VOA慢速英语-Agriculture Report - Getting Started Raising Sheep

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

Two different people -- one in Russia, the other in California -- recently asked us about raising sheep. So today we offer advice from some experts.

(SOUND OF SHEEP)
　
A group of four-day old lambs at a ranch¹ in Montana

Researchers at Ohio State University say sheep probably respond more to good care than any other animal. So the first thing people should ask themselves is whether they have enough time to give sheep the attention they need.

If the answer is yes, then a question is how many sheep to buy. Specialists at Oklahoma State University suggest starting with a small flock -- twenty to fifty females.

Consider your budget. Do you have enough money for supplies? Do you have the things you need to take care of barns and pasture lands?

What about keeping your sheep healthy? You need to know about measures like how to control parasites². And will you have money to pay for treatment if animals get sick or injured?

There are other basic questions to answer when getting started.

What kind of sheep do you want to raise? There are wool breeds and meat sheep and dual-purpose sheep which can be used for wool or food.

Find out what products people in your area want to buy. Is there greater demand for fresh lamb than warm woolen³ sweaters? What about demand for sheep's milk for making cheese? Research what kinds of markets are available.

If pasture lands are limited, sometimes two ewes and a cow can be placed together. Susan Schoenian at the University of Maryland says sheep will eat weeds that cows reject. But she says that sheep should not have to walk too far to get food and water.

Sheep may need hay and grains, but pastures with enough good grasses and weeds can often supply much of their diet. Sheep are good for the land when they feed on grasses. It helps renew pastures and it can keep land from returning to forest.

Sheep need a structure that will keep them dry. A barn where newborn lambs are housed should be well protected from the wind. Also, fences should be strong enough to hold energetic little lambs.

Dogs can be a help in raising sheep. Big dogs like the Anatolian shepherd or Great Pyrenees can guard them from hostile animals. And, of course, border collies are famous for their ability to direct sheep and keep a flock together.

And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. I'm Bob Doughty⁴.

 

1 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

2 parasites   

寄生物( parasite的名词复数 )； 靠他人为生的人； 诸虫

参考例句：

• These symptoms may be referable to virus infection rather than parasites. 这些症状也许是由病毒感染引起的，而与寄生虫无关。
• Kangaroos harbor a vast range of parasites. 袋鼠身上有各种各样的寄生虫。

3 woolen   

adj.羊毛(制)的；毛纺的

参考例句：

• She likes to wear woolen socks in winter.冬天她喜欢穿羊毛袜。
• There is one bar of woolen blanket on that bed.那张床上有一条毛毯。

4 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。