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Sheep Farming

NAICS 112410 · Animal Production and Aquaculture · SBA size standard: $3.5 million average annual receipts

Sheep farms manage breeding flocks, raise lambs for meat or wool, maintain grazing rotations, shear seasonally, and prepare animals or fiber for sale. Specialists turn breeding and health observations into scheduled tasks, grazing plans into weekly moves, shearing days into batch schedules and sales prep, while tracking feed, vet supplies, predator control and required movement or health paperwork that stays with the farmer.

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What makes this business different

  • Seasonal breeding cycles, lambing windows and weaning dates that drive all other schedules
  • Daily or weekly pasture rotations to prevent overgrazing, with fencing and water checks
  • Shearing, crutching and hoof trimming performed in batches with weather constraints
  • Predator control, scrapie tags, movement documents and veterinary health certificates for sales or shows
  • Inventory of hay, minerals, vaccines and shearing supplies bought ahead of seasonal peaks
  • Separate tracking of wool clips by grade and lambs by weight or market class
  • Repeat buyers for registered breeding stock, freezer lamb or raw fleece

Specialist bots

  • a worker kneeling beside a ewe in a straw-filled lambing pen checking a newborn lamb under a heat lamp

    Breeding Cycle Manager

    Convert breeding observations and seasonal windows into lambing and weaning schedules.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Sheets, Process Optimizer · Workflows: Breeding and lambing cycle management

    Automates

    • Records breeding dates and groups
    • Calculates due dates and lambing shifts
    • Builds supplemental feeding lists
    • Creates weaning and next-cycle reminders

    Stops for a person

    • The farmer confirms ram-to-ewe ratios and culling choices
    • Ultrasound results are entered by the farmer or vet
  • a worker carrying a roll of electric fencing tape toward a flock of sheep grazing in an open hillside paddock

    Grazing Rotation Planner

    Turn pasture conditions and flock size into weekly move schedules and fencing tasks.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Sheets, Process Optimizer · Workflows: Pasture rotation and grazing plan

    Automates

    • Maps paddocks and rest periods
    • Generates move calendar and fence jobs
    • Adjusts for weather forecasts
    • Tracks grazing days for each field

    Stops for a person

    • The farmer decides final move timing and pasture access
    • Electric fence repairs are completed by people
  • a worker positioning a freshly shorn ewe on the shearing board with piles of wool beside a skirting table

    Shearing Day Coordinator

    Prepare sheep groups, equipment and buyer arrangements for shearing day.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Docs, Ambitious Sheets · Workflows: Shearing day preparation and scheduling

    Automates

    • Groups sheep by fleece and condition
    • Books shearer dates and confirms weather
    • Orders wool bags and tags
    • Drafts mill or buyer pickup requests

    Stops for a person

    • The farmer approves shearer contract and schedule
    • Final penning order is confirmed on site
  • a worker using a drench gun to administer wormer to a sheep held in a raceway chute

    Animal Health Tracker

    Log daily health observations and generate treatment, vaccination and paperwork tasks.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Docs, Ambitious Sheets · Workflows: Animal health and veterinary tasking

    Automates

    • Creates daily observation checklists
    • Calculates medication withdrawal dates
    • Drafts health certificate templates
    • Flags animals needing isolation

    Stops for a person

    • The farmer or vet confirms all treatments and dosages
    • Official movement documents are signed by the farmer
  • a worker weighing a market lamb on a platform scale inside a livestock barn

    Lamb Sales Preparer

    Sort market lambs, prepare listings and required transport paperwork for sale.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Docs, Ambitious Sheets · Workflows: Lamb marketing and sales prep

    Automates

    • Groups lambs by weight and grade
    • Drafts sale descriptions and photos
    • Prepares movement and health documents
    • Schedules buyer pickup times

    Stops for a person

    • The farmer approves all listings and prices
    • A person loads animals and signs transport papers
  • a worker sorting raw wool fleeces into labeled burlap sacks on a wooden barn floor

    Wool Grader and Marketer

    Sort, describe and market each fleece clip to mills and direct buyers.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Docs, Ambitious Sheets · Workflows: Wool grading and marketing

    Automates

    • Creates sorting categories by micron and color
    • Drafts lot listings with test data
    • Tracks stored wool inventory
    • Prepares shipping paperwork

    Stops for a person

    • The farmer performs final skirting and grading
    • All sales and contracts are approved by the owner
  • a worker stacking square hay bales in a three-sided barn with a visible flock in the background field

    Feed and Supply Manager

    Track hay, minerals, vaccines and equipment stock against seasonal needs.

