4-H Sheep Production Manual - On-line (PDF) version.

A Post Lambing Interview - While lambing season is fresh in your mind take a few minutes to reflect on what happened how it happened and why it happened as it did.

A Stronger Brace - Instructions to build a "diagonal Strainer brace". This design is less expensive and a bit easier to build than other "kiwi" strainer braces.

An Introduction to Sheep Behavior - Having an understanding of sheep behavior can greatly improve one's ability to handle sheep. By recognizing that the sheep has instincts and using them to your advantage a great deal of stress both to the animal and the people can be avoided.

Assessment of Stress During Handling and Transport - Paper covering some of the factors that influence how an animal may react during handling.

Behavior and Handling - Sheep and Goats - IACUC Learning Module.

Behavioral Principles of Livestock Handling - This site contains information regarding livestock handling and stress reduction.

Body Condition Scoring of Sheep - Describes method of determining the condition of a sheep (too fat too thin just right) which is convenient and is much more accurate than a simple eye appraisal. Includes pictures.

Building a Creep Panel - Provides pictures and instructions for building a simple creep panel out of rough cut lumber using simple tools.

Care of Sheep and Lambs - The following are thoughts to help the new producer with the care of their lamb.

Composting is the natural way to dispose of dead animals - Learn more about a new project to evaluate composting cattle hogs and sheep carcasses at the University of Minnesota's Southern Experiment Station Waseca.

Condition Scoring of Sheep - Describes method of classifying ewes into groups according to fullness of muscling and amount of fat cover and how to adjust feed regimine according to the condition score and stage of the production cycle.

Controlling Leafy Spurge Using Goats and Sheep - Sheep and goats can be effective tools to complement herbicides for control of leafy spurge. In addition their control efforts can generate an economic return from land that other livestock won't graze.

Cornell Sheep Program - Information about sheep production and management from Cornell University.

Dead Animal Disposal Laws in Missouri - Summary of contents of the Missouri Dead Animal Disposal Statute which was passed by the 86th General Assembly and became law on August 28 1992.

Early vs Late Lambing - Which is best? - This article examines the pros and cons of early and late lambing systems and how they can fit individual producer's goals and operations.

Evaluate The Economics Of Your Flock - In spite of price volatility it is important that we know our costs and determine how we can cut costs improve management and improve productivity so our operation remains profitable.

Evaluating Farm Resources and Sheep Production Systems - Article helps the shepherd identify and evaluate resources that are available on the farm and to match these assets to an appropriate production system.

Ewe-Byte - This site is the homepage of Ewe Byte a comprehensive and affordable system available for managing sheep production and health.

Flock&Family Guardian Network - Livestock Guardian Dog Resource - Livestock Guardian Dog Comprehensive Resource about both companion and working dogs

FlockFiler: Complete Software for Sheep Records - FlockFiler is a computer database for keeping health management and breeding records of sheep. For Windows and Macintosh FlockFiler is suitable for any shepherd and for flocks of any size.

Fred's Micro Inc. Sheep Program - Keeps records on entire flock of sheep. Allows producer to keep track of ewes in relation to other ewes in flock. Printouts show entire history of ewes including lambs produced.

Guard Dogs - Introduction to using guard dogs to control predation of sheep.

Guidelines for Using Donkeys as Guard Animals with Sheep - This paper summarizes some of the management guidelines and other factors which may improve the likelihood of a donkey becoming a successful livestock guard animal.

Have You Prepared Your Barn for Lambing? - Having the barn ready before the first lambs arrive is one way to get the lambing season off to a good start.

Herding with German Shepherds - Nickelsberg's Farm - Information about boundary style herding.

Humane Sheep Handling and Transport Resources - Bibliography and audiovisuals.

IACUC Learning Module - Sheep - This "self-instruction" module in sheep and Goat Care was created for the research staff of the Department of University Animal Care. It does include some useful and interesting information(e.g. normal blood values and physiological signs).

Increasing Lamb Survival - Proper management of the flock at key times of the production cycle can reduce young lamb mortality. A realistic goal of 10% lamb mortality is attainable by most producers.

J & K's Sheep Page - Features links to sheep care education and information breeds and wool information sheep jokes and foot and mouth information.

Lambplan Genetic Sheep Evaluation. - Australia's system for describing genetic worth of animals used in sheepmeat sheep industry.

Livestock Guard Dogs Llamas and Donkeys - Guard dogs are an effective method to reduce predation on livestock. Guard llamas and donkeys also appear to reduce losses but appear less effective than guard dogs. Guard dogs can be used in farm flock/pasture operations on open range and in feedlots. Ll

Livestock Handler's Safety - Cattle horses sheep and pigs are common livestock species in Colorado. Accidents caused by livestock every year account for a significant number of the deaths and injuries to people.

Living with Sheep - Web site offering book for sale entitled: Living with Sheep: Everything You Need to Know to Raise Your Own Flock" by Chuck Wooster and Geoff Hansen.

