The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: moprabbit on July 12, 2013, 09:57:15 am
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Just wondered what acreage is recommended for sheep? I have 4 ewes that I 'm having to move and have been offered three quarters of an acre for them. The grass is quite good with clover in it. Would this be enough? Thank you.
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How long would you be keeping them there for - a short period, or permanently?
3-5 ewes to the acre would be a permanent rule of thumb, depending on the type, but you would want to divide it up so that you could rotate them onto fresh grass.
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The official guide is 5 sheep per acre. This being 5 ewes plus their lambs until weaned and proportional number of rams. It does depend on the grazing quality though so 3-5 is a good rule of thumb.
I'd expect 3/4 acre would do your 4 especially over summer, but as foobar says i'd be best to divide it
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3-3.5 and their lambs/ac in summer and 1-1.5/ac in winter - if you want to not have to feed them.
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Thanks for the replies! I would be having them there permenantly - but as foobar says I would divide it up so as to rotate the grazing. They would just get hay if necessary in the winter. Does that sound OK? Thanks.