Preface
Part 1: Learning About Sheep
1. Sheep Throughout History
Sheepish Origins - Sheep in Great Britain - Sheep in the Americas - The Rise of the Merino - Sheep in the Rest of the World
2. Introducing the Sheep
The Five Senses - Open Your Mouth and Say Baah - Social Behavior - Play Behavior - Feeding Behavior - Flocking, Moving, and Catching Behavior - Cast Sheep - Behavioral Tidbits
3. Choosing a Breed
What Are You Looking For? - Breed Classifications - Horns 101
4. Buying Your Sheep
Where to Start Looking - Finding a Responsible Seller - Evaluating Sheep - Identifying Sheep
Part 2: Keeping a Few Sheep
5. Housing Sheep
Providing Housing - Constructing Pens - Building Fences - Everyday Equipment
6. Feeding Sheep
Your Sheep's Digestive System - Feeding Hay - Feeding Concentrates - Feeding Minerals - If You Switch Feeds, Do It Gradually
7. Doctoring Sheep
Finding a Sheep-Savvy Veterinarian - Keeping Sheep Healthy and Well - Being Your Own Vet (Sometimes) - Sheep Illnesses and Afflictions - Coccidiosis - Internal Parasites - External Parasites
Part 3: Making More Sheep
8. Breeding Sheep
Owning Your Own Ram - Using Someone Else's Ram - Handling Rams - The Sheep-y Birds and Bees - Handling Ewes Post-Breeding - Feeding Pregnant Ewes - Late-Gestation Tips - What to Do Before Lambing Starts - Is It Time?
9. Lambing Season
First-Stage Labor - Second-Stage Labor - When Things Go Wrong - Here Be Lambs!
10. Caring for Lambs
Dealing with Rejected Lambs - Lamb Poop 101 - Tails It Is - Feeding Dam-Raised Lambs - Raising Bottled Lambs
Part 4: Enjoying Your Sheep
11. Producing Quality Fleece
First Things First - More Ploys for Growing Better Fleeces - Sheepshearing 101 - Washing (Scouring) Fleece - Storing Fleece
12. Got Milk?
Choosing Your Dairy Ewe - Milking Basics - Handling Milk - Sharing the Bounty - Selling Milk
13. Training Sheep
Taming Sheep - Training Basics - Teaching Your Sheep about Targeting - Teaching Your Sheep to Lead - Picking Up Feet
Glossary
Appendix 1: Common Mistakes
Appendix 2: Trimming Hooves
Appendix 3: Promoting Your Sheep
Appendix 4: Emergency Euthanasia
Resources
Recommended Reading
Credits
Index
