Easiest maintenance breed

[Deleted]

If you wanted some sheep just to keep the grass down on a field, what breed would you get? I have about a 2 1/2 acre field I've been contemplating putting sheep on to keep the grass down. My boss raises Barbados sheep (I think) and he tells me all the time I should get some sheep to put on it. I wouldn't want to shear any but I may want to sell some lambs sometime. The main thing is to keep the grass down. Any suggestions?

[Ozarks Tom]

Barbados are hair sheep, no shearing. Also very parasite resistant. As far as keeping grass down, we've got 17 sheep on about 3 acres and I still mow every week.

[bergere]

Hair sheep would be best, you don't have to shear them. I have a couple of Katadhin sheep and one Katahdin/Droper/St Croix, the latter doesn't shed out as fast, normally needs a little
help.
The two Katahdins I have, come from old, unimproved lines, they shed really fast. (watch for the folks that try to improve their flock, not all of them will shed off)

Most sheep can be easy to deal with, if they come from a healthy flock, get at least a yearly CD&T and de wormed when needed. I also give Rabies shots to all the mammals I handle. Rabies is a big
problem here. Rather safe than sorry.

Halter trained and gentled mine. Getting older and I don't have the strength any more to man handle sheep.

[Deleted]

I'm all about the hair sheep. Easy keepers, no shearing, and tasty meat.

We have Katahdin, too. I may be picking up a Barbados ram from a friend to keep the gene pool a little chlorinated.

[Deleted]

I need to get some eye drops. I thought the thread said, "easiest maintenance bread"!  

[bergere]

LOL Stef, maybe you are just hungry?

[Deleted]

Man, I could go for a slice of fresh baked feather bread... with some garlic/rosemary infused olive oil... a glass of red wine... In the company of my fine sheep, of course.

[bergere]

That sounds really good!