Looking for ways to expand your small-farm dairy business? Milk offers many opportunities for diversifying your product offerings! Here are some common ways to add value to farm-fresh milk. Cream Cream is not one of the more popular value-added dairy products around, but it does have a loyal following among health-conscious customers. Fresh, raw cream…
Tag: Sheep
What are Animal Units?
A handy tool for mixed-species grazing and how to use it.
An Introduction to Sheep Dairying
An overview of the advantages of sheep milk, the best breeds for dairying, and a few special care considerations.
What Causes Wool Allergies?
How to know if you truly have a wool allergy, and what to do about it.
Adding Value to Wool
A brief summary of all the options for making the most of your fiber business.
Heritage Livestock Breeds Comparison Charts
We recently linked to the Pick-a-Chick chart from the Livestock Conservancy, allowing prospective chicken keepers to compare the characteristics of heritage breeds at a glance. The Livestock Conservancy has many other useful charts for other types of livestock, as well: Cattle. Horses. Donkeys. Pigs. Goats. Sheep. Rabbits. Turkeys. Geese. Ducks. Depending on the type of…
What is a Composite Breed?
Want to combine the best characteristics of several breeds? A composite may be the answer.
Grazing Systems Planning Guide
Is the thought of planning a rotational or management-intensive grazing system daunting to you? If you are new to the concept, you will probably appreciate this free guide from the University of Minnesota Extension Service—Grazing Systems Planning Guide. The Grazing Systems Planning Guide is directed at beginners and walks graziers through the planning process sequentially….
An Introduction to Heritage Breeds
Thinking about starting a farm with heritage breeds? If you are new to this topic, you may enjoy An Introduction to Heritage Breeds: Saving and Raising Rare-Breed Livestock and Poultry by The Livestock Conservancy. This excellent beginner’s resource starts with the basics—defining breeds in general and heritage breeds in particular. It discusses the plight and…
Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog dates back to the Viking invasions of the 9th and 10th centuries. The fierce invaders who colonized the Shetland Islands brought with them small herding spitzes to tend their livestock. These dogs were ideally suited to the harsh climate of the islands, being quite hardy. In the 1470s, however, the Shetland Islands…
