COST OF PREPPING 10 ACRES FOR SHEEP | USA Homesteading Farming Small Scale Sheep for Beginners
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Ever wonder what costs are involved when preparing land to raise sheep? This video covers some of the basics of starting a sheep farm on 10 acres.
I look forward to seeing you on May 3rd!
-the Shepherdess
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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 RAISING DORPER SHEEP IN TEXAS
1:17 4 Primary Costs when Setting up a Sheep Farm
1:53 Cost of Sheep Fencing
2:44 Cost of Watering Systems for Sheep
4:09 Cost of Shelter for Sheep
5:01 Cost of Rotational Grazing Supplies for Sheep
6:31 How many sheep would you put on 10 acres?
7:33 Why I am taking a KZhead Break
In this video:
Sheep Farming in the USA
Micro Ranching for profit
Small Scale Dorpers
American Agriculture
Building a sheep farm
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#sheep #farming #ranching
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About this Channel: This channel chronicles my journey as a sheep farmer from the very beginning. My primary occupation is in business management. In 2020, I discovered the principles of regenerative agriculture and embarked on a journey with the end goal of building a profitable small farm on 23 acres by 2027. Thank you for joining the journey!
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We needed a new fence between our property and our Amish neighbors. We bought the supplies, woven wire with 4-inch openings and T-posts, and the neighbor's teenage boys put it up.
Dear Farmer, I am writing to you today to express my sincere gratitude for all the hard work you do. I watched your video on preparing 10 acres for sheep, and I was amazed by your dedication and commitment to your farm. I know that prepping land for sheep is a lot of work, but you made it look easy. You cleared the land, fenced it in, and provided access to water and shelter. You also have a plan for how you will manage the sheep and their grazing. I am impressed by your knowledge and expertise in sheep farming. You clearly love what you do, and it shows in your work. I am also grateful for your willingness to share your knowledge with others. Your video was very informative, and I am sure it will help many people who are interested in starting a sheep farm. Thank you again for all you do. Your hard work is making a difference in the lives of many people. Sincerely, omar Arizona
Our entire 7.5 acres is fenced and has solar electric lines with smaller pens inside for other animals besides the small flock of sheep. We use 275 gallon ibc totes for water with garden hose and nylon fittings to sheep drinking cups attached to the fence on 2x4s. I run hoses from the house to fill it about 1x a month. Keeps water clean and bug free. The sheep shelter is an old 2 horse trailer. Most times they just lay under the scrub brush /yaupon holly and pine trees. The 5 adult sheep and 4 lambs have about an acre pen. These Katahdin/St Croix/ Gulf Coast crosses will eat the yaupon holly shrubbery as well as graze but I do feed them 2 large scoops a day, for all of them to share, of a non GMO Tucker Milling grain mixed with alfalfa/bermuda pellets to make sure they get that extra to keep them healthy. I let them out to wander outside of their pens all day and keep my property mowed. Babies get sold and we raise one for us a year.
Grace, I was binging your older videos just as you posted this one. Thank you for such clear, straightforward and encouraging content. I’ve long had the desire and felt the calling to become a farmer and am now in the beginning stages of that transition here in southeast Brazil. The Lord does provide us with the resources for the plan He has for us and your work was one of those precious resources to me today. Also I love that you put a verse at the end of each video that matches the subject, these little details are noticed 😊
I think a lot of people interested in sheep could benefit from starting out with only 4 rolls of sheep netting, a solar charger, and feeder lambs. If you have a 4x4 car, small pickup, or side by side it would be easy enough to carry water, and someone could try sheep without spending much more than a thousand dollars or so counting stock.
It depends where. Sheep shot up 3 times in price here on West Coast for decent breeding stock in the last year.
We live near Paris, TX (Blossom). Can you believe how thick and green the pastures still are in mid August without a drop of rain in, what, 3 weeks or better now? All that rain we had in spring and early summer has been a blessing! God is good.
for sheep shelter, we use the quick carports, something like 15x20 is around $1500 installed
You could probably save some money and just run the high tensile wire up top and leave off the barbed wire. One thing with the water you could add a holdimg tank on the portable shelter that connects to a gutter on the roof to help with water hauling.
I would strongly second the starting small sentiment. Having 2-3 ewes and a ram may not seem like a lot at first, but when they all give you twins and you find yourself with more than double the sheep you had overnight you encounter another set of problems, your feed expenses double, they grass doesn’t last as long. It’s best to start small
What happens after the first generation is born. Does the ram keep mating with its own offspring?
I made a sheep shaw- 10X10 - gives over head cover and will give protection for 8-10 sheep. I move it with my sheep. $200 build cost....
