Sheep

Though cattle and horses have been a part of Markway Ranch from the beginning, the addition of hair sheep in 2011 has been one of the best moves we have made, from both profitability and ecological standpoints. They now are our centerpiece enterprise and an integral part of the operation.

Our original breeding stock came from our good friends Joe and Hoss Hopping in Oklahoma. The sheep are a composite of Katahdin, Dorper and Florida Native. Our sheep graze year round, and we focus on producing an adapted animal that thrives in our fescue-dominant environment.

We retain our own genetics, using twin, 7-month-old ram lambs born the previous spring as breeder rams in December. Lambing takes place on pasture in May when weather is typically nice and forage is abundant. Lambs are weaned at 90 days. Ewe lambs and ram lambs are sold direct to other producers for breeding stock, with the remainder of the lambs sold during the winter at regional livestock markets.

Sheep are an excellent addition to most cattle operations. They are the ultimate grazing animal. Their preference in forage is complementary to cattle, and they readily utilize plants considered weeds or brush — such as honey locust, ragweed, blackberry and others — converting them to a high value product in the form of lamb meat. Not only does this add value to the operation by utilizing plants otherwise deemed of little to no value, it lowers expenses by reducing or eliminating herbicides typically used to control weeds and brush.

The lamb market has never been higher, and with the ever-growing demand and limited supply, the future looks bright. We only regret not adding sheep to our operation sooner!