Sheep For Sale Craigslist (2024)

FAQs

What questions to ask when buying sheep? ›

The easiest way to sell lambs and sheep is to take them to a local or regional livestock auction.

It shows annual costs and returns based on farm prices for slaughter lambs varying from $63 to $75 per hundredweight (cwt). At $75 per cwt, and assuming wool brings $10.10 per ewe, gross annual income per ewe can average $106.98-if 129 lambs can be marketed from 100 ewes.

I recommend a flock no smaller than five sheep, but have seen flocks of 3 or 4 do well. Sheep feel secure and happy when living with other sheep. Sheep can be a companion animal to other livestock, like horses, alpacas, and goats, BUT sheep need other sheep. Sheep need other sheep.

Sheep require more intensive management than large animal livestock such as beef cattle. Predators are a threat to flocks on vast pastures where fence lines may be difficult to maintain. Producers must choose breeds that lamb in their desired season.

There are many advantages to marketing livestock through a public livestock auction, sale barn, or stockyard. It is convenient and easy. There are usually regular weekly sales.

Easter is obviously an important holiday for marketing lamb and goat. There is a usually a greater demand at Greek or Eastern Orthodox Easter as compared to Western or Roman Easter. Minor holidays (e.g. Mother's Day, 4th of July, etc.) can also be a good time to sell sheep and goats.

The ideal lamb and goat should be weaned and have all their milk teeth. Lambs should weigh 60 to 80 pounds while goats have an ideal weight of 60 pounds, but weights of 45 to 120 pounds are acceptable.

While this will vary, a younger (two-to-four-year-old) productive commercial (non-registered) ewe can usually be purchased for $200 to $250. Depending on their age, lambs can be bought for $75 to $150. Older ewes (five years and up) are usually less, but they will have fewer productive years left.

To make money raising sheep, you would need at least several hundred ewes, probably more than 500. While there are some farmers who make a majority of their income from sheep farming, sheep raising is more often a part-time or secondary enterprise of a farm. For some, it is a hobby, retirement activity, or 4-H project.

Which sheep make the most money? ›

If you have good quality pasture and live in a warm climate you could raise a small flock of sheep to provide your family food from without purchasing much from outside sources. For a large family I suggest starting with 2 Ewes and a Ram, and eventually growing to 4 Ewes.

Sheep are a flock animal. This means that they need to live with other sheep. I recommend a flock no smaller than five sheep, but have seen flocks of 4 do well. Sheep feel secure and happy when living with other sheep.

You can reasonably expect to keep 6-10 sheep on an acre of grass and as many as 100 sheep on 30 acres of pasture. If you want to keep more than an acre can sustain, you'll have to look into purchasing additional land as you'll likely need to rotate your flock to keep them fed.

Specifically, the lamb should have firm, hard muscling in the loin, rump, and legs, which are the higher priced cuts of a lamb carcass. Muscle expression should be visible from the front, side, and rear. From the front of the lamb, look for muscle from the knee to shoulder.

Dorsets are a dual purpose breed used for both wool and meat; they're a good fit for beginners and small farms. The Dorset Horn has many positive traits: it's docile, easy to handle and provides plenty of milk, making it an ideal choice for first-time farmers who want to keep their animals close by.