Would like to see that.very creative.
would really like to see the finished product for ideas. I am currently looking at inexpensive cover for my future sheep. closing on some land this upcoming Friday!!
Please give more info on your sheep shaw. 😊 I am finding that a moveable shelter is quite necessary. We don't often get rain but when we do it's a gully washer. I'm also in need of a "hat shaw". I must provide hay and need a moveable hay shelter.
@@fourmilefarm797 i dont cover the hay as i feed it daily in the winter- i tried a round bale & they ate the middle & there is definitely more waste & moving that is an issue.
Justin Rhodes gets the original credit but i used 2 wheelchair wheels. Its an overgrown cart. I used galvanized tin for top- NOPE- replacing w fiberglass awning/ roofing material that is lightweight & shields from sun. There is a 6’ round handrail that i used for a handle in how i move it- it hasnt blown away or over! I also put rubber mats on two sides to protect from north & west weather
I am up in Nova Scotia Canada, just starting a sheep/goat farm. So far I have built a TMG 80 ft x 150 ft Dual Truss Storage Building plus a 30 ft x 80 ft . I works great for a barn and is cheap and easy to erect, And because it is considered a non-permit building you do not need a building permit. Hauling water is the way to go. Also solar powered fencing is what I use but get a golf cart battery. Remember goats can climb anything horizontal so keep that in mind. Just a few thoughts, still learning
We do this on 10acres. Thankfully there was already a barn, barn lot, and we had a tractor. The pasture was kept clean, so no clearing needed. Was lucky enough to find 36 black locust logs to use as corner posts for $150. Bought all our woven wire pre 2021 at $145/roll at 8 rolls. Square bailer, rake, and disc mower was $4k. Small stock trailer was $1k. Sheep themselves were $150ea and started with 10. We started our journey in 2019 and still have a little ways to go for more infrastructure. Equipment failure has by far been one of our biggest setbacks and expenses, rear tractor tires and disc mower parts add up pretty fast
I'd skip the woven wire, use high tensile, at least 5 strands, use non conductive posts. A shelter is not necessary if you are lambing on green grass. Hauling water for a small flock is reasonable, a tank you can leave in the pasture hooked to a float valve will reduce the amount of time spent watering.
Your a great farmer you right start small with a good foundation stock & a good ram 😉
A great overview for folks getting into this - thanks! Like another person commented, we use IBC totes for water inside the sheep sheds. We have two sheds, one for rams and one for ewes...and inside each is an IBC tote on raised concrete block "footers" and they gravity feed into waterers. During the day, the shed doors are open to the paddocks but at night we bring the sheep inside and close them up to protect them from our local bold coyotes. We made the roof of each shed out of solar panels, with sealant between them, to provide power (for freeze protection tape on the hose from the tote to the waterers, and for an aquarium heater in each waterer).
Thank you for this. I'm hoping to have 5 - 10 acres and raise a few sheep in the future.
In Croatia the state give us 90% return (no tax) on protectiv fences (wire fenc and/or electric fence) under the protecting from wild animals project. The state wants the wild animals to survive but does also want to protect farm animals.
You have inspired me to pursue sheep. I grew up on a farm, raised 175 broilers, 75 turkeys and 2 cattle every year, also trained my own horse. But sheep, sheep seem like an incredible adventure and with the right strategy (thanks to your wisdom and hard work) can be quite profitable as well! God bless, John 21:15-17
your videos are one of the best!
You really do provide specialized content and It has incredible value.
That was another very detailed breakdown of the essential costs for anyone starting out!! Thanks a lot, so many will benefit from this!!! Keep it up!!!
Excellent content, as usual.
Great video grace, wish you will this year.
Very good video! 🙌
Great info!
Good efforts for new farmers
Hey, great job with this. I’m starting a ranch with sheep and this was so, so helpful! Keep up the great work!!
Kind of a disadvantage of fencing smaller tracts, cost per acre decreases as the size of the property increases(assuming square). Cost twice as much per acre to fence 160 acres as it does 640 acres with net fence. Here in the panhandle last year a 39 inch net with 3 barbwires, 15 ft t-post spacing had material at $63.25 an acre. We cannot buy a rain here for any amount though it seems.
Thank you and GOD bless. I want to do this in the high desert in Arizona.
long live the Dorpers 🙏
Looking forward to May 3rd. 👍💪🙏
All good points, well composed. :) I especially liked the admonition to start small; I overreached years ago and paid for it. The shelter could be done a lot cheaper I think, but perhaps it's the shop labor that's driving that up.
