Sheep Facts #16-20

16-  Like dogs, sheep are sometimes trained to fight.  Fighting matches are held are held for public to watch like in the "Eid al adha" (the Festival of Sacrifice).  Winning rams are paraded down a main street in the city.

17-  Some sheep are also raced competitively.

18-  Sheep are used in rodeos in the event mutton busting.  Mutton busting is for kids ages 4 to 7.  In the event they must ride a sheep while wearing a helmet and trying to hang on to their wool for 6 seconds.

19-  Sheep have been domesticated for more than 10,000 years.

20-  Did you know George Washington raised sheep on his Mt. Vernon estate. Thomas Jefferson kept sheep at Monticello. Presidents Washington and Jefferson were both inaugurated in suits made of American wool. James Madison's inaugural jacket was woven from wool of sheep raised in his home in Virginia.

The Sheep Walk of Fame #3

One of the first movies I ever watched is one I still remember today.  Babe is filmed in Australia and is about a pig who's raised by sheepdogs and learns to herd sheep with a little help from Farmer Hoggett.  This film included a lot of animals, 970 in total including : 550 sheep, 48 pigs, sheepdogs, horses and ducks.

Is it a sheep or a goat? How do you know for sure?

"It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep."

That may be true but can you identify a goat compared to a sheep on its own?  It's true it is easy to spot a difference when its right in front of your nose but how can you when its not so easy?  Sheep and goats are very similar... in some ways, but more importantly they are different in a lot of ways.  For starters:

Sheep are in a different classification of species and genus than goats.

Sheep are grazers; eating low and short plants like grass and clover.  Goats are browsers; eating more leaves, vines, twigs and shrubs.

A sheep's tail doesn't move other than when it flops around while it is running.  On the other side you have a goat's tail which goes straight up in the air unless it is sick.

Goats are more curious animals and are more likely to come up to you than a sheep.  Sheep are more aloof and enjoy flocking and get quiet agitated if they are separated from their flock.

During a brawling fight a ram will back up and charge to butt heads.  The goats however rear up and come down forcibly to butt heads.

Most goats are hairy and don't need to be sheared or combed.  Many sheep however grow wool and need to be sheared annually.

Some sheep tails are docked while goats tail's remain wild and free.

Many goats naturally have horns.  Most sheep are polled or hornless.  The horns on a goat are narrower and

Some goats grow beards.  Some sheep grow manes. 

Mature male goats stink bad!!!  Sheep are good smelling!!!

Did you know many sheep breed names are very original!  The breed Suffolk came from a place called "Suffolk" in England!

Random Sheep Part #3

The Leg

The leg of a lamb is another cut that is a large amount of the total meat.  The leg is usually a large factor in which lamb wins a market lamb class.  The judges measure the amount of meat by wrapping both hands around and making a ok sign just with 2 hands instead of 1.  Butchers can make many different cuts from the leg including : leg roast, sirloin chops, lamb cutlets and lamb chops.

The Sheep Walk of Fame #2

Mary Had a Little Lamb


One of the most known and memorable children's rhymes that is told to children everywhere.

Random Sheep Part #2

The Tail

The tail is on the same part of the sheep as on any other animal with a tail.  Unlike other animals, their tails can be docked.  When you dock a tail it is usually for the better of the animal (less chance of disease from fecal matter accumulating).

The Sheep Walk of Fame #1

There are many famous sheep in the world.  Some of them are these famous sheep and little lamb in this stain glass painting of "The Good Shepherd"

Sheep Facts #11-15

Sheep Facts 11-15

11-  Each day a mature ewe drinks between 1 and 2.5 gallons of water.

12-  Sheep are aggressive and will protect their young (or a ball!).

13-  Sheep can be herded.  Shepherds can use a sheep dog to help assist in this.

14-  Some sheep breeds that are rare and high on the conservatory rating are the Hog Island, Romeldale, Santa Cruz.

15-  Sheep start losing their teeth after they are 4.