The Shepherdess

Grace

Grace is an entrepreneur, Shepherdess, and rotational grazing enthusiast. This eclectic mix converges here on the Shepherdess Podcast where we talk about regenerative farming for profit, raising Dorper sheep, and daily life as a small-scale, regenerative farmer.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    WHAT IS THE MOST PROFITABLE BREED OF SHEEP? (9 breeds to choose from)

    🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage  Choosing the right sheep breed can make or break the success of your for-profit farming operation, especially if you are running a pasture-based system.  In this episode, I’m answering your sheep farming questions and breaking down the pros and cons of popular hair sheep vs. wool sheep breeds, what I’ve learned from raising Dorpers in a high-rainfall environment, how to find quality breeding stock, and why carcass size, minerals, and lambing timing matter so much in a profitable sheep operation. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 Welcome and overview 00:02:25 Which hair breed sheep I have chosen for my farm 00:03:44 Pros and cons of three popular hair breeds 00:06: 24 Why carcass size matters when you are running a for-profit meat operation 00:07:42 The importance of investing in high quality breeding stock to start your flock 00:10:00 My best tips on where to find good quality stock for your specific area 00:12:38 What has changed about raising wool sheep in the modern economy 00:17:59 Pros and cons of three major wool sheep breeds 00:19:27 What you need to know about purchasing stock on Facebook 00:21:58 Why you don’t need a huge farm to implement my sheep farming systems 00:23:05 The importance of timing your lambing with the weather in your area 00:26:29 Why you need to focus on minerals before breeding and lambing season RESOURCES MENTIONED 🐑 Check out my masterclass Lamb for Life for everything you need to know about raising healthy sheep from birth to eight months Storey’s Guide to Raising Sheep by Paula Simmons and Carol Ekarius DorperSheep.org Katahdins.org StCroixSheep.org Busy Ewe Farm and Fibers Harmony Heritage Farm Prairie Shepherdess Cheviots.org American Rambouillet Sheep Breeders Association on Facebook Navajo-ChurroSheep.com Dorper Sheep USA on Facebook CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon  Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

    30 min

  2. 12 MAY

    HOW TO TREAT 20 COMMON SHEEP DISEASES

    🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head: https://www.shepherdess.com/480 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage: https://bit.ly/ShphrdssBOOK As any shepherd learns early on, things can go wrong quickly in sheep farming if you do not stay on top of your flock’s health.  In this episode, I’m walking through 20 problems and solutions straight from my own experience.  From nose to tail, I’m sharing the symptoms I look for, the root causes behind these issues, and both the quick fixes and long-term preventative measures that have helped me avoid more loss on my farm.  If you are looking for more tools in your shepherding toolbelt, this episode will leave you feeling prepared for anything your flock may throw at you. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction and some disclaimers 06:44 Recognizing and treating pink eye in a matter of days 09:10 What to do about abscesses 10:15 What nasal bots and how to get rid of them quickly 11:53 The easy fix for pregnancy toxemia (also called twin lamb disease) 14:05 Why hypocalcemia (milk fever) is indistinguishable from pregnancy toxemia and how I treat for both simultaneously 15:58 Prevention and treatment for umbilical cord bleed in lambs 18:02 A quick, catch-all supplement for undiagnosed lethargy 19:09 Quick fix for bottle jaw (plus some long-term preventatives) 22:34 Coccidiosis treatment and the extra-label product that works wonders both as treatment and prevention 25:47 A quick fix and long-term fix for visible worms in manure 28:28 An almost immediate solution for foot scald 29:55 How to know when a sheep has developed foot rot and why I usually recommend culling 32:05 Root cause and treatment for retained placenta at lambing 33:17 Why selenium deficiency can lead to “crippled” newborn lambs 35:24 Another illness tied to selenium deficiency– white muscle disease 37:11 What I do about a ewe whose udders are too small to feed her lambs 38:31 Products I use when a ewe requires my assistance at lambing 39:23 Recognizing, treating, and preventing mastitis in lactating ewes (and why I cull for this) 42:48 Toxoplasmosis– a warning to pregnant women interacting with lambing ewes 44:00 Pulling out the big guns for pneumonia treatment 44:44 Why rectal prolapse warrants a trip to the vet 47:55 Why ring-womb is so serious– one story of success and one story of loss 50:12 Answering a handful of audience questions RESOURCES MENTIONED I’ve put together a first aid kit of the 32 most important products I wish I’d had on hand as a beginner shepherd CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon  Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

    53 min

  3. 5 MAY

    HOW TO OVERCOME SHEEP FARMING'S BIGGEST ENEMY (WORMS 101)

    🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage Worms are one of the biggest health challenges in shepherding, but with a few tested management strategies, I have found a system that works on my farm.  In this episode, I start with the basics of internal parasites, how to spot early symptoms, and the management practices that have made the biggest difference on my farm after losing half my flock in the beginning.  You might be surprised to hear my take on chemical dewormers and parasite tolerant sheep.  While worms are the biggest enemy to sheep farmers, they don’t have to be the downfall of your operation. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction and preview of content 02:27 Why rotational grazing is foundational to a flock’s health 07:40 Understanding the life cycle of worms 13:12 Signs of infection to look for in your sheep 19:58 The difference between parasite resistance and tolerance 22:17 How rotational grazing breaks the life cycle + other management practices 32:06 When and how to use conventional/chemical dewormers 37:05 Natural strategies for worm management 40:38 The results of my experiment in deworming with lye 46:37 Answering your deworming questions RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out the Redmond Sheep Mineral I use and recommend CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon  Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