What about finding a used car port and cutting it down shorter? That's my plan
Rolling O farms has a great setup for goats and sheep that is a carport with some built in hay racks: kzhead.info/sun/Y8OFdJqAqJ6FZaM/bejne.html
well done. i have 9.5 acres and am a construction worker/contractor... your pricing was pretty spot on..
Rainwater catchment on your shed might be a good idea. I catch and use a lot.
Hi rg1599, Do you know how to keep the rain eayer clear with no algae ? I think I've heard a KZheadr talk about having the tank covered or pained to keep light out. Thanks either way.
@@breesechick keeping it covered with a black tarp
@@sunsetstella8917 Thanks!
I use totes and pull them out of the cages and paint them dark green, black etc. I slide them back in once dry. It will make the water pretty hot in summer so careful when watering tender plants.
@@rg1599 Thanks for sharing, that's good to know.
Favorite channel, thanks
Awesome video. We run a small meat goat herd but apply some of these same tips.
Appreciate what you do
Really great video, super informative. Thank you for it. We started with 6 dorper ewes simply because we couldn't keep grass down on our 4 acres. I soon fell quite in love with them, but found the dorper just too big and strong for a smallholding. So now I'm breeding to a smaller/finer hair sheep breed (known here in Australia as Harlequin Mini Meat Sheep), and it's working well. We keep a very small flock and my plan is to just breed a single ewe a year, perhaps 2 if I need ewe replacement. I mainly want to produce lamb just for our own consumption. Fortunately I still have one of my original pure dorper ewes, from whom my whole flock now descends. She's just lovely, and must be pushing 10 now.
Seu conteúdo é excelente
Thanks for the video.
REALY GOOD LUCK FOR YOU ITS AMAZING JOP YOU DO IT
Very cool. I’m braking in 15-20 acres this year. Already started. Water will have to be pushed with a trash pump 1000 yards but I don’t have the time to walk/drive it daily. I’m hoping for no escapees but my neighbors are cool thankfully. Interested in the inexpensive shelter you’re using
Great vid, thank you
Professor Coggeshall's favorite Silvopasture tree is the Swamp White Oak. He works for Missouri Forestry. The Swamp White Oak begins bearing acorns in seven years similar to fruit trees and bears consistent masts from year to year. The acorns are useful as forage for Poultry, Sheep and Swine.
While this is true you have to be careful of oak because the tannins content can kill sheep especially when the acorns are green. Additionally since they are so high protein the sheep will prefer them to high fiber grass which would help buffer the tannins. Not saying you can't do it just saying you gotta be careful and consider keeping them out of the oak stands until fall when the acorns have browned up
Okay well at least now it's realistic what needs to be saved for and figured out. High yes, doable in time, yes. Thanks :)
Thank you 😊
So with this electical system, you're pulling you electric cross fencing power from the hot wire at the perimeter fence. Is it hot enough on it's own, or do you still need ground rods for each paddock? Assuming we're using the suggeste solar energizer.
Super video, teşekkür ederim 👋🏻🤠🐮🐑🇹🇷
I would also suggest investing in a good hand wagon, like the gorilla carts. Makes it much easier to move equipment or water across the property.
Excellent content, thank you! We have to plant pastures, as we will be converting farmland. Any advice or videos on starting from scratch in the soil?
I looking for the same info as well. Thanks!
One strand of barb wire at bottom of woven wire keeps out diggers. I have 5 strand barb wire 3 strands of hot in between the lower barb strands. It keeps our 3 Pyrenees in and we haven't seen coyotes since installing the hot .
Do you know if this stops coyotes? They are a problem where I live.
@@nshelitack I have the barb wire with hot and that has stopped coyotes. My neighbor has the woven with barb wire on bottom and he doesn't have coyotes come in either.
@@sunsetstella8917 ok so one barb wire that is energized on the bottom is good
I started basically exactly how you said. I use a pinwheel setup though and I have my charger and water in the center and just rotate the around. My biggest issue this year was predators on my really young lambs. Just not positive what got them even.
Get some game cameras, cheapest option for surveilance.
I love the idea of raising sheep. But the land I am looking at is in PNW in WA State in Idaho border so the winters can be more harsh, predators include bear, wolf, coyote, & cougars. The shelters would be to be enclosed at night and that kind of fencing you suggested would not keep out these predators. That is what worries me far more than initial costs.
My biggest comment is you should look at what works for you and try to make it for your specific needs. I have almost no predators in the are, so I use a high tensile or simple electric fence for everything. The biggest issue with this system is grass that grows up in the fence row. My system started out as cheap and simple as possible and as a need arose, I would update the aspect of the system that was lacking. This allowed for cheaper upfront cost and I could design it exactly for how my system works. If you don’t know what or how you want your system to work, what are you spending the money on?
