Sheep and lambs grazing in pasture
We raise 100% grass-fed lamb and goat meat. We believe pasture raised is absolutely, without a doubt, better for the animals, better for the environment, better for your health — which is better for you!
We make a commitment to you to NOT use pesticides on our land and to use NO grain, animal byproducts, antibiotics or hormones.
Our lambs and goats grow naturally on Wisconsin meadows. The cool northern summers of the upper Midwest result in outstanding pastures that produce premium, lean lamb and goat in a healthy environment. They live in the open air and sunshine. We do not confine our livestock to stalls, on concrete or in feedlots. Quality of life for our animals is one of our main values.
When you buy from Shepherd Song Farm you support environmentally friendly, sustainable agriculture, healthy, relaxed animals and the rapidly disappearing family farm.
STANDARDS AND PRACTICES
Pasture raised & Grass fed: We believe in and implement a high-forage diet with absolutely no grain, animal by-products, antibiotics or growth hormones. USDA defines “pasture raised” livestock as spending over 50% of their life on pasture. Our lambs and goats spend 90 to 100% of their life on pasture with appropriate shelters for weather protection.
Goats and their kids in wood pasture
Quality of life for livestock: Our livestock spend their days in the open air and sunshine grazing our lush, green pastures in familiar settings. Our young stock spends the majority of their time safe with their mothers within the protective flock learning to choose from diverse forages.
Humane handling: Our animals are humanely treated from birth to harvest, following scientifically proven humane principles and holistic management practices. We have worked with Dr Joe Regenstein, Cornell University and through his connections, with Dr. Temple Grandin (well known internationally for her work with humane livestock handling systems and methods) since 2006 to ensure that our production and slaughter processes are animal friendly and respectful. The Spirit of Humane website was developed in collaboration with Dr Regenstein to provide guidance to other small producers on these issues. Our ultimate goal is to always actively improve the quality of life of our animals through the reduction of fear, discomfort and avoidable stressors. Our animals routinely carry out their natural behaviors such as grazing, browsing, lactating and exploring their environment as appropriate to their species.
Brody’s sheep on vacation at Lake Superior
Holistic resource management: We are a small family farm with limited resources. Our lives center around our family, sheep, goats and guardian animals. We use sustainable farming practices that improve the soil, increase biodiversity, and are beneficial to our local community’s environment. In practice, this means what we take out of the environment we put back in, so land and resources such as water, soil and fertility can be replenished and are available to future generations.
Young fox watching lambs
Predator friendly: We use methods of protecting our vulnerable lambs and kids that encourage predators to retreat rather than attack. These non-lethal methods include electric net fencing, guardian dogs and llamas (see guardian section) that bond with the flock and aggressively threaten intruders, and relocation to more secure locations if this fails.
Product specifications: Our products are USDA inspected, vacuum-packed for quality, and meet high standards for freshness, tenderness and flavor.
Volunteer Impact Service Award (2011) from the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) for work in Mali
GLOBAL SHEEP AND GOATS
Farmer to Farmer Projects. We have raised livestock for over 2 decades and we still learn something new and amazing about sheep and goats every year. During the last few years a significant part of our learning has involved volunteer assignments in Ethiopia, Mali, Egypt and Guinea as participants in the Winrock International Farmer-to-Farmer program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). What expertise does a mid-west sheep and goat producer have that is applicable to Africa? We have repeatedly asked ourselves that very question. We have struggled, just like other producers, with lambing deaths, balancing rations, pasture watering systems, cost controls, labor availability, implementing and maintaining appropriate conservation programs. Are our experiences transferable to such a faraway place as Africa?
As nomadic life vanishes on a global scale due to drought, political unrest, roads, corporate farms and large spans of irrigated crops disrupting century old grazing routes the art of traditional sheep and goat husbandry is becoming lost. To make up for scarcity of meat protein, small farmsteads with expertise in crops, are diversifying with livestock. But as land becomes more limited and livestock numbers are increased the result is intense overgrazing of small holdings, crop residues and shared community lands. The sheep and goats are no longer able to pick and choose from an extended area of forbs, grasses and browse. As their diet becomes more limited, their living areas overcrowded and often unsanitary, unfamiliar health and nutritional issues spontaneously occur.
