I've been grazing sheep and goats on patches of highway right-of-way,
brushy areas, and in the yard. I have found two rather simple and
inexpensive ways to graze these areas.
1) One hog panel bent into a square, fastened at the corner with a
hole cut out makes a great little sheep shelter when tarped. A bucket
can be hung on the inside to hold water another for grain if you
desire. A five gallon bucket lasts anywhere from 3 days to a week
(depends on how hot it is etc.) and the kids use the lawn tractor to
carry the water out to them. The tarp is great for catching rain which
means no carrying water. I use a chain with two swivel hooks and just
attach it to the bottom of the front of the little "house". If they
are at all tether broke they will only pull it enough to get to new
forage. This unit is also great for sitting geese, turkeys, etc.
Instant hog shelter too. They are light and mobile. I have used them
in the back of the pickup to haul calves, etc. (with a gate over the
hole of course, which can just be made out of a piece of old hog panel
and wired on and shut.
2) I use a cable grazing system as well. Old metal cable (whatever I
can find free), cable hooks and welded rebar stakes in the form of a
J. Duct tape the ends so they don't get hung up on them. These are
permanent, can be mowed and snowmobiled over. The animal is chained
and slides along the cable. I use the little house described above as
shelter. Works well and it is cheap!
Bev Sandlin
SE MN SFA coordinator
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