Sheep stand in a field, observing their surroundings, transitioning to sheep grazing in a lush green field.
Sheep are raised worldwide for meat and wool. Some producers even raise sheep for milk and cheese production. When compared to countries such as Australia and New Zealand, sheep are raised on a relatively small scale in the United States.
In the slide titled “Sheep by country,” a small image of two sheep is displayed at the upper right corner. The text box mentions, “United States – 5.2 million, Australia – 85.7 million, New Zealand – 38.4 million.”
With only an estimated 5.2 million sheep, US production pales in comparison to Australia’s 85.7 million and New Zealand’s 38.4 million sheep.
It transitions to a close group of sheep walking in a farm.
Sheep are gregarious and sociable animals raised in farm flocks and in range production operations.
Two baby sheep stand near a sitting mother sheep on a farm.
In range operations, which are generally found in the Western United States, sheep are allowed to graze on open rangelands. Range operations generally have more than 1000 ewes.
A series of images depict farm flocks grazing in various open fields.
Farm flocks typically have fewer than 100 ewes and are often a secondary operation for their producers. In addition to wool and meat production, many farm flock sheep are raised for breeding purposes.
Most sheep in the United States are dual-purpose animals raised for both meat and wool. There is a higher demand for lamb than mutton in the United States and many older sheep are exported to countries such as Mexico where there is a higher demand for mutton. Mutton is the term given to the meat of old sheep.
An image of wool transitions to woolly sheep standing in a field, followed by the appearance of two-haired sheep.
Wool is a natural, biodegradable fiber that has long been used to create textiles, clothing, and carpets. It is comfortable and flame resistant. Typically, wool is harvested in the spring because the sheep are in full fleece, meaning they have long wool.
The wool from some sheep has more hair fibers and less wool fibers. These sheep are referred to as hair sheep and do not require shearing. Their skin is highly desirable because it makes some of the best quality leather.
Gloved hands inject a syringe into a black sheep's ear, transitioning to a scene where a man holds a sheep while a veterinarian administers a red liquid via a syringe.
As with all livestock, sheep production requires a comprehensive health management plan that includes parasite control, vaccinations, and the maintenance of accurate health and breeding records. Producers will dock the lambs’ tails to two inches or less to deter the accumulation of debris and feces and keep the animals clean.
Three sheep stand inside a shelter, transitioning to a scene where a sheep eats grass inside the shelter while another attempts to snatch it. Then, a newborn lamb is seen among four adult sheep inside the shelter.
Sheep are hardy animals and can spend much of their time outdoors. However, many operations maintain comfortable shelter for their flocks to keep them safe from predators and protected from cold weather. Dry and clean bedding and adequate space is also essential during lambing season. Space heating is typically used to ensure the newborn lambs are kept warm.
A series of images depict flocks of sheep coexisting together.
Sheep are flock animals and feel safer in numbers. This behavior can make it difficult to single out one or two sheep when needed.
A woman showcases a sheep inside a livestock production facility, followed by another woman doing the same after a few seconds.
There are many sheep breeds in the United States. If you are interested in raising sheep for show, wool, or meat production, do your research to determine which breed would be the correct one for you. Raising a lamb for show can be a wonderful way to start a livestock production enterprise.