The list below includes links to sites with general articles and information about sheep, as well as sites with a specific focus, such as parasite control or government regulations.
For more useful sheep info and resources, check out these BBSAI pages:
Articles
Books
How-To Videos & Webinars
Scientific Articles and Books
Disclaimer: Broken links to third-party websites occasionally occur on this list, and they are addressed through regular page updates. Links inside articles on other websites are the responsibility of their respective owners.
General Sheep Information Websites and Pages
- American Sheep Industry Association The organization that represents and advocates for U.S. sheep owners. The site has good information on disease, marketing, production, regulatory and legislative information.
- Manitoba Sheep Association This website is primarily for Manitoba sheep producers, but it provides links and information that is useful to all shepherds.
- Maryland Small Ruminant Page This page was created as an information portal for sheep and goat producers. It was developed and is solely maintained by Susan Schoenian, Sheep & Goat Specialist for University of Maryland Extension (retired since 2022).
- Oklahoma State University’s Barbados Blackbelly Breed Page A page describing the breed’s history and characteristics.
- Oklahoma State University’s American Blackbelly Breed Page A page describing the breed’s history and characteristics.
- Oregon State University Extension Service Website Sheep news and events, as well as publications on topics like record keeping, tube feeding lambs, forage, minerals, humane slaughter, and others.
- Sheep 101 Created by Susan Schoenian, the purpose of Sheep 101 is to teach 4-H and FFA members, students, teachers, beginning shepherds, and the general public about sheep, their products, how they are raised, and their contributions to mankind. The site uses simple language and pictures to illustrate the various topics.
- Sheep 201 Created by Susan Schoenian, Sheep 201 is “A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Sheep”.
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Resources for Sheep & Goats Includes articles about sheep health, management, marketing and economics, nutrition, and reproduction.
Websites and Pages, Specific Subjects
Building Plans for Barns, Shelters, Feeders, Etc.
Note: The plans provided on the third-party sites below are for planning purposes and may not conform to building codes in all locations. Check your local building codes for requirements.
Conservation
- The Livestock Conservancy The pioneer organization in the U.S. working to conserve historic breeds and genetic diversity in livestock, including Barbados Blackbelly sheep.
Flock Management and Health
- American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control The go-to source for topics pertaining to internal parasite control in small ruminants.
- Find a Small Ruminant Veterinarian The American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners’ searchable list of AASRP veterinarians.
- Castration, Sheep and Goats A very brief overview by the American Veterinary Medical Association about castration timing, methods, pre-castration considerations, and pain management.
- Castration of Sheep, Animal Welfare Approved Technical Paper No. 10 A Greener World’s detailed overview of castration timing, methods, pre-castration considerations, and pain management.
- Deworming with Garlic, Experimental Results Jean Noon’s experimental results from testing the effectiveness of garlic juice as a deworming agent.
- How to do Home Fecal Testing Clear instructions and photos on how to do fecal egg count testing for your flock.
- Plants Poisonous to Livestock Cornell Department of Animal Science’s searchable database and info page.
- Selenium Deficiency and Toxicity This Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ page describes the symptoms of incorrect selenium levels, as well as treatment and prevention – and also the distribution of selenium throughout the United States, Both selenium deficiency and toxicity can adversely affect livestock.
- ”Sheep Production Guide”, Oregon State University Extension Service An outline of management practices to improve sheep productivity.
- Scrapie: The USDA’s Disease Alert Page Includes “What to Look For”, “How to Prevent This Disease”, and “How it is Treated”.
Genetics and Analysis
- National Sheep Improvement Program The program works with sheep producers to determine their sheeps’ Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) on inheritable traits like growth rate, reproductive proficiency, carcass quality, and parasite resistance. Producers can then use this information to make more informed breeding decisions and improve their flocks.
- Gene Check Does a variety of sheep genetic testing, including Scrapie resistance. Also sells the supplies needed for collecting samples. Also, see these Gene Check articles about Scrapie:
Miscellaneous
- Bucks County Fur Tanning A good resource if you want to have your sheep’s hide tanned after processing, Be sure to scroll down the page and carefully follow their instructions for preparing the hide.
- Catroll Art Based in the United Kingdom and Sweden, artist Ann-Cathrine Loo can create drawings and paintings of your sheep from a photograph.
- Maryland Small Ruminant Page, listservs The University of Maryland Extension Small Ruminant Program has created four listservs to communicate with producers and disseminate information pertaining to sheep and goat production and marketing. Anyone may subscribe to one or more of the listservs.
Sheep Equipment and Supplies
- DS Livestock, Sheep and Goat Products Sheep handling equipment, fencing, and feeders.
- Premier 1 A great online source for sheep supplies, including ear tags, lamb creep feeder gates, fencing, and many other items. Also the maker of Super Lube, an antiseptic gel found only at Premier 1 that helps prevent infections from ear tagging when applied liberally to an ear tag’s post before applying the tag to a sheep’s ear.
- Sydell Sheep and Goat Equipment Sheep handling systems.
- Udderly EZ Milker This page lists milkers for different species, including sheep.
Sheep Export, Import, and Shipping
- Interstate Livestock Movement Rules in the United States Enter the ship-from state, the ship-to state, the species being shipped, and your role into the “Find Requirements tool on this page to view what is currently required for your livestock movement.
- USDA United States Sheep Import Rules
- USDA United States Live Animal Export Rules
- Uship.com A transport bid site where owners can list an animal they need shipped (dogs, sheep, goats, etc.) and then receive bids from feedback-rated pet transporters.