Things to Consider Before Raising Sheep

Hello dear friend, Mary is doing very well and has gained weight. She has settled into life here, so there shouldn't be anything to worry about.

 I hope that fewer people will keep living creatures just for the fun of it—like my Mary the sheep—and I would like to write a little something about that.

 If you are keeping them on a moderately sized plot of land, goats are the better choice. Sheep are fine if you have vast acreage, but the most important thing when raising animals is whether you can properly clean up after them.(In that respect, cats are the easiest.)

Compared to goats, the sheer volume of sheep droppings is surprising. I am constantly sweeping and hosing down the small area where  kept. Goats learn to use a specific spot for their waste (provided you have the patience and kindness to teach them), so cleaning up after them was easier.

Then there is the question of whether there is enough grass to feed them properly. We regularly buy dried hay, but the cost of food for our dog and cats is far lower.

For the first few months, we were able to rent a fallow field. Thanks to the soft, lush grass there, Mary was able to fully recover from malnutrition.

And right now, what troubles me is herbicides, weedkiller. Farmers here spray them frequently, so we are constantly trying to avoid them. I find myself thinking these days that the life of a shepherd—walking leisurely across vast meadows—must be a happy one.

She sometimes helps out a little with the mowing in the garden.

Sadly for her, it doesn't fill her up..

From time to time, I would recall certain passages from that book I read a few years ago, along with the context in which they appeared. ( It was "The shepherd's life. by James Rebanks)

And for the first time, I comprehend why sheepdogs are necessary.　She doesn't stray far from me, but when she's engrossed in eating, she doesn't notice even if I call her. "Mary! Mary!" I shout.

At times like that, I run fast. Then, before I know it, Mary is right beside me, running along too..