Sheep and goats. So which is better to keep? The obvious answer is BOTH. But what if you have to choose just one. I thought I would make a quick list of the benefits and drawbacks of each.

A goat and sturdy fencing.

•Eating habits

Sheep are grazers. This means they eat at the 4-6” level. They prefer grass, clover and dandelions. They won’t eat weeds so a pasture of sheep will get tall weeds.

Goats are browsers; they prefer to eat at the 6-12” level. They will eat grass but prefer wild rose and other thorny knee-high concoctions. Mine also like mint and mulberry leaves. We had two goats clear five acres of almost solid wild rose in several weeks. It was amazing. Now mind you, they like cultivated roses just as much so good fence is useful if you want a garden. An exception to this is pygmy goats who are grazers.

During the winter, they are nearly identical in grain and hay requirements.

•Fencing

Sheep are easy to keep fenced. They don’t seem to have a desire to get out of the fence, so just something to block their wanderings is enough. The exception is if you keep a ram. If he is kept separately from the ewes, you will probably need some very strong fencing—depends on the ram and how determined he is to get to the girls.

Some goats are real boogers to keep fenced. They can leap like deer and squeeze through tight spots. A minimum is a 4′ sturdy livestock fence, but some will climb or leap this too. We have found that they are content to stay where they were raised and the only problem is when we try to move them to a different area. We have taken them over to the neighbors pasture to be bred and they just jump over his fence and back into our pasture. So, to a goat fencing is merely a suggestion. Personality plays a big part in this; some are more content to stay put than others.

•Milking

Like any mammal, sheep can be milked though they won’t have the output of a dairy goat. Several cheeses are made from sheep milk.

Some goat breeds are absolutely superior for milking. Our Nubians develop huge milkbags. There are lots of yummy cheeses made from goat milk, also soaps.

•Meat

A sheep meat breed will produce a superior carcass and 30-40 pounds of red meat after dressing. Lamb (meat) is right up there with prime rib and steak, in my book!

People who eat goat swear it is wonderful. I have not yet so can’t offer an opinion on it.

•Wool production

This is a benefit if you have good wool to sell to the handspinner’s market or wool for your own use. Commercial grade wool is nearly worthless and then wool becomes a “con”–just an expense to remove annually. If you are not interested in wool, there are breeds of sheep that shed, like the Katahdin. Or get a goat.

Both animals are wonderful for a self reliant homestead, but they do have slightly different strengths.

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Julie Helms is a shepherdess with 20 years experience raising sheep. She currently owns a small flock of award-winning Corriedales that provide meat for the table and wool to sell to the hand-spinning market. She also has a handful of Nubian/Boer goats for amusement. She blogs about life on the farm at WoolyAcres.

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