 2 breeds. Border Collies have a very high prey drive which is why they herd sheep and cows. Livestock Guardian Dogs have a low prey drive which is why they can live peacefully with and protect their charges. When you mix those two extremely different breeds you end up with confused dogs who literally don’t know what their purpose is. I have both breeds.
Yes we approve of sheep. And we agree with the previous post that supporting native habitat and wildlife would help the ecological balance of the entire area.
I think if you get sheep, you'll need a herding dog. So, I'd go with more cattle.
I am no farmer, but since that is an enclosed pasture herding is pointless.
However, sheeps seems more destructive to the land. There is not enough land in the farm for them. Maybe just a couple to graze after cows.
I think cows are way more destructive to the land then sheep. Also if you want to rotate the land you need to herd them also for treating diseases, shearing, selling, weaning... Pretty much anything@@ehombane
@@zcooper6582Cattle fill the niche of Bison in some ways. Sheep are destructive and share parasites with chickens. They both can give each other Coccidia.
If he keeps buying dogs, he will have more dogs than animals to herd. You don't need dogs to heard cattle if you don't have very many.
2 LGDs are more than adequate enough. No need for another dog. It’s not that big of a farm to need a specialized herding dog
not a farmer myself, my father inlaw used to be one, he had sheep, pigs and cows. He always used to tell stories about how pigs and cows were good for business and sheep were good for fun. sheep meat is worth next to nothing in Austria, the wool can be sold but didn't make a dent into the cost of having sheep. He also used to joke about how sheep were the only animal on this planet activily trying to die. Aways eating things they shouldn't, getting sick, getting stuck, going where they shouldn't, they need ALOT of help with labor and so on...
But he kept having them so he must've loved having them around for whatever reason :)
New Animal spoiler below!
I think sheep would be lovely in that area and you have a lot people in VT who could help. I do think lambing could be kinda stressful, compared to the other animals you have on the farm. But some of my extended family raised sheep for a farming exemption in NJ, so if they could do it, I'm sure you could. I wouldn't be sad to see more cows, either, though!
“Waterfowl and waterfowl accessories.” I love that your references are the same ones I use.
I would do seasonal turkeys for profit, not for emotional reasons.
My vote is for sheep! (They are so sweet!) I adore them!! 💜👍😀😌Plus, you already have the dogs!
WD40 that barn door
I'd like the idea of my favourite TH-camr adding sheep to his farm.
We don't live on a farm, but my dad always wanted to be sheep and cattle farmer just like his dad
as said in Clarckson's farm "fuck the sheep" and "sheeps just try to kill themselves"
I just spent the day in an alpaca ranch in South Korea and they are the cutest animal~ so soft and pretty chill~~
I love my goats. Dairy goats could open up a whole new realm of possibilities for your farm sales. Goat milk, soap, fudge, cheese, etc.
I have East Friesian x Lacaune ewes. I have them for the trifecta: milk, meat, and wool. They can produce over 6 liters of milk a day (about 1.5 gallons) per sheep. I LOVE my sheep. Spring 2024 will be our first lambing. I got them as 4 month old lambs and these are BIG sheep. My biggest, Freya, is about 300# and stands over 40 inches tall. She gave me 2 40 gallon tubs overflowing with wool. They have excellent wool quality and I'm using it to spin into yarn. I wish i could find a spinning wheel in my area and price range, but I'm still on the hunt. I have a carder and sheared them myself. My advice is PUT IN THE TIME WITH THEM. Hard, i know. You're a busy guy! But putting in the time with them as young lambs will pay off later when you need to shear or trim hooves.
My second tip is AVOID BOTTLE LAMBS LIKE THE PLAGUE. I know I'm gonna get backlash for saying that because some people will come down in the comments talking about their so-sweetie-weetie perfect sheepie weepie that they bottle raised blahblahblahblahblah. Well, more COMMONLY it makes them more likely to challenge you and get in your business, knocking buckets out of your hand and pushing you around because they want pets or food. These bad manners may be cute with widdle lambs, but can become annoying or downright dangerous as an adult. Rams tend to be much more human aggressive when bottle raised. Go for dam raised lambs. It's worth the higher price point. They also tend to be much healthier in the long run than bottle lambs.
With your property, sheep can be the easiest thing you have! Meat sheep don't usually need any additional supplementation. Dorset and Rambouillet are other trifecta breeds you could look into. I chose this specific crossbreed because the East Friesian has more milkfat than a Jersey cow and Lacaune have very high production along with very high quality milk (used primarily for the production of Roquefort cheese).
I really like your new book, “Toby Dog of Gold Shaw Farm!” I will read it to a two year old. I’m glad it has drawings of your farm animals.
Hi Morgan, My partner has 5 acres on the outskirts of Perth, Western Australia, granted our conditions are very different to yours. He does have 2 sheep, one ewe and one wether, Dorpers. They are breed specifically for meat production because their wool is pretty crappy and they are constantly hungry. My partner often has to supplement their diet with hay and sheep cubes to get their nutrients. They would chomp through your grass pretty quickly. Another thing with this breed they are noisy bleaters but they do have quirky personalities.