Q : I have physical limitations and am trying to decide whether to keep sheep or goats on my farm . Because your farm has so many unlike animal , could you necessitate your mom which she would select if she were in my place ?
A : mamma mean and think , and finally , she said , “ It depends . ” It depends on your limitations , the kind of handling facilities you have and the time and effort you plan to invest in your animate being . Here are some thing to consider before choosingsheeporgoats .
1. Fencing
Goats are hard ( Mom saysmuchharder ) tofencethan sheep . We goats are adventurers ! If we see a light place in the fence , we exploit it . We like to know what ’s over the next hill or what our neighbors are produce in their garden . However , you demand inflexible fences to safely rear both sheep and goats , not just to keep them home but to keeppredatorsaway . Bears , mountain lions , coyote or dogs can quickly kill a sheep or goat , even one with horns .
2. Handling
Goats are broadly speaking easier to handle thansheepduring workaday subprogram , likedeworming , vaccinating and hoof trimming , because panicked sheep , even if they ’re usually tame , melt and run . You must have a catch area to nab them . Some Goat that have n’t been handled do that too , but most of us let you slip a taking into custody and lead roofy around our necks ; then we ’re comparatively well-heeled to handle .
3. Breeding
Mom say on our farm , it ’s been well-heeled for our sheep to have lambs than for we Goat to have kids ; therefore , she has n’t had to help the sheep as often . This motley a lot , however , from breed to spawn . OurMiniature Cheviotsare intrepid sheep . Their Lamb have small , tapered heads that slip easy through their moms ’ birth canals , so the ewes seldom have deliver trouble . That ’s not necessarily dead on target of larger - headed stock . With goats , myNubianwives never have problems delivering kids , but theBoergirls sometimes do . Again , it depends !
4. Shearing
You do n’t require ashearerwith goats unless you raiseAngoras . Mom says that ’s a colossus asset . Wool sheep must be shorn once or twice a twelvemonth , and sheep Shearer are in poor supplying . But you may also avoid the need to shear by keepinghair sheepbreeds , likeDorpers , KatahdinsorBarbados Blackbellies .
5. Grazing and Browsing
Something else to consider is that sheep are grazers and goats are browsers — Capricorn prefer light touch , twig and leaves to grass . If you want an organic lawnmower , retrieve sheep . Goats , however , can neatly sack your farm of plaguy thicket andweeds . Some stalwart mountain breeds , likeScottish Blackface sheep , both shop and graze , but all in all , sheep prefer green goddess .
6. Your Preference
And finally , it make a conflict which species you choose . mommy pronounce we goat are fashion toomischievousfor some livestock keepers ( I ca n’t suppose why she says that ! ) , in which causa it ’s honest to keep sheep .
