The Shepherdess

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Record-high cattle prices have many asking the same question: is now the time to get into cattle?  In this conversation, regenerative rancher Karl Ebel joins me to discuss the current cattle market, sustainable pasture management, the true cost of raising beef, and what beginners should know before buying their first cows. With over 20 years of experience running a regenerative pasture-based cattle ranch on 1,000+ acres, you won’t want to miss Karl’s insights into building a profitable operation that can weather changing market conditions.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction to co-host Karl and his neighboring cattle farm

00:04:14 A look at the current state of the record-high cattle market and its ups and downs in recent years

00:10:24 The history of Karl’s 1,000+ acre property

00:11:48 Considering the factors contributing to the current all-time high in the cattle market

00:14:56 Taking a look at the history of the cattle market and looking to the future

00:18:51 A discussion on the market impact of tariffs and imported beef

00:26:53 Words of wisdom for those looking to get started in the cattle industry

00:30:15 The important features to look for when starting a cattle herd

00:40:42 Is it the right time to get into the cattle industry?

00:42:14 How much land is needed per cow in order to run a grass-based operation?

00:49:34 Breaking down the cost of raising grass-fed cattle

00:55:06 Answering audience questions: pasture management troubleshooting, specific breed benefits, and more

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Karl’s recommendations for staying updated on the cattle market: 

- Dr. Derrell Peel at Oklahoma State University

- Texas A&M Beef Cattle Extension

- Kansas State University Beef Extension

CONNECT WITH ME

Email: [email protected]

Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon 

Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG

Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers

MORE FROM THIS EPISODE

View full show notes and transcript on the blog

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🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head

📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage 

Pasture rotation, parasite management, breeding and lambing, fencing systems, direct marketing, and flock health… we are tackling it all in this sheep farming Q&A.  I’m addressing your specific questions to the best of my ability and sharing practical examples from my own farm.  If you are dealing with problems in your flock or simply looking for ways to set yourself up for success, may you walk away from this episode with encouragement and direction.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 Kicking off this sheep farming Q&A

00:01:47 Considerations for setting up paddocks and establishing a strong rotational grazing program

00:10:02 Transitioning sheep from grain to pasture, building robust grass-based genetics, providing proper minerals

00:16:19 My best marketing tips for maintaining a profitable farm despite market fluctuations

00:22:12 Troubleshooting perimeter fencing, optimal time for lambing, feeding through the winter, breeding windows

00:26:00 Natural vs. conventional deworming methods, why I raise Dorper sheep, my preferred handling setup 

00:32:22 Running into problems with young lambs, weighing and treating sheep, government overreach, breaking down the numbers on sheep sales

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Order my book The Basics of Raising Sheep on Pasture

Butchering by Adam Danforth 

I’ll show you how to build a DIY portable shade structure for your sheep

Freebie: Launch a Profitable Email List

My top marketing tips: How I Sell My Sheep for $480 Each and How I’m Marketing My Sheep

Livestream: Answering 30 Sheep Questions

Check out The Shepherdess Starter Kit collaboration with Lakeland Farm & Ranch Direct

View my list of recommended books on regenerative agriculture (free shipping!)

CONNECT WITH ME

Email: [email protected]

Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon 

Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG

Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers

MORE FROM THIS EPISODE

View full show notes and transcript on the blog

Watch this episode on YouTube

Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode!

Support the show

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head

📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage 

Choosing the right sheep breed can make or break the success of your for-profit farming operation, especially if you are running a pasture-based system.  In this episode, I’m answering your sheep farming questions and breaking down the pros and cons of popular hair sheep vs. wool sheep breeds, what I’ve learned from raising Dorpers in a high-rainfall environment, how to find quality breeding stock, and why carcass size, minerals, and lambing timing matter so much in a profitable sheep operation.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 Welcome and overview

00:02:25 Which hair breed sheep I have chosen for my farm

00:03:44 Pros and cons of three popular hair breeds

00:06: 24 Why carcass size matters when you are running a for-profit meat operation

00:07:42 The importance of investing in high quality breeding stock to start your flock

