I Skipped Lambing for a Year, but Why?

For many shepherds, lambing season is the highlight of the year. It's a season filled with new life, excitement, and hope for the future of the flock. But after one of the most difficult lambing seasons we've ever experienced, I made a surprising decision...I chose to skip lambing entirely for a year. After years of drought, declining forage quality, nutrition challenges, and a heartbreaking loss of sheep, it became clear that something needed to change. Rather than push forward with business as usual, I stepped back and focused on rebuilding the health of the flock. I took time to improve infrastructure, refine grazing systems, and reduce stress for both the sheep and our family. In this video, I share: • Why I decided to take a year off from lambing • The challenges that led to that decision • How drought and nutrition affected our flock • Grazing and infrastructure improvements we made • Lessons learned about flock management • The results of returning to lambing after a year-long reset Sometimes progress means slowing down long enough to build a stronger foundation. This lambing season reminded me that not only caring for the flock, but for ourselves, is worth the investment. Thanks for following along with our journey at Plaid Perch Farm. If you enjoy honest conversations about sheep farming, grazing, wool production, and regenerative agriculture, consider subscribing and joining us for future farm updates.