Soay Sheep-The Perfect Livestock for a Small Homestead
When my husband told me we were being gifted sheep from my brother in law I was a little hesitant. I didn’t want to have to deal with sheering sheep and I had also heard they like to escape and jump fencing.
Then my husband said they are Soay Sheep and they are a small sheep and they self shed. So there would be no shearing necessary. I was intrigued. So off I went on my Googling frenzy to read about these Soay sheep.
Origins of Soay Sheep
The Soay sheep are a primitive rare breed originating from the island of Soay in the St. Kilda Archipelago. Soay Island is located about 40 miles from the Western Isles of Scotland. Soay comes from the Norse word meaning Sheep Island.
Characteristics
Soay sheep are a small breed. Males averaging a weight of 60-70lbs. And ewes weighing 45-60lbs. The rams have majestic full-curled horns. Ewes have less dramatics horns similar to antelope. They can be polled ( born without horns ), horned, or scurred.
Soay sheep have a color range of blonde, fawn, black, brown, and most have white on their belly, rump, jaw, and around the eyes. Their fleece is very fine and soft and is very sought after by hand spinners and weavers.
Soay sheep naturally have short tails. Generally, their hooves don’t need to be trimmed if they have access to rocky pasture. Soay are agile, and hardy. Also Soay are disease resistant. Many people describe them as looking like small deer or antelope.
Soay tends to be on the shy side and many people describe them as wild. Ewes lamb easily and are good mothers and rarely need help.
Benefits of Raising Soay Sheep
One of the benefits is they don’t require as much land. This is why I think Soay sheep are the perfect livestock for a small homestead. Most Soay ranchers agree 3 to 6 sheep per acre. They make great lawn mowers. In fact our neighbor lets us put our sheep on his property and he hasn’t had to mow it at all since. It a win win for all of us.
Since Soay sheep are so small they tend to be light footed. And the ground doesn’t seem to get as tore up or muddy as it does with larger livestock.
They seem to really enjoy weeds. In fact they seem to prefer weeds to grass. At least that’s what I have observed. Also they love blackberry vines. So if you have a blackberry problem these sheep can definitely help you out with that.
Soay are one of the easiest animals I’ve ever cared for so far. They shed their own wool. In most cases you only need to trim their hooves once a year. You just need to tip them on their butts. Generally this goes pretty well. Be that Soay are so small they are fairly easy to handle. Even my kids have been able to help with this.
Because Soay are smaller they require less hay than larger breeds. So they cost less to feed. Despite being a wild breed they train easily to a bucket.
Feed and Water
Soay sheep do fine on plain grass hay. They don’t need anything rich like alfalfa hay. We buy orchard grass hay because that’s what our dairy goats eat. And having one type of hay for all makes things easier.
I give my nursing ewes a little bit of alfalfa pellets while they are nursing for some extra calories. Sometimes they can get a little thin especially if they had twins.
Rams and wethers are not supposed to have grain or alfalfa pellets on a regular basis because it’s high in calcium and can cause urinary calculi. Basically it’s kidney stones.
And a male sheep’s urethra is quite a bit smaller in diameter than a female sheep. Consequently this makes it hard to pass crystals/stones. And urinary calculi can kill a sheep pretty fast.
So it best to avoid getting in the habit of giving rams or wethers grain. I do give grain from time to time in bucket because it helps catch them if they ever escape.
It is not recommended to use mineral blocks or mixed minerals for other livestock because it can contain excess copper. Excess copper is toxic to sheep and can kill them. Make sure you use minerals made for sheep.
Fencing
For Soay sheep I recommend using 2×4 wire fencing or 4×4 wire fencing if your budget allows. We used cattle panels and there has been about 3 times when a sheep has stuck its head through and gotten it horns stuck.
Luckily we have always been able to get their head back in with out having to get out the bolt cutters. If I had to do it over again I would have purchased the 2×4 wire fencing. Another thing to consider with fencing is little lambs. They can fit through cattle panels easily. And trust me they get curious and do try to venture out. So it’s best to use chicken wire across the bottom of the fencing to keep lams in.
Many people have horror stories about horned sheep or goats getting their horns stuck in fencing. And sometimes ripping a horn off or badly injuring themselves. So for that reason I recommend 2×4 or 4×4 wire fencing.
Some people use barb wire fencing. I don’t recommend this because predators like coyotes can go under easily. Also sheep have a tendency to rub up against fencing for a nice scratch and the can end up injuring themselves on the barbs. If you decide to use barbed wire its recommend you use at least 5 to 6 wires preferably 8 to 10.
Also it’s important to consider that some predators can dig under fencing or even jump over fences. Many farmers will run electric wire across the bottom or even the top or both.
