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The 10 Stupidest Reasons to Raise Sheep...
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The 10 Stupidest Reasons to Raise Sheep...
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1. Sheep will have a calming influence on my life.
Some sheep have been known to give off a special "peaceful grazing"
aura, and many shepherds have observed this phenomenon. But sheep can have other,
more negative influences as well. Experiences such as "Rams Fighting",
"Sheep Sick/Dying For No Reason", "Fence Breakdowns and Escape"
all have been proven to erase any calm from your life.
2. Sheep are simple creatures to care for.
Sheep are ruminants, a type of animal with multiple stomachs and an interesting
digestive process. This allows for many more opportunities for them to get sick,
often by organisms with interesting names (including the well-known "Clostridium
Perfringens Type B"). It is important to know your local land use requirements
for Farm Animal Disposal.
3. Sheep will provide me with a second income.
This statement is partly correct. If you manage your flock well, and market
your wool, breeding stock or lambs for meat, you will no doubt earn income.
Unfortunately, this "extra" income will be more than overshadowed
by the multiple expenses your small flock will generate. If your definition
of second income means "getting closer to retirement", then try telephone
sales instead.
4. Sheep will connect me with the land.
You will be connected to your land as you dig dozens of post holes for your
sheep fencing; as you kneel in frozen mud to tend an abandoned lamb; as you
are knocked down and trampled as your flock charges into a new field.
5. Sheep will mow my grass for me.
Sheep can mow, fertilize and even deadhead in a multi-tasking way. Unfortunately,
they will not limit their mowing to grass. They will graze and browse on vegetables,
flowers and even an occasional toxic plant. Push-mowers do a fine job of trimming
grass, and they rarely get diarrhea. They also can be stored in sheds for months
at a time.
6. Sheep will give me wool, so I can spin and make clothing and gifts.
If you raise sheep, it is entirely possible you will be too busy to sit and
spin. Or too tired to spin. Or too injured to spin (see Reason #4). It is no
surprise that most spinners DO NOT own sheep!
7. Counting sheep will help me sleep
Actually, counting sheep has been proven to jolt even the weariest shepherd
into the *Awake: Danger* state of mind. This frequently occurs
during lambing time, when your count of "any day now" ewes comes up
short. Freezing weather and darkness increase the chances of how many sheep
are missing. Counting sheep can also prove very wakeful when your neighbors
report sightings of coyotes or cougars.
8. Sheep are easier to manage than other livestock
People who raise cattle, horses or swine disagree with this, as do the partners
of those who raise sheep. As one feed store employee remarked, "sheep are
born to die".
9. "Mary Had A Little Lamb" was my favorite nursery rhyme.
Unfortunately, Mary developed problems with paranoia after years of being
followed by her lamb. She spent many years in therapy as a result, dealing with
additional issues involving animal co-dependency. She was finally able to admit
in group that the lamb's fleece was never as white as snow. She is now a personal
trainer and owns an iguana.
10. But lambs are sooo cute...
If sheep did not start out as cute lambs, there would be no more sheep.
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