Nostr View

4d023 - 2y

Katahdin hair sheep out on pasture for the first time this year after a few months eating hay in their winter paddock. The grass is still establishing itself after coming out of dormancy so the sheep will be moved every 24-36h to a new paddock for the next week or two. Then every 2-3 days during the summer. Moving the sheep often helps to build soil and improve pasture by distributing their impact and fertility evenly while not allowing them to over graze shortening the time it takes for the pasture to recover. Another important reason to move the sheep often is to reduce the parasite load. By moving the sheep before parasites hatch in the manure they don't reingest them. #permaculture #homesteading #rotationalgrazing #sheep #sovereignty #grassfed #localfood #regenerative #sustainable #buildingsoil #pasture

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4d023 - 2y

https://i.imgur.com/BE1Rhjs.jpeg Katahdin hair sheep moving quickly over the pasture too keep their impact light and allow the fresh spring grass to establish. This is the third paddock so far this season and will be moving them every day for the next couple weeks until the grass is fully grown in. By then, lambs will be born and the sheep will be able to spend 2-3 days in each paddock. The best part about the area they are currently grazing is that there is water in the form of springs they can drink from. Most of the time we are hauling water to them. #permaculture #homesteading #rotationalgrazing #regenerativeagriculture #localfood #carnivore #keto #lamb

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44fe2 - 2y

Just started raising Katahdins in Southern Maine and rotational grazing them as well. Looks like you are using electronet as well. How do you energize your fence?

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4d023 - 2y

We use a speedrite 2000 energizer with 2x 12v batteries that we swap to charge every 4 days or so.

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4d023 - 2y

I'm moving sheep. #[1]

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4d023 - 2y

https://i.imgur.com/0vZ0U8w.mp4 On to the last paddock in this pasture, the Katahdin hair sheep managed to complete a full pass over this pasture in only 4 days. A couple of paddocks in the woods still needed some time to grow. I'm being extra cautious making sure not to over graze so I'm moving them daily. Next week things should be able to slow down to every 2 days and eventually 3 days per paddock in the summer. Trying to time things so that the sheep end up close to our handling system when they start having their lambs. That way we will have quick access to any supplies we might need if there are any issues during birth. #permaculture #permies #homesteading #regenerativeagriculture #regenag #grownostr #rotationalgrazing #pasturemanagement #sheep #localfood #lamb #carnivore #keto

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4d023 - 2y

https://i.imgur.com/f6qE6LG.jpeg All the sudden the pastures are looking fantastic. I can't tell if it's just because I've gotten used to them looking so dull all winter or if they are improving. Plenty of grass, clover, dock, chicory, dandelion and more out there. Lots of lush diverse nutrition for the sheep to mow down. #permaculture #permies #homesteading #grownostr #sheep #rotationalgrazing #localfood #carnivore #keto #regenag #regenerativeagriculture #pasturemanagement #diversity

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4d023 - 2y

This is the paddock the sheep have most recently grazed. If you look closely they've eaten most of the clover close to the ground while leaving plenty of grass. My hope is that the stress on the clover will give the grass a boost of nitrogen and this paddock will be twice as tall by the time the sheep return. They spent about 2 days in here so next pass should be good for 3 or better. #permaculture #permies #homesteading #grownostr #regenag #regenerativeagriculture #rotationalgrazing #pasturemanagement #localfood #sheep #lamb

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4d023 - 2y

https://i.imgur.com/KNsXORj.mp4 https://i.imgur.com/Wghh5ig.jpeg https://i.imgur.com/vHnd96G.jpeg The Katahdin hair sheep are getting very close to having their lambs. So close the practically have to waddle into the next paddock. They will be in this paddock for one day because it's smaller with a third of it in the woods. Not much to eat on the trees and shrubs yet. I topped off their salt and mineral in these diy PVC feeders. They work well enough, gotta keep an eye on them though. Sometimes the salt gets stuck in the pipe and needs a whack to continue flowing down. #permaculture #permies #homesteading #grownostr #regenag #regenerativeagriculture #rotationalgrazing #pasturemanagement #localfood #sheep #lamb

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f24b7 - 2y

Exciting time! What type of minerals are you using in the PVC? I like the idea. May look to add one.

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4d023 - 2y

We use Fertrell sheep mineral mix and Redmond salt (I think selenium 40 but that depends on your location anyway) have always used the Fertrell minerals. Maybe after several years of shepherding we might be able to tell a difference by switching it up. We still have enough bags to last us several more years though. Are you using a mineral mix or just salt?