Hey, do you know if Dorper sheep eat Greasewood? I loads of it on my property 👏🏾👍🏾👏🏾👍🏾
Grace, you could be running a lot more sheep per acre in your area. You got the rain, the long season, and the grass. You ain't like us up in the high desert country. We're still under snow.
Great info! Do you do any kind of watering system from a pond? We just got a new 13 acre lease ( an answer to prayer) and the pond is in one corner. Not quite sure how we will do the rotations. Blessings
A pump system would do well! I don’t have a lot of firsthand with a reliable pump system for pond water, but I’ve seen it done quite often.
Dropping by to say "Hi". Commenting for algorithm.🎉🎉🎉
Girl, you encourage me so much!!
@@theShepherdess You rock 🌼🎉💪🎈 It's about time for me to get to bed. I'll see y'all on Friday nights online get together. 🌃
Please where and how do you sell your sheep for profit? Thanks in advance.
Do you have suggestions for those of us looking to lease some land? I have a guy that wants to put 30 ewes on our land and around 200 chickens. Would be helpful to hear your advice coming it from that angle. Our goal is to start farming there ourselves soon but we aren't ready yet to utilize all the acreage. Could be a good video. Thanks for all your excellent educational content!
If I were to lease I would want a 2-5 year contract. Leasing land means I'm investing financially upfront on someone else's land. If I installed fence and cleared only to be moved off the next year it would be financially devastating.
I agree wholeheartedly with @sunsetstella8917 especially because you want to start farming it soon. Now if you are willing to pay the cost for fencing materials and barter their labor for the lease payment a shorter lease would be worth it. The other important question is are they going to use regenerative practices. If they are, that would be a bonus for you in building your soil, but if they are just going to turn the sheep out on the whole thing all the time you would be starting from scratch. Make everything clear in your lease agreement and stand by what you agree to. Blessings
Good info. Is the link still active for the supplies list?
Yes it is!
So I have been watching a lot of your videos and wow are they helpful so thank you for that I am in Michigan and I’m going to start raising sheep on my 28 acres but I’m starting small on just 4 acres so I have a couple questions 1. Is there a downside to starting with just one ram and one ewe and number 2 is should I rotate my sheep to the other half of the field every year or should I rotate them every two years because I am starting of with such a small flock
Also is there any animal that I should not keep on my land because of the sheep any input would help I appreciate your time
I am glad my videos are helping you. Great questions! I would start with 1 ram and 2 ewes minimum. Just in case one of the ewes dies, you will have a backup to produce lambs. Regarding rotating: because your flock is so small to start with, it may not make a difference either way. If you notice the ground becomes overgrazed, move them to the other half, otherwise keep them in the same spot.
The only animal o have had trouble with is cats. I lost a lamb to toxoplasmosis because the cat left its droppings where the sheep were eating.
Can you do a video addressing winter feeding? My sheep can’t live off the land when the grass is depleted in December. I am zone 7a Virginia - please help!
Look into putting some honey locust trees which will drop their seed pods in winter, as well as planting winter cover crops.
This my big dream can i visit the farm?
You prefer the poly tape over the poly braid? If you did a vid on this I must have missed it. Link if you have. Thanks.
Yes! You’ll find info here: kzhead.info/sun/ecqGcreLo4WpaoE/bejne.html
two questions: 1. Ive got a lot of dead grass preventing new grass growth. Cant burn it. Will running sheep on it break the grass down? 2.What is the weather like in north east texas?
Controlled burns are an option if you know how to do them safely. I would opt for mowing instead, though! Northeast Texas stays very warm most of the year. Little or no snow!
Anything wrong with a 4 strand electric wire?
Could you slip the space with sheep and goats
Goats are harder to contain with electric fencing. Would try netting instead.
Curious why shelter wall facing the north?
North winds will be where the harsh cold comes from!
Do you offer mentorship for beginners?
Yes! Check out this: www.shepherdess.com/product/the-shepherdess-masterclass-9-class-bundle/
What about LGD? How much should be budgeted for a well trained to sheep or goats LGD?
I don’t keep one, so I don’t have the info on that. I rely on tight fencing for predator protection. 👍🏻
What’s the advantage to having the barbed wire on top? If you use 4ft woven wire, Aren’t deer the only animal that can jump that or can coyotes also.
adds height. If you are installing a hotwire at the top of your fenceline, you could probably skip it!
It also gives some small added protection from falling branches.