Still, there are many advantages of developing a small ruminant industry in regions with low resources—as long as there is adequate water, forage and basic (low cost) husbandry is implemented. Small ruminates reproduce and mature in less than a year (twice as fast as cattle and on far less resources). They are capable of surviving in terrain that is too rough for cattle while eating and thriving on forage that humans cannot digest. Sheep and goats are often referred to as “bank accounts on the hoof” as they are the perfect size to sell to pay for school fees, unexpected medical expenses or to eat at a wedding feast. They have genetically adapted to rough terrain that is not feasible for crop or vegetable production. They are easily handled by women and youth as their weight range is similar to human infants and adults. Small ruminants represent a wealth that is not controlled by the political elites such as with the petroleum, diamond, gold, and banking industry.
Training and information is prized by farmers as knowledge is shared between our cultures. As one elder, Yaya Kone, from Lofiné, Mali stated:
“The light of the sun and the light of the moon together are not as bright as the light of knowledge you brought to this village…” More information at Winrock International blog
Judy and Larry have participated in the Farmer-to-Farmer program funded by the United States Agency for International Development in Ethiopia, Mali, Egypt and Guinea since 2006 for a total of 9 projects. Judy received the Volunteer Impact Service Award (2011) from the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) for her work in Mali. the video below is on the road to the village of Lofiné, Mali.
Winrock International Farmer-to-Farmer Program: The Winrock’s John Ogonowski and Doug Beruerter Farmer-to-Farmer Program fields approximately 200 volunteers each year to assist farmers, agribusinesses, and local organizations worldwide. Under this program, skilled U.S. volunteers provide expertise in a wide variety of areas, including agricultural sciences, farming, and agribusiness: enterprise development, marketing, international trade, food processing, credit and financing, training, organizational development and renewable energy. For more information go to the Winrock International website.
Llama guardian checking new lamb
SHEEP AND GOAT PROTECTORS
Although, shepherds have always been the primary guardians of the flocks, other animals are willing and able to protect sheep and goats from danger. Ancient tapestries and frescos depict flocks of sheep with their shepherd and guardian dogs. Llamas and donkeys also make worthy protectors.
As new urban developments expand, more predators are pushed to increase their hunting territory into back yards and pastures. Lambs and baby goats are a delicious, easy-to-catch treat for coyotes, cougars and wolves.
Sheep and goats have limited means of defense from predators. While a ewe will stomp her feet, run at and even body block a large dog that gets too close to her babies, and a mother goat will use her horns to protect her baby, neither lambs nor goat kids are a challenge to a predator that has many hungry mouths to feed. As the picture illustrates young lambs are very vulnerable.
To stay safe, sheep and goats keep watch over their surroundings and flee from perceived danger. When sheep bed down they usually do so on a high area so they can keep watch. Sheep can spot predators that are over three-quarters of a mile away.
GUARDIAN DOGS
Dogs have been bred over the ages to live with and protect sheep and goats. These special dogs are usually Great Pyrenees, Maremmas or similar breeds. They are large white dogs with floppy ears that do not trigger an instinctive fear reaction in their bonded group. The puppies are born and raised with the flock and it has been reported that occasionally a ewe will adopt and nurse a pup.
Guardian dog, Tully, moving with lambs
Guardian dogs accept the sheep and goats as their pack and protect them as they would their own families. Predators, such as wolves, will usually not intrude into another dog’s territory. When a wolf is pressured into the guardian dog’s area by lack of food, it is usually confused by a dog surrounded by a huge “pack” of sheep or goats. A wolf may still catch a stray young animal and risk a fight with the dog, but usually it will decide to move on to easier prey. Guardian dogs rarely actually fight off predators. Generally, their size, bark and assertive posture are enough to discourage most predators.
In rural areas where wolves have been recently released and protected their natural shyness and hesitation to risk injury in a fight has lessened. A pack of wolves can decimate a flock of sheep or goats. In such cases shepherds have increased the number of guardian dogs that protect their flocks as a lone dog is easily killed. We have five guardian dogs that blend in with the flock to keep their adopted families safe.
LLAMAS AS PROTECTORS
Llamas and guardian dogs often work as a team. Llamas have marvelous eyesight and are usually the first to see anything new in their pasture. If it is a strange dog or coyote they run towards it with their heads stretched out low to the ground. They use the side of their heads to strike. The force of their strong necks can send a dog or coyote rolling. They also scream, stamp, and kick with their feet. They are capable of stomping a coyote to death if the coyote refuses to retreat. Under attack sheep and lambs will gather into a tight circle. Llamas, with guardian dogs, will stay on the outside of the circle and chase off the intruder. Coyotes and dogs are not quite sure what to make of such a large, odd animal attacking them.
