Hey Fawteen and Others...Sheep Question

in-too-deep · Mar 18, 2009

Just killin' time sippin' on some coffee and I got to thinking. Would there be a market for sheep up here in Northern Minnesota? This is very strong cattle and timber country, and I don't see many sheep. I used to raise a few head with my folks, and I've wondered if a flock of Polypays would pay up here...probably no more that 50 ewes. Thoughts?

CHRISCO · Mar 18, 2009

I know that on Venture North from Duluth PBS station did a story with a lady from around Moose Lake. She had dogs that stayed with the sheep to prevent wolf and bear attacks. The lady did rotational grazing on like 30 acre patches. I think she marketed the meat to restaurants in the Twin Cities. Some thoughts I remember.
wdse

Anonymous-0 · Mar 19, 2009

(quoted from post at 15:02:12 03/18/09) Just killin' time sippin' on some coffee and I got to thinking. Would there be a market for sheep up here in Northern Minnesota? This is very strong cattle and timber country, and I don't see many sheep. I used to raise a few head with my folks, and I've wondered if a flock of Polypays would pay up here...probably no more that 50 ewes. Thoughts?

I can't answer your sheep question, but didn't you have an in-law (almost) coming to Germany? Did he make it and get set up?

Just curious.

Dave

Fawteen · Mar 19, 2009

Short version: I have absolutely no idea.

My market here in Maine is a niche market for folks who like the meat and are willing to pay premium prices for lamb raised on grass and Momma's Milk. It's a very small market, 5 or 6 lambs a year will about cover it. NOT a money maker.

Same deal on the wool. If I can sell it for enough to cover the cost of shearing, I done good.

At a guess, unless there's a strong ethnic market (Middle Eastern or North African folks, generally) you'd have a hard time of it on anything other than a small scale hobby basis.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 19, 2009

I bet Polypays would be a monumental pain in the a$$
Triplets are a full time job, if you want all three to survive. The sheep only has two teets, and in my experience twins matches up perfectly.
Easter Lambs are worth a lot of money,I am sure you have a state ag rep who could tell you where to sell them.

Fawteen · Mar 19, 2009

Never dealt with Polypays, but I get at least one set of triplets every year from my Shetlands, and I've never lost one to malnutrition. They seem to work out a system amongst themselves. True, one is usually a little smaller than the other two, but so far so good.

RN · Mar 19, 2009

Was a thread last week about Minnesota Somalies wanting goat meat. Around Madison, Wi there is a fair demand from Mexican, Arab, Indian and North Africans attending UW for sheep and goat meat- at least enough demand to make it profitable to raise some meat breeds and direct sale, some market sales. The Minneapolis/St Paul area supposed to have some foreign students and extra resettled Somalies- check the meat markets ther and see if they want some. Might have to send them to Kosher/Hallal butcher or sell live to Mosque and allow throat cutting on farm, the Syrians used to pay extra for allowing that after Ramadan. RN

Hey Fawteen and Others...Sheep Question

in-too-deep

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CHRISCO

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Anonymous-0

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Fawteen

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Anonymous-0

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Fawteen

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RN

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