Low Stress Livestock Handling - This section of the University of California's Sustainable Ranching Research and Education Project site provides a good introduction to Bud William's Stockmanship techniques. It also provides some good anecdotes and makes a strong connection between str

Management of Ewes and Lambs at Weaning - Separation at weaning can be stressful for both lambs and the ewe. Management goals should be to keep this stress as low as possible thereby reducing incidence of disease and health problems in ewes and lambs and allowing the lambs to grow at a normal r

Management Practices Can Influence Predation - Predisposing factors.

Management Strategies for Improved Fall-Lambing - Boost your fall lambing percentages. Here's how.

National Sheep Improvement Program - NSIP offers a computerized genetic performance evaluation programdesigned to help identify high-producing replacements cull poor-producing animals and assess overall management strengths and weaknesses.

National Sheep Industry Improvement Center - An independent agency that assists the U.S. sheep and goat industries through loans and other financial assistance means.

Newborn Lamb Management - Care of the newborn lamb from VA Cooperative Extension.

Nutrition of the Ewe Flock - Steps to prevent "empty gut disease" caused by the inadequate supply of nutrients.

Publications by ISU Faculty - Dr. Morrical's area of research is sheep nutrition forages and fetal and baby lamb survival.

Raising and Training a Livestock-Guarding Dog (PDF) - Reviews the basics of guarding dog behavior and methods for starting a pup with sheep. Reprinted February 1999.

Replacement Ewe Lamb Production - Ewe lambs born in March and April are excellent candidates to be used as replacement ewes in spring-lambing flocks. With proper feeding and breeding management spring-born ewe lambs should be in production by the time they are 12 to 14 months of age.

Settling a Claim Resulting from a Dog Attack on Your Flock - Ever been victimized by a dog attack? Here is information to help you.

Sheep - This is a delightful general information site on sheep designed by a youngster as a 4H project.

Sheep Coats - Instructions for making Sheep Coats to protect wool fleeces.

Sheep Flock Improvement Program EPDs - Using Estimated Progeny Difference to make genetic improvements and increase flock performance.

Sheep Handling Facilities - A good working or handling facility whether permanent temporary or portable can reduce the physical demands of handling sheep to a very manageable level.

Sheep Housing and Equipment Handbook (abstract) - Classic reference containing information about how to build an efficient sheep system. Provides detailed layouts so the shepherd can construct his/her own equipment.

Sheep Management Calendar - General management practices throughout the production cycle.

Sheep Pocket Guide - An aid to basic sheep management practices in today's sheep business.

Sheep Space Allotments - This publication helps sheep producers plan for optimum spacing requirements for different classes of sheep.

Sheep Tail Length - Discussion of the pros and cons of docking and recommendations regarding tail length.

Sheep Training Tips - Some people are interested in taming older sheep some people are interested in the halter training. There are some points common to both activities. Brief summary of the process that we used at Fibre Works Farm over a three week period this summer.

Sheep Transport References - List of references regarding the effect of transport upon sheep.

Skirting Table Instructions - Instructions to help you build your own portable skirting table.

Something's Been Killing My Sheep - But What? - The purpose of this factsheet is to aid producers and livestock evaluators in distinguishing between losses caused by predators and non-predator causes. If predation is the cause of death then it is particularly important to identify the species responsib

Spruce Haven Farm - Flock and pasture management techniques used on a low-input pasture-based sheep farm located near Meaford Ontario Canada. Includes pictures of homemade handling devises.

Starting or Expanding Your Sheep Flock - Discusses the various costs involved in starting or expanding a flock of ewes. For sheep producers and those needing information on sheep production.

Stone Brook - List of resources for small flock owners located in Central Maine; and for people thinking of becoming small flock owners anywhere in the US. Has links including everything from mills for processing fiber to books and periodicals to husbandry tips.

Temple Grandin's Web Page - One of the leaders in livestock behavior and welfare; lots of good information.

The Herding Page - Links to herding-related sites.

The Ideal Lambing Season - Realistically an ideal lambing season is not likely however we can manage the ewes to approach the ideal as close as possible.

The Sheep Flock Improvement Program - SFIP is a home testing genetic improvement program designed to assist Ontario purebred and commercial sheep producers in the evaluation of potential breeding stock and to provide a measure of the comparative productivity of ewes in the flock. Enrollment i

United States Border Collie Handlers Association - Information about Border Collies and herding. Contains articles on general information activities veterinary information breeding culture books and magazines and products.

Weaning Management of Lambs and Ewes - Weaning lambs should not be done on impulse but should be a well-planned activity.

Welfare of Sheep and Goats - A number of the procedures necessary to sheep and goat production are stressful but benefit the animals overall. Alternative methods of restraint castration tail-docking and fostering are available and should be compared to determine relative stressfulnes

Wintering the Ewe Flock - With the cessation of pasture growth more inputs of labor management and harvested feedstuffs are required for the ewe flock. Actually the winter period and nutrient needs of the flock may be as much a function of when a producer lambs as what the weath

Working With Livestock - An animal can be expected to respond to stimuli from both the handler and the environment. This publication looks at each of these factors more closely.

ZooEasy Record- keeping Software for Sheep Breeders - ZooEasy offers complete and user-friendly sheep breeding software for pedigree record keeping.