Preface
1: Starting with Sheep
Some Background on Sheep - Sheep Farming Today - Behavior - Breeds - Buying Sheep - Home at Last
2: Breeding and Breeds
Breeding and Genetics - Genetic Diversity and Sheep Breeds - Individual Breeds
3: Pasture, Fences, and Facilities
Pasture - Fencing - Facilities
4: Herding Dogs
Traits of Herding Dogs - Breeds - Selecting a Dog - Training - Dog Trials
5: Protecting against Predators
Managing for Predators - Guardian Animals
6: Feeds and Feeding
Digestion - Nutrients - Feeding Practices - Types of Feed
7: General Health Considerations
Healthy Strategies - Recognizing Sick Sheep - Alternative Health Practices - Natural Defenses - Causes of Illness in Sheep - Parasites - Other Disorders of Sheep - Drugs for Sheep
8: Problems of Rams, Ewes, and Lambs
Problems with Rams - Disorders in Ewes - Lamb Problems
9: Flock Management
Successful Breeding - The Ram - Ewes
10: Lambing
Preparation for Lambing - The Lambing Process - After Lambing - Problems with Newborn Lambs - Orphan Lambs - Care of Baby Lambs
11: Products and Marketing
Merchandising to Reach Your Market - Wool - Meat and Milk - Pelts - The Live-Animal Business - Odds and Ends - Recipes
12: Showing Sheep
Kinds of Shows - Show Classes - Training Sheep - Fitting - Show Ring Strategies
13: Records and Animal Identification
National Sheep Improvement Program - Computer Software and Spreadsheets - Sample Record Charts
Appendixes
Lambing Calendar
Feed Requirements
Composition of Common Feedstuffs
Resources
Glossary
Metric Conversion Charts
Index