Why sheep?
Sheep are the workhorses of a small homestead. They turn grass — the cheapest forage there is — into meat, wool (or in our case, none, because St. Croix shed), and beautifully even pasture grazing. Where a single cow might compact wet ground or refuse to eat the rough stuff, a flock of sheep keeps moving and keeps eating.
Our flock
We run St. Croix hair sheep, a Caribbean-origin breed chosen because:
- No shearing. They shed their winter coat naturally. That’s one whole skill, one whole tool, and one whole annual cost we don’t have to deal with.
- Parasite resilience. St. Croix have some of the best documented parasite resistance of any sheep breed — a real advantage in the warm, wet North Texas summers.
- Heat tolerance. Tropical-origin genetics. They handle our summers without missing a beat.
- Good mothers, easy lambers. Lambing is supposed to be boring, and ours mostly is.
We currently keep our rams and ewes separated except during planned breeding windows.
How we manage them
- Rotational grazing. Paddocks shift every few days so grass gets a real recovery window.
- Mineral free-choice. Loose mineral, kelp, and salt available year-round.
- Shelter. Working on a proper “sheep shaw” — a three-sided shelter sized for the flock — this season.
What you can buy
When we have surplus: lamb shares, breeding stock, and the occasional weaned ram lamb. Email us at hello@texanpermaculture.com for current availability.