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Why raise Shetland Sheep? They were Zack's idea in the beginning. I knew nothing about their wool or anything else, but I wanted to get started raising some type of sheep, so we went off to visit a couple farms. Didn't take long before I was as enthused as Zack about these small, colorful sheep, and in September 1998 we hurriedly fenced a small winter paddock, built a barn with the help of our local spinning guild, bought some hay, and were suddenly shepherds! |
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Terrible Timothy doesn't look so terrible! |
Shetland sheep are really ideal for small farms with little or no experience raising animals:

Darling, two weeks before her twins were born in April 2001 |
- They are small and easy to handle when necessary
- They are extremely hardy, enduring very cold, wet or snowy weather through to very hot weather
- They are very thrifty, requiring much less feed than larger breeds
- Likewise, they require relatively little pasture--we currently have 42 Shetlands grazing less than 6 acres
- They are very easy lambers--we've never had to assist a ewe during lambing
- Shetland lamb tails are naturally short so they don't need docking
- Shetlands are very healthy--only once in 3 years have we needed to give any medications to a Shetland, and that was a minor infection in a lamb
- Their wool is truly delightful to spin, and comes in an incredible variety of natural colors, as well as two distinct wool types
- For those who enjoy puzzles, Shetland color genetics is a fun challenge
- Finally, the sheep that don't measure up as breeding stock make wonderfully mild, tender lamb or mutton
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The question shouldn't be "Why raise Shetlands?" but "Why raise any other sheep?!?"
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