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New Mexico | 7 ewes with the same feed as 1 cow.
Sheep are a whole nother deal vs cattle.
On these diverse ranges in the West, say West of the Rio Grande River sheep sure would comp in well.
( been over here working some cowboy cows lately ),
Where you've got those big elevation changes, and plenty of forbes and brush mixed in that range, one could run those sheep right on the same cattle range and NOT effect total feed capacity.
Sheep tend to eat differently and different plants ( or other parts thereof the same plants certain seasonal times ) thus does not effect the cow feed base.
One NICE thing...is antelope tend to pull up stakes and leave when one runs some sheep.
Sheep and antelope are a direct compete for the same natural feeds and sheep always win it.
Antelope know that ( instinct ) and react accordingly.
One thing here though...is there decent money in hunting antelope too ( not like elk, but still decent dough for a product the land grows anyway ).
Since it takes more labor, more management, and more machinery infrastructure to add those sheep in....it'll never really happen here in the West.
Cows pretty much run themselves. With sheep that is not near the case.
Heck most these counties are in the 4,000 + square mile range and only 3,000 older people type population ...get spells like this year with 6 to 12 obitiuaries every week and there's getting to be plenty of spare space to run anything.
Just no people to do it though.
One example is, had an older friend who partnered with a young friend here for a few years....well Burl died this year and gave it all to Tony ( no relation...just good friends and cattle compadres ).....60,000 acres with 4,500 head of paid for yearling steers running there ( plus a few mill cash, some stocks, oil properties etc ).
Just seeing more and more deals like the afore ( not at all uncommon now ). | |
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Lamb prices WOW!!