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f24b7 - 2y

I’ve only used salt periodically but keep reading how important minerals are. Will look into that mix.

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4d023 - 2y

https://www.fertrell.com/sheep-nutribalancer

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4d023 - 2y

We make sure they have free access to salt and mineral at all times.

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4d023 - 2y

Just came across this short article about salt/mineral.

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f24b7 - 2y

Appreciate it!

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4d023 - 2y

The Katahdin hair sheep are headed towards the camera. There are a few paddocks behind me which aren't ready to graze but there's still a few left in this pasture otherwise. I need to slow them down a bit and let them graze these next few paddocks a little longer without overgrazing. We are trying to time it so the sheep are grazing the paddocks closest to our handling system while they have their lambs. That way if we need to assist in some way we have easy access to all our equipment and supplies. #permaculture #permies #homesteading #grownostr #regenag #regenerativeagriculture #rotationalgrazing #pasturemanagement #localfood #sheep #lamb

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ee726 - 2y

I've been looking into getting a few Katahdin hair sheep. We only have about 4.5 acres and not all of it would be available to the sheep, so I won't have a large herd. I'm having a bit of a hard time finding them near me and I still have to convince my husband that it is a good idea. I think he might be slowly starting to consider it as a good idea.

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4d023 - 2y

You could start off with a pair of feeder ram lambs to see how it works out. The trick like you mentioned would be finding them I guess. Mid July is when our ram lambs are weaned and looking to sell as feeders.

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ee726 - 2y

Thanks for the advice.

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4d023 - 2y

https://i.imgur.com/nUJNnEZ.jpeg https://i.imgur.com/HanYdA3.mp4 The Katahdin hair sheep are shedding their Winter hair coat and the are looking for back scratchers. Nibbling on the fresh growth of the autumn olive and sapling trees at the same time rubbing and scratching that extra hair off for the summer. #permaculture #permies #homesteading #grownostr #regenag #regenerativeagriculture #rotationalgrazing #pasturemanagement #localfood #sheep #lamb

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4d023 - 2y

https://i.imgur.com/rUAxsLd.mp4 This paddock and one more are the only two good ones left in this pasture. They will be done with these two paddocks in about 6 days but I need about 10 more days in this pasture so that the sheep start having their lambs close to our handling system. I skipped a few paddocks because the grass didn't look ready up here. Maybe by the time they graze through these two, the paddocks I skipped will be ready and I can circle back. If not, I will graze the next pasture in reverse of the normal grazing pattern. Honestly, by the look of these sheep they could start having lambs tomorrow and I will have to throw all my plans out the window. #permaculture #permies #homesteading #grownostr #regenag #regenerativeagriculture #rotationalgrazing #pasturemanagement #localfood #sheep #lamb

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4d023 - 2y

https://i.imgur.com/P7IoZ6B.mp4 This is the fastest way to secure the mobile sheep shelter to the tractor when moving it to the next paddock. Pull the loop of the rope though draw bar on the tractor then drop a chain through the loop behind it. I can hook it up and unhook with one hand! #permaculture #permies #homesteading #grownostr #regenag #regenerativeagriculture #rotationalgrazing #pasturemanagement #localfood #sheep #lamb

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4d023 - 2y

Last paddock in this pasture for katahdin hair sheep https://i.imgur.com/gnPYZyj.jpeg The sheep will likely be here a couple days then move on to thier lambing pasture. We decided it's best to get them there sooner and have to wait a few days than to be caught off guard with lambs needing attention in the back pastures. https://i.imgur.com/aOy7GFK.jpeg I broke some autumn olive braches for easy browsing for the sheep. They love it. As a nitrogen fixing shrub the stress should help the grass grow around it too. https://i.imgur.com/8RTMtjT.mp4 #permaculture #permies #homesteading #grownostr #regenag #regenerativeagriculture #rotationalgrazing #pasturemanagement #localfood #sheep #lamb

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4d023 - 2y

The Katahdin hair sheep ate just about every leaf off this autumn olive. I broke the branches down so the sheep could easily reach the leaves. With the stress from the browsing of the sheep, the autumn olive will now release it's nitrogen stores helping the nearby pasture to grow. It is my belief that the diverse diet we offer our sheep is what makes the meat taste so good. #permaculture #permies #homesteading #grownostr #regenag #regenerativeagriculture #rotationalgrazing #pasturemanagement #localfood #sheep #lamb

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