During the spring and summer we have our sheep in a moveable grazing pen. We don’t have much land but our neighbor lets us use his property as well. And we have just enough sheep they are able to keep up on the grass.
I’ve seen many people use portable electric netting too.
Protection
We don’t have a predator problem here at our property. We don’t live in close proximity to the forest either. We are surrounded mostly by farmland and where we are at we only see coyotes a few times a year. We have a dog and our neighbors have dogs that sleep outside and they are very good at letting us know when something is off. Also our sheep are locked away at night.
We have friends and relatives with Soay who have lost lambs to coyotes and cougars. But once they got Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD) they never lost a lamb or sheep again.
Shelter
I have observed that the Soay sheep don’t seem to be bothered by the rain or snow. They usually only seek shelter unless it’s coming down really hard. A three sided shelter seems to do just fine. This way air can still flow though and they have good ventilation.
Shelter is still important even in Spring and Summer when weather is more mild. Especially during the summer months when it gets really hot. Let’s not forget that they have that thick wool coat. So having access to shade is necessary.
Lambing
Soay ewes lamb easily. They rarely need assistance. And when they lamb they are so quiet compared to goats who scream their heads off. At least my goats do. Soay ewes are good mothers. And I have even seen lambs sneak up and nurse on a different momma and they don’t seem to mind. Mostly ewes give birth to singletons. Sometimes they have twins and triplets. Pregnancy last 5 months.
Breeding
Soay sheep breed seasonally. It tends to be in the fall/winter. Younger Soay tend to breed a little later in the year like December as where older Soay generally breed October and November.
Meat
Soay are considered a meat sheep. Some people raise Soay strictly for meat, some keep them around as pets or lawn mowers. What does Soay taste like? It’s hard to describe the flavor. To me and my family we do NOT find it gamey at all. But we don’t have a lot of pasture for them to graze on and so most of their diet consists of grass hay.
I am part of a few Soay sheep groups online and I have heard others proclaim Soay meat does NOT taste gamey. But I suppose it all depends on their diet and how much they forage and browse.
I describe the flavor of Soay meat as rich. It’s moist, long grained and tender and lean. Some people describe it as tasting close to venison but I don’t think so at all. Plainly described it’s rich and delicious.
Lamb refers to sheep up to a year of age. Hogget 1yr to 24 months. Mutton is sheep meat over 2yrs old. I have tasted Soay Lamb, Hogget and Mutton and it has all been delicious. I haven’t noticed a difference in the flavor based on age.
Wool
Soay wool is said to be highly desired amongst weavers, spinners and yarn artisans. It’s been described as super fine and soft fleece. There are hair, wool and kemp in the fleece. Soay fleeces can have a micron range of 9-48 microns. Micron count measures the diameter on the wool. The lower the micron count the softer the wool is.
Records showed that for hundreds of years during the summer the inhabitants of St Kilda would take their boats and row to the islands of Hirta and Soay to collect Soay wool. I’ve read many places that undergarments were often made from Soay wool because it is so soft. Soay tend to produce 3/4-2 pounds of wool a year. And colors can range from tan to brown or black with even some bits of white.
Soay Sheep- The Perfect Livestock for a Small Homestead
Here are some of the reasons others and myself included think Soay sheep are the perfect livestock for a small homestead.
They are light footed and don’t seem to tear up pasture like heavier animals.
Because they are small in size they don’t eat as much and they are easier to handle.
The don’t need to be sheared. Soay fleece can be hand plucked. There is no need to tip the sheep in order to pluck the fleece, it can be done while they are standing. This is better all around because it doesn’t stress the animal out as much and also it is easier for the farmer.
Soay sheep are disease-resistant, hardy, and handle harsh weather conditions well.
Soay don’t require large pasture. Most the people I’ve spoken to agree 3-6 Soay sheep to every 1 acre of land is just fine.
Soay meat tastes delicious. I don’t know how to describe the taste. It is not gamey at all. Although I suppose it depends on what the Soay are browsing on. Different regions, different weeds etc. This might effect that taste slightly. But in talking with other people that raise Soay sheep most of us agree their meat is lean and has a rich flavor.
Overall Soay sheep have won me over. They are super easy livestock to keep. If you’re looking for livestock for small acreage I would definitely consider checking into Soay Sheep.
Additional information on Soay Sheep
https://www.wilderbeefarm.com/soay-sheep
https://www.roysfarm.com/soay-sheep/
https://soaysheep.bio.ed.ac.uk/meet-sheep
This website is for educational purposes only. The information provided by Renaissance Path is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. Please consult a qualified health care professional for medical advice.
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