We are looking to plant an orchard on a 2 acre steep field. We currently keep hens there and having some trees would be a good synergy with this enterprise. The problem we have at the moment is the work (and fuel) involved in moving the grass to keep it down for the electric netting. We are planning on mobile houses with poultry nets which we can move from time to time around the orchard to rest areas of land. So we figured a few sheep would be good as lawn mowers to be moved in a mob formation.
What sort of breeds would you be looking at for this? Maybe buying lambs in spring to mow the field and slaughter in late autumn once the grass has stopped. Lowest maintenence possible. Also, what number would you think bearing in mind the trees will keep the grass down a bit.
Also, will the sheep trash the young fruit trees?