00:10:00 My best tips on where to find good quality stock for your specific area

00:12:38 What has changed about raising wool sheep in the modern economy

00:17:59 Pros and cons of three major wool sheep breeds

00:19:27 What you need to know about purchasing stock on Facebook

00:21:58 Why you don’t need a huge farm to implement my sheep farming systems

00:23:05 The importance of timing your lambing with the weather in your area

00:26:29 Why you need to focus on minerals before breeding and lambing season

RESOURCES MENTIONED

🐑 Check out my masterclass Lamb for Life for everything you need to know about raising healthy sheep from birth to eight months

Storey’s Guide to Raising Sheep by Paula Simmons and Carol Ekarius

DorperSheep.org

Katahdins.org

StCroixSheep.org

Busy Ewe Farm and Fibers

Harmony Heritage Farm

Prairie Shepherdess

Cheviots.org

American Rambouillet Sheep Breeders Association on Facebook

Navajo-ChurroSheep.com

Dorper Sheep USA on Facebook

CONNECT WITH ME

Email: [email protected]

Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon 

Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG

Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers

MORE FROM THIS EPISODE

View full show notes and transcript on the blog

Watch this episode on YouTube

Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode!

Support the show

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head: https://www.shepherdess.com/480

📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage: https://bit.ly/ShphrdssBOOK

As any shepherd learns early on, things can go wrong quickly in sheep farming if you do not stay on top of your flock’s health.  In this episode, I’m walking through 20 problems and solutions straight from my own experience.  From nose to tail, I’m sharing the symptoms I look for, the root causes behind these issues, and both the quick fixes and long-term preventative measures that have helped me avoid more loss on my farm.  If you are looking for more tools in your shepherding toolbelt, this episode will leave you feeling prepared for anything your flock may throw at you.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction and some disclaimers

06:44 Recognizing and treating pink eye in a matter of days

09:10 What to do about abscesses

10:15 What nasal bots and how to get rid of them quickly

11:53 The easy fix for pregnancy toxemia (also called twin lamb disease)

14:05 Why hypocalcemia (milk fever) is indistinguishable from pregnancy toxemia and how I treat for both simultaneously

15:58 Prevention and treatment for umbilical cord bleed in lambs

18:02 A quick, catch-all supplement for undiagnosed lethargy

19:09 Quick fix for bottle jaw (plus some long-term preventatives)

22:34 Coccidiosis treatment and the extra-label product that works wonders both as treatment and prevention

25:47 A quick fix and long-term fix for visible worms in manure

28:28 An almost immediate solution for foot scald

29:55 How to know when a sheep has developed foot rot and why I usually recommend culling

32:05 Root cause and treatment for retained placenta at lambing

33:17 Why selenium deficiency can lead to “crippled” newborn lambs

35:24 Another illness tied to selenium deficiency– white muscle disease

37:11 What I do about a ewe whose udders are too small to feed her lambs

38:31 Products I use when a ewe requires my assistance at lambing

39:23 Recognizing, treating, and preventing mastitis in lactating ewes (and why I cull for this)

42:48 Toxoplasmosis– a warning to pregnant women interacting with lambing ewes

44:00 Pulling out the big guns for pneumonia treatment

44:44 Why rectal prolapse warrants a trip to the vet

47:55 Why ring-womb is so serious– one story of success and one story of loss

50:12 Answering a handful of audience questions

RESOURCES MENTIONED

I’ve put together a first aid kit of the 32 most important products I wish I’d had on hand as a beginner shepherd

CONNECT WITH ME

Email: [email protected]

Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon 

Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG

Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers

MORE FROM THIS EPISODE

View full show notes and transcript on the blog

Watch this episode on YouTube

Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode!

Support the show

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head

📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage

Worms are one of the biggest health challenges in shepherding, but with a few tested management strategies, I have found a system that works on my farm.  In this episode, I start with the basics of internal parasites, how to spot early symptoms, and the management practices that have made the biggest difference on my farm after losing half my flock in the beginning.  You might be surprised to hear my take on chemical dewormers and parasite tolerant sheep.  While worms are the biggest enemy to sheep farmers, they don’t have to be the downfall of your operation.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction and preview of content

02:27 Why rotational grazing is foundational to a flock’s health

07:40 Understanding the life cycle of worms

13:12 Signs of infection to look for in your sheep

19:58 The difference between parasite resistance and tolerance

22:17 How rotational grazing breaks the life cycle + other management practices

32:06 When and how to use conventional/chemical dewormers

37:05 Natural strategies for worm management

40:38 The results of my experiment in deworming with lye

46:37 Answering your deworming questions

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Check out the Redmond Sheep Mineral I use and recommend

CONNECT WITH ME

Email: [email protected]

Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon 

Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG

Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers

MORE FROM THIS EPISODE

View full show notes and transcript on the blog

Watch this episode on YouTube

Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode!

