The Smallholder Magazine No.1 Starting with Sheep Back Issue

Welcome to the first issue of Practical Sheep, Goats
and Alpacas! There’s so much to say about this
versatile and diverse group of livestock that has
breeds for all purposes. Producing fibre, milk,
cheese and dairy products, meat as well as being
pets and companion animals, there is so much to
gain from keeping these breeds. We at Practical
Sheep Goats and Alpacas are committed to bringing
you the very best from how to care for livestock
to the many things you can do with them. But its
YOUR magazine too and we are looking forward to
finding out from you about your experiences, your
aims and your achievements so do please contact us
– we’ll be very pleased to hear from you.
Every issue will include a comprehensive diary
of events so send us the dates of your show or event
-maybe it is a smallholder show or a sheep sale or
open day. Whatever the occasion share it with us!
But do remember to check before setting off to
a show that the details are correct especially if the
weather is bad.
After one of the worst winters for livestock
keepers followed by a cold spring, we are all hoping
for a warm summer with good growing conditions
so that silage, haylage and hay will be plentiful and
the grass will be good for grazing. As livestock
keepers ourselves, we make our own hay so the
summer can be an anxious time for us worrying
about getting the right weather and then bringing
it all in and I think its the same for everyone in this
situation. There’s also the shearing to be done and
I’ve been talking to some experts about fleeces and
spinning. I’ve always wanted to learn to spin and
I’ve booked on to a course for spinning and for
felting – as I have two left hands and managed to
break someone’s drop spindle recently this may be
something of a challenge for the tutor but I’ll try my
hardest. I love the feel of natural fibres and they are
all unique.
So lots and lots to look forward to this summer
and I hope its fun and successful for you.