It says ironically, the lamb processing companies have invested in new, updated capacity but the move has not been followed with successful marketing and returns have been woeful at the farm gate. The national flock has declined from 70 million in 1982 to less than 40 million today and Agridata says if the trend continues, sheep production next season will be considerably lower. Poor lamb prices are taking their toll and leading to fears sheep production next season will be considerably...

Lamb prices have remained low throughout 2007 and the introduction of spring lamb in recent weeks has failed to make any difference in the marketplace. We have secured PGI status to help market our lamb and there have been reports on how good consumption figures are. However, all this is of no benefit to producers unless we are paid a price for our lamb that covers our costs and allows us to invest in our futures, sadly this is not the case at present. News Wales > Agriculture > Fears for...

usDiggRedditYahooMyWebGoogle What's this? Print Email way gone It's hair today, gone tomorrow at the Estes Park Wool Market By Lisa Everitt Special to The Denver Post Article Last Updated:05/26/2007 07:36:32 PM MDT One of the many things I learned at the Estes Park Wool Market: All sheep do not say "Baa. usDiggRedditYahooMyWebGoogle What's this? Print Email way gone It's hair today, gone tomorrow at the Estes Park Wool Market By Lisa Everitt Special to The Denver Post Article Last...

usDiggRedditYahooMyWebGoogle What's this? Goats clear fire hazard By Shelli DeRobertis, Staff Writer Article Launched:05/20/2007 11:42:15 PM PDT Goats graze on the vegetation along the hill side in Chino Hills as they clear the weeds on the hilly terrain where tractors can't go for weed abatement May 17, 2007. usDiggRedditYahooMyWebGoogle What's this? Goats clear fire hazard By Shelli DeRobertis, Staff Writer Article Launched:05/20/2007 11:42:15 PM PDT Goats graze on the vegetation along...

He gives his life to his sheep and for his sheep, and no one can take them out of his hand. Grass was scarce and the flock had to continually travel from one spot to another; there were no walls for protection and because of this the shepherd always had to be with the flock. This was the moment in which is revealed the difference between the true shepherd -- the one who shepherds the family's flock, who does this for his life's work -- and the hired hand, who works only for the pay he...

Beal has six alpacas at this farm and two others that she co-owns at another farm. As a child, he worked collecting wool in the sheep barns of New Zealand and learning to shear was the next logical step. As he runs his clippers over the animal, the owners carefully pick up the most precious fleece, the first fleece sheared. The muscular New Zealander has spent the past three months crossing the country shearing alpacas seven days a week, a job he has done for years. He laughs easily and...