Sheep and goats

OSU Extension equips small ruminant producers with proven advice on nutrition, reproduction, grazing, health, and fiber production. Experts collaborate via workshops, field clinics, and publications—fostering sustainable and profitable sheep and goat enterprises.

Featured resources

How to meet the mineral needs of livestock in mixed pastures

Minerals are critically important for the health and well-being of livestock. Cattle, sheep and goats are frequently pastured together, but sheep can be harmed by copper, which cattle and goats need. Options to get animals the ...

Shelby Filley | Sep 2021 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Nutrition and feeding for sheep and goats

Sheep and goats need water, energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. A forage-first diet with gradual feed changes supports rumen health. Supplement during growth, pregnancy, or lactation, and avoid digestive or mineral imbalances.

Susan Kerr, Ashley Conway, Brian Tuck, Ellen Hammond, Shilah Olson | Jul 2025 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Sheep production guide

This go-to resource on management practices helps sheep producers achieve greater productivity. Discusses flock management, lamb management and nutrition, how to calculate adjusted weaning weight, how to address lambing difficulties, and artificial rearing of lambs. Covers health management practices related to parasites, diseases, and abortions. Includes a sheep management calendar.

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Photo: Betsy Hartley (Cropped from original)

Photo: Candi Bothum

Livestock auction, scales, and marketing services

A collection of items concerning livestock auctions, scales, and marketing.

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Latest resources

How does the presence of wolves affect Oregon’s livestock producers?

A survey of livestock producers examines their experiences with wolves — just how do the predators affect their bottom line?

Tim Delbridge, David Bohnert | Jul 2025 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Status of Selenium and Other Essential and Toxic Elements in Oregon Grazing Sheep

Simple Summary: This study evaluated blood mineral levels in 370 healthy sheep from 56 farms across Oregon, a region known for selenium (Se)-deficient soils. The goal was to assess the prevalence of mineral imbalances and identify practical sampling methods for on-farm monitoring. We found that 28% of sheep were Se-deficient, and 27% of farms had average Se levels below the deficiency threshold (

Daniella Hansen, Christopher J. Russo, Katherine R. McLaughlin, Gene Pirelli, Massimo Bionaz | Jun 2025 | Online resource Peer reviewed (Gray level)

New World screwworm

New World screwworm (NWS, Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a devastating pest. When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a living animal, they cause serious, often deadly damage to the animal. NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds, and in rare cases, people.

Jun 2025 | Online resource

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Getting Started with Sheep and Goats—Building a Flock or Herd

This Living on The Land series covers how to choose healthy, high-quality animals, including specific signs of good health; tips on choosing a reputable seller; the diseases to ask a veterinarian to screen for; and managing new animals’ entry into your existing herd.

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Photo by Daniel Robison (Cropped from original)

Sheep

Body condition scoring of sheep

Fat sheep? Skinny sheep? Learn how to judge the condition of your sheep in each stage of production.

James Thompson, Howard H. Meyer | Jun 2024 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

How to get ewes to adopt orphan lambs

Getting ewes to adopt orphan lambs requires the orphans to smell like the ewe's own brood. There are several ways to transfer the ewe's smell to the orphan and pull off a successful adoption. Here's how to do it.

Cassie Bouska | Dec 2025 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Gray level)

More sheep resources

Goats

Price of goats

What's the price of goats? This USDA Ag. Marketing Service website has prices for goats across the US. Use these as a guide to prices for goats in Oregon.

USDA | Jul 2020 | Online resource

Footrot in sheep and goats

This publication from Purdue University Extension describes footrot and other foot disorders so that you can make a proper diagnosis of the problem. It also covers treartment and preventive measures such as hoof trimming, foot baths, and culling of animals not responsive to treatments.

Dec 2020 | Online resource

Goat Meat Quality

This short article from Michigan State University Extension has information on goat meat quality.

Jeannine P. Schweihofer | Jun 2020 | Online resource

More goat resources

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Agritourism

Pasture and forages

Irrigation

Upcoming Events

Jan 14

Just Getting Started? Exploring what to farm

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Lebanon, OR

Jan 18

4th Annual Military Veteran Farmers Winter Gathering

11:00 am - 1:00 pm Salem, OR

Feb 7

An Afternoon of Goat Education

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Central Point, OR

Mar 5

Rescheduled: Livestock Webinar: Finishing Livestock

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm PST Online

Meet Our Experts

Diane Choplin

Small Farms Education Program Assistant 2

Rebecca Thistlethwaite

NMPAN Director

Contact for meat sales, science, & processing questions.

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How to manage tansy ragwort?

Q: We have wheat planted and along our fence line we have an infestation of tansy ragwort. Is it a good time to cut the flowers off, bag them, and leave the plant; or should I spray it? The neighbor across the road has...

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