    Works in: Ambitious Sheets, Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Docs · Workflows: Feed, supply and equipment inventory

    Automates

    • Calculates feed requirements by flock stage
    • Generates reorder lists by supplier
    • Tracks fuel and fencing inventory
    • Logs spoiled or used supplies

    Stops for a person

    • The farmer places all purchase orders and spends money
    • Quality of incoming hay is verified by the farmer
  • a worker reviewing paperwork and ear tag inventory at a desk beside a window overlooking sheep pens

    Regulatory Compliance Clerk

    Track permit and license dates, generate movement documents and maintain treatment records for regulatory requirements.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Docs, Ambitious Sheets · Workflows: Regulatory paperwork and compliance tracking

    Automates

    • Tracks expiration dates for registrations and tags
    • Generates movement document and health certificate drafts
    • Logs treatments with withdrawal periods
    • Flags upcoming reporting or renewal deadlines

    Stops for a person

    • The farmer or accredited veterinarian reviews and signs all official documents
    • A person confirms which rules apply to each sale, show or transport
    • People handle all inspections and final filings

Workflows

Breeding and lambing cycle management

Starts when: Seasonal breeding window or observed estrus

  1. Record ram turnout dates and ewe group assignments
  2. Schedule ultrasound pregnancy checks and due-date groups
  3. Build lambing barn roster and shift schedule
  4. Flag ewes needing supplemental feed or closer monitoring
  5. Draft weaning and next breeding reminders

Watch for: Accurate pedigree and breeding records for registered flocks; Lambing in harsh weather requires 24-hour checks

Pasture rotation and grazing plan

Starts when: Weekly or after each move

  1. Map available paddocks and forage height
  2. Create the seven-to-fourteen-day move schedule
  3. Check water sources, fences and predator deterrents
  4. Adjust for weather, drought or frost events
  5. Record grazing days per paddock for soil health tracking

Watch for: Preventing parasite buildup requires strict rotation; Electric fencing and portable water must be moved with the flock

Shearing day preparation and scheduling

Starts when: Four to six weeks before target shearing date

  1. Confirm shearer availability and weather window
  2. Group sheep by fleece type, age and condition
  3. Schedule crutching, hoof trimming and vaccinations
  4. Order or confirm bags, tags and skirting tables
  5. Draft buyer or mill pickup arrangements for the clip

Watch for: Sheep must be dry for at least 24 hours before shearing; Wool contaminated by hay or burrs loses value

Animal health and veterinary tasking

Starts when: Daily observations or scheduled checks

  1. Log body condition, lameness, parasites or illness signs
  2. Generate treatment and vaccination task lists
  3. Track withdrawal periods before slaughter or sale
  4. Maintain scrapie identification and health certificate drafts
  5. Flag animals needing isolation or vet visit

Watch for: Withdrawal times for medications must be strictly observed; State and federal movement rules differ by destination

Lamb marketing and sales prep

Starts when: Weekly weight checks or market deadlines

  1. Sort lambs by weight, finish and market class
  2. Draft sale or direct-buyer listings with photos
  3. Prepare movement documents and health certificates
  4. Schedule trucking or buyer pickup
  5. Record sale weights, prices and buyer details

Watch for: Buyers require verified health and age records; Live transport must meet weight and stress regulations

Wool grading and marketing

Starts when: Immediately after shearing

  1. Sort fleece by micron, color, length and contamination
  2. Draft lot descriptions and test results
  3. Contact mills, hand-spinners or commercial buyers
  4. Prepare shipping or pickup paperwork
  5. Track payment and inventory of stored wool

Watch for: Skirting and grading directly affect price per pound; Storage must be clean, dry and pest-free

Feed, supply and equipment inventory

Starts when: Weekly and before seasonal peaks

  1. Count hay, grain, minerals and supplements on hand
  2. Calculate needs through next rotation or lambing
  3. Draft reorder lists by supplier
  4. Track fuel, fencing supplies and shearing equipment
  5. Log waste or spoiled feed

Watch for: Hay quality and quantity must be known before winter; Mineral mixes change by pasture and season

Regulatory paperwork and compliance tracking

Starts when: On renewal dates, before movement or sale, and after vet treatments

  1. Track expiration dates for premises registration, scrapie tags and licenses
  2. Generate movement document templates for interstate or show transport
  3. Log veterinary treatments and withdrawal periods in a master sheet
  4. Prepare health certificate drafts for sales or exhibitions
  5. Flag any required state or federal reporting deadlines

Watch for: Official documents must be signed by the owner or accredited vet; Rules vary by state and by destination for sold or exhibited animals

Bot templates for this industry

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Size Standards, Table of Small Business Size Standards Matched to North American Industry Classification System Codes, version March 2023 (effective 2023-03-17, NAICS 2022). Size standards are shown for reference only.