    1hr 3min

  4. 28 APR

    COMPLETE GUIDE TO BREEDING SHEEP (for Beginners)

    🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage When it comes to breeding sheep, most problems that show up at lambing actually started months earlier, long before the breeding season. In this episode, I’m running through the basics of breeding sheep and answering the most common questions I receive. We’ll focus on getting your flock in the best condition possible to go into breeding, setting your farm up for a productive and low-stress lambing season. If you’re looking for a low-input, pasture-based approach to breeding sheep, improving flock health, and avoiding common mistakes, this episode will start you off on the right foot. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to my pasture-based sheep operation 07:44 What to look for in a meat ram 15:42 Considerations for healthy breeding ewes 17:15 The importance of ideal body condition 19:40 My controversial opinion on breeding age for ewes 21:32 Optimal minerals for breeding pasture-raised sheep 29:46 What happens if you breed a ewe in poor health 34:10 Why I don’t practice flushing to increase my twinning rate 36:13 Knowing when to cull less desirable ewes 39:12 Keeping a strict breeding timeline 50:02 Audience Q&A  RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out the Redmond Sheep Mineral I use and recommend Learn how to set up your own portable shade structure for sheep CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon  Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

    1hr 6min

  5. 21 APR

    10 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE STARTING MY SHEEP BUSINESS

    🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage I’m pulling back the curtain on my failures and successes along my sheep farming journey in hopes that I can give you a massive headstart in your own shepherding.  There are a few things I’m glad I knew before I got started, but there are many more lessons I’ve learned the hard way, often through costly mistakes.  In this episode, I’m sharing practical tips, surprising realizations, and game-changing practices for beginner shepherds.  Join me for this conversation to get your most important sheep questions answered! TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction and preview of content 03:04 Why I chose Dorper sheep and rotational grazing 05:10 Building a profitable farm from the beginning 06:31 A few things I’m glad I knew when starting out 06:46 Why you should invest in quality breeding stock 08:03 Ways I maximized my profits from the start 10:34 My simple but necessary farm record keeping system 11:46 Things I wish I knew before I started sheep farming 11:53 Pros and cons of raising sheep for meat 13:36 Understanding the top worm risks and appropriate treatments 15:03 Simple systems for rotational grazing and watering 17:45 The gravity of mineral deficiencies and proper deworming practices 25:36 Treating and assessing your flock appropriately 30:23 Optimizing your pasture for grazing 35:28 Farming is better with support 36:55 Lambing and weaning best practices 41:46 Failures in farming are not cause for panic 43:12 Answering questions from the audience CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon  Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

    52 min

  6. 14 APR

    SHEEP FARMING FOR BEGINNERS (Masterclass on Raising Sheep for Profit)

    🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage Whether you’re in the dreaming phase of sheep farming or already managing a flock, this episode walks through the key principles every shepherd needs to get right.  In this crash course on sheep farming for beginners, I’m sharing how I raise my sheep to maintain above average flock health, how I graze my sheep to minimize feed costs and maximize pasture, and how I direct market my sheep for $480 per head without ever leaving my farm.  I will also be answering common questions about feeding, fencing, troubleshooting health concerns, and more.   TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introductions and preview of content 00:38 Overview of my farm and climate 04:18 My unlikely story of becoming a shepherdess 07:26 The moment I realized why my sheep were sick 10:10 A thriving flock and a thriving business 16:05 Three enemies of a beginner shepherd 16:54 Enemy #1: Barber’s pole worm 24:23 Enemy #2: coccidia 27:56 Enemy #3: lambing complications 29:35 How many sheep should you start with? 31:21 How I run my rotational grazing system 39:16 Exactly how I market my sheep for $480 per head 47:18 Audience Q&A CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon  Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

    1hr 32min

  7. 28/07/2025

    MEAT RABBITS 101 (w/ Laura Cox)

    🐑 CLICK HERE FOR MY FREE 1 HOUR SHEEP FARMING CLASS Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

    46 min

  8. 21/07/2025

    HOMESTEADING FOR HEART HEALTH (w/ Dr. Jack Wolfson)

    🐑 ACCESS MY FREE 1 HOUR SHEEP FARMING CLASS 🔹DOWNLOAD my HEART HEALTH FACT SHEET: https://bit.ly/3FFUctz  Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

    33 min
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About

Grace is an entrepreneur, Shepherdess, and rotational grazing enthusiast. This eclectic mix converges here on the Shepherdess Podcast where we talk about regenerative farming for profit, raising Dorper sheep, and daily life as a small-scale, regenerative farmer.

Information

  • Creator
    Grace
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    111
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Shepherdess
  • Show Website
    The Shepherdess

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