I agree, especially with number 6. I had always been cattle and never thought I would like sheep. When I moved to Arkansas and finally managed to get a small farm of my own, it was really too small for cattle to make sense. It was mostly grass pasture, so I opted for sheep instead of goats...
Here is an additional resource produced by Arkansas Cooperative Extension as part of their 300 days of grazing project. http://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/fsa-3064.pdf It covers recommendations for southern Arkansas where we typically have hot summers and mild winters, with Bermudagrass...
Lambing and kidding season may be in full swing or just about to start. Be prepared to reduce or prevent perinatal losses! http://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/fsa-9614.pdf for lambs, and http://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/fsa-9615.pdf for kids.
My top concern for any pasture-based system is ease of calving/kidding/lambing (especially that they twin easily for the small ruminants!). When animals are dispersed and unlikely to receive assistance with a difficult birth, they need to be able to calve, lamb or kid easily. My other top pick...
Hello all! I just want to take a moment to introduce myself. I am the Extension livestock specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (and interim Dean of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education). I primarily work with small and limited resource, socially disadvantaged farmers...