Katahdin/Dorper Cross breed

When my husband and I bought our farm, it had several acres of fenced pasture that we had been trying to decide what type of livestock to get to put on it. I found two sheep on Nextdoor that needed to be rehomed, so I jumped on the chance! The two ewes came from a leased land property that had been sold. I named them Rosemary and Meryl Sheep.

Meryl Sheep has always been the leading lady, while Rosie is more of a backup, supporting sheep, if you will. They were skittish girls, not used to interacting with humans, so I had to work hard to earn their trust. I didn't know a thing about sheep, but I was told that there was a possibility that they could be pregnant, so I needed to learn fast! 

Over the next few months, I spent lots of time reading and learning about sheep. I learned lots of interesting things, like, did you know that sheep are capable of experiencing a wide range of emotions, just like we do? Not only can they experience basic emotions, but their feelings can be very complex. Apparently, they can be pessimists or optimists! Sheep are highly social and most comfortable in a flock, but not just for protection from predators. They form strong bonds with one another, not only between a mother and her lamb, but they also form friendships. Sheep can actually distinguish between different emotional expressions. This can help them know how other sheep are feeling in order to form strong social relationships, as well as keeping the flock safe. They are also very intelligent animals with great memories. They can recognize up to 50 other sheep faces and remember them for two years. They are even able to recognize human faces and facial expressions, and they prefer a smile to a frown. I find this truly fascinating! I could go on, but I'll try not to bore you with too many sheep facts!
 

During their first few months on the farm, the girls made quick work of mowing down our overgrown acreage. I spent time with them, watching their interactions with one another. Rosie was a lot more standoffish with me and she would stomp her feet and back away, while looking at me with fearful eyes. Meryl was a lot more curious, confident and very food motivated! Along with their daily grain rations, I also chopped them up fresh fruits and vegetables like apples, celery, carrots, squash, zucchini, and lettuce. I wanted to make sure they got extra vitamins and nutrients, especially if they were expecting little ones. It didn't take long before I would go outside calling "Girls!" and they would come running from the pasture for their daily "Sheep salad"! After some time, FINALLY, I was able to pet them while they ate. Then, eventually, I was even able to brush them, also only while they ate, but at least we were making progress!