E21: All About Dairy Sheep (An Incredible Multi-Purpose Homestead Animal) | Rachel Hester of Whoopsy Daisy Farm

Homesteaders of America

After listening to this episode, you are going to be itching to add dairy sheep to your homestead! Rachel gives an overview of all of the most commonly asked questions about getting started with dairy sheep: milk quality, sheep breeds, breeding, milking, feeding, and more! Sheep are an incredible multi-purpose homestead animal that can thrive even on small acreage. If you want to be part of the sheep movement in the homesteading world, this is a great episode to help you consider whether dairy sheep are a good fit for you!

In this episode, we cover:

• What makes sheep such a great multi-purpose homestead animal

• Exploring the health benefits and taste of sheep milk

• Description of dairy sheep breeds and which are best for beginners

• Managing the breeding and lactation cycles of dairy sheep

• Various approaches to the nutritional needs of dairy sheep

Thank you to our sponsor!

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View full show notes and transcript on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

ABOUT RACHEL

Rachel Hester is the author of ‘The Guide to Homestead Dairy sheep’ due to be released by Sawdust Publishing in the fall of 2023. She lives in central Kentucky with her husband and son on 8 ½ acres. Using regenerative agriculture methods to reclaim denatured hayfields into a thriving farm while also supporting her husband’s occupation in Emergency Services has led her to some out of the box management styles for her livestock. In addition to dairy and heritage breed sheep, she has chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, honeybees, angora rabbits and a Jersey cow on her farm. She is a fiber artist and loves handspinning and knitting her sheep’s wool into garments for her family.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Sign up to receive updates from Sawdust Publishing and Whoopsy Daisy Farm about the release of Rachel’s forthcoming book, The Guide to Homestead Dairy Sheep

Episode 20 of the HOA podcast with Janet Garman all about wool sheep

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