Herding sheep questions?

Question

Okay, my friend and I have a (legitimately insane) idea: herding sheep in the desert! Yes, yes, digest it for a moment. Okay, good? Good. Here's the idea:

1. Get a bunch of sheep
2. Get tents (gers, large four walled types, whatever)
3. Buy a huge chunk of land in the desert with plenty of grasses
4. get some dogs
5. Train said dogs
6. become awesome sheep-herding desert nomads!

So, what do you think? Are we geniuses (insane) or what!?

Seriously, though, I am interested in a job in the sheep industry, because my uncle farmed them (before he passed on) and I always loved visiting him and helping him tend the flock (plus, he had four dogs: Sandy, Cream, Delilah, and Bull whom I adored). He taught me a thing or two about dealing with sheep, but now I need real information about ownership of a sheep farm (btw, that desert thing I mentioned has basis in reality. He owned a HUGE expanse of land, and he and his workers would watch the sheep graze. It wasn't a little farm with picket fences and stuff. It was more like... well, I guess you could call it a ranch. And while it wasn't quite in a desert, it sure was hot sometimes!)

Can anyone on here tell me where I can find information on starting a business like this? Thanks so much!

Answer 1

Sheep are much better foragers in arid climates than are cattle. There may be federal land in arid places like Nevada, Utah, etc that you may be able to get grazing permits for. Being in the Midwest, I don't know the first thing about that but that's department of the interior business. Keep in mind that grazing land, even with good forages is nothing without water. And water rights in the west is a whole different business. Just because there is water on the land, if someone else owns the water rights, you have no right to use it, even for livestock water.



Acquiring enough livestock to provide a living would require a substantial financial investment. 2,000 ewes would require an investment of approximately $250,000. And the money is just one small part of the operation, you need to know about breeding, lambing, health issues, marketing and on and on.



You might be better off getting a job on a working ranch to learn the ropes. Otherwise I see a huge financial disaster looming on the horizon. You are looking at it from a romantic childhood viewpoint, which can be disasterous in today's marketplace.

Answer 2

It would be a good idea to just work for someone else on their sheep ranch for a while to learn the biz and find out if you'll really like it or if it should just remain as a pleasant childhood memory.



But hey, if you feel strongly about it, just go for it.



You have to know something about animal husbandry and other fields. Contact a Farm and Ranch realtor. If you have a regular job now, you might just get a small farm, keep your job and start small. You could try various types of sheep, even Angora goats.

Answer 3

In the desert with large amounts of grass, lay off the 420 dude, deserts don't have lots of grass, if any at all

Answer 4

Juvenile YA Trolls can't buy livestock OR land....they spend their allowance on candy.

Answer 5

lol