Sheepwheat may not make any sense

[malleefarmer]

China russia argentina chile are all producing wool.

So in canada the sheep may need to be shedded or coralled over winter may be just as economic as feeding cattle all winter if they had valauble wool

remember a sheep eats 1/12th of what a cow does

[grassfarmer]

You must have big cows Mallee - they reckon 1/7th of a cow here.
Growing up in one of the two natural places best for sheep in the world (south of Scotland - the other being New Zealand) it seems to me an uphill struggle keeping sheep in Canada. Feeding for a 7 month winter with the constant threat of getting buried in snow or eaten by predators is all costly. The biggest advantage of a sheep is it's ability to feed itself - essentially year round in the places conducive to them with maybe a bit of pellet supplementation depending when they lamb. Too close grazers for my liking in a brittle environment so more likely to overgraze than cattle. I see the market opportunity and the profit opportunity for sheep here but I'm not tempted to jump back in.

[malleefarmer]

You must have big cows Mallee - they reckon 1/7th of a cow here.
Growing up in one of the two natural places best for sheep in the world (south of Scotland - the other being New Zealand) it seems to me an uphill struggle keeping sheep in Canada. Feeding for a 7 month winter with the constant threat of getting buried in snow or eaten by predators is all costly. The biggest advantage of a sheep is it's ability to feed itself - essentially year round in the places conducive to them with maybe a bit of pellet supplementation depending when they lamb. Too close grazers for my liking in a brittle environment so more likely to overgraze than cattle. I see the market opportunity and the profit opportunity for sheep here but I'm not tempted to jump back in.

i could well be wrong grass no problems.

have a daughter in nz get over there when possible they are good at growing lamb and mutton but not sure about wool. the sheep are tiny rabbits merinos that is climatic