Llama leading the flock home
Predators cannot risk becoming injured in a fight if there are easier ways to find food. They are usually cautious about being spotted or attacked and retreat rather than confront. A lone llama is not a good match for a dog or wolf determined to attack. Although brave they are vulnerable. Guardian dogs and llamas together make a good team.
Both sheep and goats like to follow the biggest flock member. A llama new to sheep appears confused by all its followers, but soon takes on the role of leader, with all the responsibility of that role. When llamas live with sheep, the sheep follow the llamas out to graze, to water and to the llama’s favorite observation and loafing areas.
Llama greeting visitor
Llamas are very curious about human visitors. They wiggle their ears and come up to sniff. Sometimes they will rub their noses against your shirt or face. They have good memories of people they do not like (such as veterinarians) and will keep their distance. Llamas communicate by humming. Baby llamas (crias) identify their mother by the unique hum she sings at birth. In contrast to popular opinion, llamas seldom spit at people, even when upset, unless trapped. This happens sometimes in petting zoos when the llama cannot get away from too much attention. It is normal for llamas to spit at each other, especially if a younger llama disrespects an elder.
In the Peruvian Andes, their native home, llamas were honored as a noble animal by the Inka kings. Llama feet are eco-friendly, composed of two leathery pads with toenails to grab the terrain. This makes the llama very sure-footed and a good pack animal with little impact on the environment. Carrying nearly 100 pounds they are used over some of the roughest and highest mountain terrains. Their wool is woven into the warmest, lightest garments available today and comes in a variety of natural colors to the delight of spinners and weavers.
Lambs eating browse
Sheep are nature’s gifts to the human race and to the environment. Pick up any history book and you are bound to see a reference to sheep. It’s thought that after the dog, sheep and goats were the next animals to be domesticated. For over 10,000, years they have provided humanity with companionship, food and clothing. As the picture of the farmer illustrates there are still many communities in the world that house their sheep within their homes or in shelters attached or under their homes. Sheep have been close partners with their shepherds for millennium.
Sheep hooves are split, allowing them to climb steep inclines with ease. Natural grazers, sheep roam the land eating clover, alfalfa, grass and brush. They have no top front teeth so that they can eat vegetation close to the ground while preventing them from accidentally pulling up plant roots and destroying the lands that they graze. They are friends of the earth and instinctively manage the land they graze. Grazing sheep can thin smothering overgrowth, eat noxious weeds dangerous to other livestock, help nourish wildlife by encouraging the growth of healthy forage, and recycle vital nutrients back into the soil. Sheep are a safe, natural and effective alternative to chemicals.
Shepherds who raise sheep and goats are common throughout the world from Europe to Africa to South America to the western United States. In the Mediterranean, sheep are taken into the high mountains during the summer and returned to the valleys in the fall. In other areas, sheep are taken to pasture during the day and returned to a protective corral at night. Shepherds have been following these traditions for centuries and develop strong feelings for their sheep. An old saying among the shepherds is “Sheep obey no man. They obey the stars.”
Goats and kids delighting in woods
The incredibly talented goat. Goats are curious, creative and unpredictable free spirits; smelling, nibbling and playing with everything in their environment. They eat the leaves and bark of trees by standing on their hind legs and pulling down the branches for all to share. Brush is their food of choice and they much prefer woods to pasture. Goats are talented at nibbling nutrient-rich bits of plants that other animals cannot reach or digest. Note the delicate lip work of the doe in the image to the right.
Kids (baby goats) gallop in circles, making high, arching jumps and little dances. They jump, slide, toss their heads, whirl on their own axis, spring vertically into trees, leap onto their mother’s backs and get caught in places you would not believe they could get into. They nurse from their moms infrequently and do not follow their moms from place to place as lambs do. When exhausted, they curl into tight little balls and sleep soundly in the hollow of a log or tree, under a hay wagon or alongside their twin. A low, vibrating call from mom will bring the kid running to her side to nurse. If a kid gets into trouble, it screams in a high pitched wail that sounds just like a child screaming. The mom and other females in their group will quickly move to defend it against danger and will take on a dog if necessary.