Support the show

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head

📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage

When it comes to breeding sheep, most problems that show up at lambing actually started months earlier, long before the breeding season. In this episode, I’m running through the basics of breeding sheep and answering the most common questions I receive. We’ll focus on getting your flock in the best condition possible to go into breeding, setting your farm up for a productive and low-stress lambing season. If you’re looking for a low-input, pasture-based approach to breeding sheep, improving flock health, and avoiding common mistakes, this episode will start you off on the right foot.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to my pasture-based sheep operation

07:44 What to look for in a meat ram

15:42 Considerations for healthy breeding ewes

17:15 The importance of ideal body condition

19:40 My controversial opinion on breeding age for ewes

21:32 Optimal minerals for breeding pasture-raised sheep

29:46 What happens if you breed a ewe in poor health

34:10 Why I don’t practice flushing to increase my twinning rate

36:13 Knowing when to cull less desirable ewes

39:12 Keeping a strict breeding timeline

50:02 Audience Q&A 

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Check out the Redmond Sheep Mineral I use and recommend

Learn how to set up your own portable shade structure for sheep

CONNECT WITH ME

Email: [email protected]

Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon 

Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG

Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers

MORE FROM THIS EPISODE

View full show notes and transcript on the blog

Watch this episode on YouTube

Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode!

Support the show

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head

📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage

I’m pulling back the curtain on my failures and successes along my sheep farming journey in hopes that I can give you a massive headstart in your own shepherding.  There are a few things I’m glad I knew before I got started, but there are many more lessons I’ve learned the hard way, often through costly mistakes.  In this episode, I’m sharing practical tips, surprising realizations, and game-changing practices for beginner shepherds.  Join me for this conversation to get your most important sheep questions answered!

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction and preview of content

03:04 Why I chose Dorper sheep and rotational grazing

05:10 Building a profitable farm from the beginning

06:31 A few things I’m glad I knew when starting out

06:46 Why you should invest in quality breeding stock

08:03 Ways I maximized my profits from the start

10:34 My simple but necessary farm record keeping system

11:46 Things I wish I knew before I started sheep farming

11:53 Pros and cons of raising sheep for meat

13:36 Understanding the top worm risks and appropriate treatments

15:03 Simple systems for rotational grazing and watering

17:45 The gravity of mineral deficiencies and proper deworming practices

25:36 Treating and assessing your flock appropriately

30:23 Optimizing your pasture for grazing

35:28 Farming is better with support

36:55 Lambing and weaning best practices

41:46 Failures in farming are not cause for panic

43:12 Answering questions from the audience

CONNECT WITH ME

Email: [email protected]

Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon 

Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG

Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers

MORE FROM THIS EPISODE

View full show notes and transcript on the blog

Watch this episode on YouTube

Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode!

Support the show

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head

📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage

Whether you’re in the dreaming phase of sheep farming or already managing a flock, this episode walks through the key principles every shepherd needs to get right.  In this crash course on sheep farming for beginners, I’m sharing how I raise my sheep to maintain above average flock health, how I graze my sheep to minimize feed costs and maximize pasture, and how I direct market my sheep for $480 per head without ever leaving my farm.  I will also be answering common questions about feeding, fencing, troubleshooting health concerns, and more.  

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introductions and preview of content

00:38 Overview of my farm and climate

04:18 My unlikely story of becoming a shepherdess

07:26 The moment I realized why my sheep were sick

10:10 A thriving flock and a thriving business

16:05 Three enemies of a beginner shepherd

16:54 Enemy #1: Barber’s pole worm

24:23 Enemy #2: coccidia

27:56 Enemy #3: lambing complications

29:35 How many sheep should you start with?

31:21 How I run my rotational grazing system

39:16 Exactly how I market my sheep for $480 per head

47:18 Audience Q&A

CONNECT WITH ME

Email: [email protected]

Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon 

Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG

Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers

Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode!

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🔹DOWNLOAD my HEART HEALTH FACT SHEET: https://bit.ly/3FFUctz 

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