Hai iam from India
Great video as always. Depending how rural the area is, if hauling water is not an option how expensive would it be to dig a well? I know it ain't cheap, just curious how expensive it would be generally.
In areas of regular rainfall you'd probably be better off harvesting and storing the rain. Current cost of a well in my area is 20k.
@@newedenfarm Got it, much appreciated.
In my area, it costs 40-50K. It is a major expense. Digging a pond is probably cheaper.
@@cookingwithwine.9190 Yikes!
@@marcus3457 Everything is expensive out here, and about a thousand times worse post-Covid, post-drought.
Hi I am new to the channel and have interest in the free PDFs. I am unable to access the PDFs once I get the email. Any advice on what I am doing wrong?
Hi Matthew! They are all available via the button in the email. Tap on it and let me know if you have success!
How much sleep can I put on 24 ac
25-40 if rainfall is good.
👍
Greg Judy is a good source for sheep grazing. No shelters.
Our biggest problem out here is cost and availability of labor. I have to pay people between $30-50 per hour to want to work and help. I just laid off my fencing guy and other hired help. Too f***ing expensive. They asked 1k per day for 2 helpers, and that was the final straw for me. In this economy, no way! I do better fencing myself for cheaper and in rough weather. Use good fencing. Losses from predators or lost livestock outweigh cost savings from crap fencing.
Commiserating with ya, as I've been fencing every spare hour I can find for the last two weeks. Decent help is just so expensive now.
@newedenfarm It is really expensive. 3 years ago I could've gotten guys to do $20 an hour and do it right.
Labor is expensive. But have you kept track of every day living expenses? Last 18months food has increased 30+%. Can't expect someone to work for less than 30% more than they used to. Crazy world!!
@samuelahrens1936 It's the same here. I live in the middle of nowhere Cali, and milk costs $8 per gallon at the local market. Plus the diesel costs, mechanics, seed, etc., the farming has gotten spendy.
Cookingwithwine, yep I'm in a struggle to. The real struggle is trying to find a job that pays more than what I would have to pay someone to do what I can do if I wasn't working. I haven't found anyone around here that will pay $40 an hour and yet it costs $50+ for subpar labor. At some point yeah, we need cash to pay bills but it's not like it was even 10yrs ago. We just have to start marketing and commanding better prices for better products.
Wow, you spent WAY to much $$. You need to watch some Greg Judy videos. Well done video though, I liked it. All great advice.
Love your instructions and great information, but could you possibly speak a bit slower next time. I had to watch and rewind several times. Thx. Great info.
If you need there's a little gear looking symbol of you tap the screen that pops up the upper right hand side of you screen and you can adjust the playback speed. That might help.
Thx so much
I am looking for a land for sale suitable for a sheep farm with a house
10000 sheep how much we can earn per month and every year please reply
Male sheep price
Sheep delivery available female india
Or buy land already that way
There is no land set up this way locally because it's not traditional. Maybe in 20 years it will be the norm'!
@@newedenfarm I bought land With spring 2 wells and rain catching system electric fences solar power Cattle shoots and coral and for goats or sheep solar power system ,nice 5 bedroom house 3 barns a hay barn 2 work shop buildings 400 acres etc Already 3 million ish I just need to buy south poll cows and ST Croix I RETIRED early in life going to live my dream
They are Somali sheep
You have to take kangal dog
You hire your teenage brother to help? You need a husband. Lol! Great video. God bless. 🙏✝️🇺🇸
I know you mean well in this jest, but please, don't do this. :) It always made me uncomfortable when I was single.
$1K for a hotwire? Hopefully, that's a typo. I priced solar-powered 5-mile fence chargers at under $200. Make friends with a fence builder. I use 2 7/8" used drill stem, 8-foot long in a 30" hole with an 80-pound sack of Maximiser kicked in and a half gallon of water every 50 feet with tee posts in between, a top wire a n d WOVEN (not welded) horse wire with a top hot wire. I often saddle the posts and weld the top bar, because I sometimes run cows. Where are you in Northeast Texas? I'm near Farmersville and will be raising Dorpers on 10 acres using rotational grazing. Edit: I'm 74 PS. You remind me of Lucy Thomas. Do you sing?
Thanks for the comment! The cost includes a solar setup with a 5 joule fence charger. I need this power when I use electric fence for sheep. Thanks for the compliment. I do not sing :).
@the Shepherdess Possibly changing plans to raising Cuy. Cuy is easier, shorter growth time, easier to handle, eat grass. I'm 74 - gotta make sure I can handle things. Herding cattle from a dirt bike scares my kids and I get that.