Wisconsin
winters can be harsh. One farm animal we envy is the sheep. They have a thick wool coat that is perfect
for staying dry & warm in any climate.
·
Female
sheep are called ewes. Male sheep are called rams. Lambs are baby sheep. A
group of them are referred to as a flock.
·
Shetlands
are small and slow-growing. It can take two to three years to reach their adult
weight.
·
Rams
usually weigh approximately 105 lbs and ewes about 85 lbs. Lambs (baby sheep)
are born weighing around 5 lbs.
·
Sheep
have horizontal slit-shaped pupils giving them excellent peripheral vision
allowing them to see behind themselves without turning their heads.
·
Like
cows, they have four-chambered stomachs, burping up their food to re-chew their cud which plays
a vital role in digesting their food.
·
Shetlands
live 10 to 12 years.
·
This
breed is noted for its very fine, soft wool and the high quality of its meat.
·
Wool
is one of the best insulating fibers known to man. It is moisture wicking.
·
Their
wool repels water, but humidity is absorbed. That’s why sheep do well in both
winter and summer.
·
We
get wool from our sheep when we shear them each spring. We shear our sheep once
a year. In the south you would shear twice a year.
·
One
sheep produces anywhere from 2 to 30 lbs. of wool depending on its size and
breed.
-Ride a Pony