Goats live on cold mountains, savannah brush, sea fronts, deserts, throughout the tropics and are found on all the continents except Antarctica. Their shiny coat reflects sun and protects from heat and humidity better than sheep’s wool. Their soft winter undercoat (called cashmere) keeps them warm in the coldest environments. They thrive in almost as wide a range of temperatures as humans and have lived around and among people since ancient times. Fossil evidence from Jericho (the oldest walled city in the world) shows goats were already domesticated 9,000 years ago. Their continued popularity is partially due to the fact that they can be managed by children, their milk is nutritious and easy to digest, and they provide a low-fat, tender meat. Their mohair (produced by Angora goats) and cashmere fiber is used for durable and specialty clothing. Their skins are used even today in some cultures for housing and lightweight, watertight containers so important for families throughout the ages.
Inspection of lamb rack at slaughter facility
How is your meat prepared and shipped?
Our Lamb & Goat is is USDA inspected, vacuum sealed for freshness then flash frozen, and shipped via Federal Express.
Vacuum package loin chops
Do you do local deliveries or have a farm store for local pick up? We provide free local delivery to the Minneapolis-St Paul, MN metro area and to Menomonie, WI. Select local pick up on the order form for either of these options or call us for details. We do not have a farm store so cannot sell directly from our farm. There is a farm store 1 mile from our farm where meat is available for pick up if arranged in advance. We are always happy to discuss options with our customers by phone (715) 265-7637 or use the contact page template or direct to jmoses47@gmail.com .
Can you ship your Lamb & Goat outside the US?
No, not at this time.
How do you cook & prepare your Lamb & Goat?
Lamb and goat meat is as easy to prepare as it is versatile. It lends itself to broiling, roasting, braising, barbecuing, stir-frying, sautéing or stewing. Lamb and goat meat is best when served rare to medium. Overcooking, a common mistake, can diminish its flavor and texture. While lamb and goat meat has a classic affinity for many spices and herbs, it requires only simple seasonings to become an excellent offering.
Lamb’s and goat’s versatility is compatible with almost any type of menu. They work well with both traditional American fare and the increasingly popular ethnic trends such as Mediterranean, Caribbean and East African cooking. It fits today’s style of lighter, leaner and healthier foods. Barbecue ribs, salad, stir-fried and stew are options for both casual and fine dining menus.
Is Lamb & Goat nutritious?
Lamb and goat provides an ideal opportunity to take advantage of today’s trends: the return to simpler, more basic cooking; the rebirth of classical dishes; and an overall emphasis on health and nutrition. Lamb and goat also lends itself to signature dishes, regional cooking styles, and the growing ethnic trends.
What do you feed your Lambs & Goats?
Our lambs & goats are fed according to 100% Grass Fed standards as set by the USDA Grass fed and American Grass fed Association.
Why are 100% grass-fed lambs allowed pumpkins, apples and turnips as shown in your blog?
Actually, the term grass fed is a bit of a misnomer as many other forms of natural forages are allowed and relished by sheep and goats. This includes fruits (a pumpkin is a fruit), vegetables, tubers and roots that are all great alternative foods for grass fed lambs and goats. Other forages include grasses (native, annual, perennial), forbs (legumes and brassicas such as turnips), herbaceous plants (squashes, pumpkins), browse (wooded growth), or cereal grains in the vegetative (pre-grain) stage. These alternatives to native grasses are especially important during autumn when the frosts drive the sugars from grass causing low nutrition and poor or no growth for young ruminants that need higher energy food choices.
Where are your Lamb & Goats raised?
Our lambs and goats grow naturally on Wisconsin meadows. The cool northern summers of the upper Midwest result in outstanding pastures that produce premium, lean lamb and goat in a healthy environment. They live in the open air and sunshine. We do not confine our livestock to stalls, on concrete or in feedlots. Quality of life for our animals is one of our main values.
Do you provide wholesale prices to restaurants & grocers?
Yes. If you are interested in custom and bulk order Call to discuss available options: (715) 265-7637.
Can you provide custom cuts or Zabiah Halal Slaughter?
Yes, for a small additional fee meat can be cut to your specifications. Zabiah halal slaughter is available at our USDA slaughter facility. Supervision can be provided by the customer or through our contacts.