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The Smartest Way to Make Money with Sheep
At Porter Valley Ranch (PVR) we raise Babydoll sheep and Harlequin sheep. As breeders we are looking for a low maintenance and high revenue breed. After a lot of research we learned they were the best breed for us because of their high return on investment and their high market demand. Check out our video of purchasing both Babydolls and Harlequins with one of the industry’s top breeders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf2dzphBcow&t=34s
Harlequin Lamb
If you are looking to build or begin a sheep herd there are 3 main questions you will want to ask yourself.
How much do I want to spend? Give yourself a budget and just because it may all go to one or two sheep, as opposed to 5-10, don’t let that be the deciding factor. Keep in mind the more you spend on sheep, the higher the return. You will spend the same amount of money on feed no matter the breed of the sheep, but more expensive sheep will make you more money in the long run.
What can my land support? You can reasonably expect to keep 6-10 sheep on an acre of grass.
Do I plan to breed these animals? If the answer is yes, check into the registries and see what is over saturated in your market and avoid that breed. If you are one of a few breeders in your region, you will get more business.
Sheep provide food and fiber, they eat many weeds other livestock won’t touch, they are inexpensive to raise, they reproduce quickly and they are nice, docile animals. We raise sheep and goats and the sheep are far less ornery and mischievous and are far more gentle and compliant than goats.
As you decide what breed to get into you will know what works well in your area. Spend time on this research step so you can save yourself money, time, aggravation and possibly the lives of some sheep. Consider your climate, some live better in cold environments, as opposed to warm ones.
Check out our SHEEP BUYING GUIDE article for specific things to consider.
Why we chose Babydolls:
Babydolls are so friendly!
Babydoll sheep range from 17” to 24” tall and are very easy to handle. They do not need fences taller than 4 feet. They have a very sweet temperament and are a hardy breed. They typically live 12-16 years. They need to be sheared once a year and their “cashmere-like” wool can be sold raw. As of fall 2021 registered babydoll ewes sell for $600-$850, unregistered $300-$400, weathers $250-$350 and rams $450-$600. They can lamb up to 3 times per two years. Many babydolls have twins, a few have triplets. They are a heritage breed meaning they have been around and not genetically altered for several years. They can be shown at livestock shows.
Why we chose Harlequin Sheep:
Harlequin are related to Babydolls and can be bred out of babydolls. They have the look of babydolls but with a refined characteristics for both meat and fiber. They are more of an elite Babydoll. Harlequins have spots, which is currently a highly sought after trait in the market. Harlequins are typically more “joyful” than the docile/reserved Babydoll. It is a more rare breed, which we see sell better. The breed is still growing so it is easy to get into and use Babydolls now before the registry closes. They are on their way to becoming more popular and can also be shown in livestock shows. The registry is far smaller and people are willing to drive a long way to come buy your sheep. Every year the demand is growing for this breed and it is exciting to be a part of an up and coming breed. Ewes range from $700-$1,000, rams $600-$900 and weathers $325-$900. They can also lamb 3 times every 2 years.
To see us purchase Babydolls and Harlequins and talk to a Guru in the Sheep world check out our video at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf2dzphBcow&t=34s
