Sometimes good business decisions stem from an experiment. For Carrie Woolley and her husband, Brett Schuyler, their experiment was not only a success, it led to an economically viable and sustainable commercial sheep operation – Woolleys’ Lambs.

Five years ago, Woolley and Schuyler wanted to see if sheep would be a good fit to add to their family’s farming operation which grows a variety of crops including apples, sour cherries, corn and soybeans.

The hypothesis was simple, Woolley explains. Could we fence the sheep in the sour cherry orchard and manage them without destroying the trees?

“At the time, there weren’t a lot of people in Ontario, Canada, who were grazing sheep on the commercial side,” Woolley said. “So we decided to start with 20 sheep and see what would happen.”

After the first year, Woolley says things turned out pretty well. “The sheep didn’t eat the cherry trees, the animals were healthy and the orchard turned out to be a really nice spot to raise the animals.”

“We thought we could be on to something,” Woolley recalls. “The animals are cleaning up the orchard floor and eating healthy in the process, and we are producing meat in a sustainable, animal-friendly way. It’s a win-win for us, the environment and the animals.”

Today, the couple runs 500 ewes, with 800 lambs born this spring.

Woolley and Schuyler are able to successfully contain and graze the flock in the sour cherry and apple orchards through a combination of permanent and temporary electric fencing as well as electric netting.

“We use Gallagher’s Electra-Lock product for all of our permanent fencing needs,” explains Woolley. “We also added offset wires for predator control. We have had good luck keeping predators out between the fencing and our guard dogs.”

“Perfect for sheep, or any variety of livestock, Electra-Lock fencing is versatile, easy to install and cost-effective,” says Lisa Brandenburg, Sales Specialist.

Within the perimeter fence that surrounds the orchard, Woolley says she uses internal dividers to create smaller grazing areas in a traditional rotational grazing system. Using temporary fencing and electric netting, Woolley is able to easily move the sheep every 4-5 days to new grazing paddocks.

“Electric netting is extremely easy to install and has become a very practical material for a variety of applications,” says Brandenburg. “With practice, a roll of netting takes approximately 15 minutes to install. No tools are required to set it up, and the plastic treadin posts are enough support for the corners and ends.”

Like the electric fencing, Woolley also relies on Gallagher products for her energizers.

She uses a Gallagher 110v Energizer System on all the permanent fencing and combines a mix of battery and solar portable energizers for her remaining power needs.

“That was actually how we first became familiar with Gallagher products,” explains Woolley. “We purchased a portable energizer for use in a far orchard. We needed the convenience and portability. We have stayed with Gallagher products because we were happy with our initial purchase and the customer service is also great.”

For strip grazing, temporary fencing or setting up electric fencing where there is unreliable or no 110V power, a Battery Energizer System is the best choice, says Brandenburg.

“All of Gallagher’s portable energizer units are easy to install, transportable for more efficient pasture management and durable to handle all weather conditions,” Brandenburg says. “Many of Gallagher’s solar energizers can also continue to work for up to three weeks without any sun.”

What may have originally started out as an experiment for Woolley and Schuyler, has successfully proven that sheep do in fact make a nice addition to their farm, and it is possible to graze sheep in an orchard without ruining the trees. Each year the couple continues to focus on growing their commercial operation and developing their brand. But most important, says Woolley, is the sustainability component of their business. “We are looking after the environment and farming as well,” she says.

Be sure to check out Woolleys’ Lambs on Twitter @CarrieWoolley1

“The problem with cattle and extreme heat is they don’t have the ability to sweat quite as well as other animals,” says Dr. Ron Gill of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. “There is some sweating happening, but it’s not quite enough. Most of the heat is lost through respiration.”

A veteran extension livestock specialist, Gill provides programming on livestock well-being and low-stress livestock handling to producers across the state of Texas.

Gill explains the negative effects of heat stress cause significant declines in livestock production, fertility, and immunity with symptoms usually sets in when the temperature-humidity index reaches the high-80s. In addition, factors like the amount of direct sunlight, precipitation, wind, night-cooling, and possible exposure to fescue endophyte can also compound the situation.

To identify cattle suffering from moderate to severe heat stress, Gill describes, producers should look for animals which resemble those with a look similar to an animal dealing with a bad respiratory disease.

“They look like they can’t get enough air. Normally their head goes down, they take a wider stance than normal, and at certain points, they’ll even start open-mouthed panting which is totally unnatural for a cow,” says Gill.

Gill points out, it’s important to remember, even heat-tolerant breeds such as Brahman and Brahman-influenced cattle, are susceptible to the adverse effects of extreme heat. Therefore, measures should always be taken to make sure all livestock are comfortable when a heat wave occurs.

In general, cattle keep cool in hot weather in three ways: reducing activity (i.e. grazing less), seeking out shade (if available), and drinking water.

“If they have access to a pond or other water body, they will get in it,” says Gill. “That’s one reason we have to fence a lot of ponds off, to keep them from polluting the water they have to drink.”

Instead of letting cattle wallow in waterways and foul their drinking source, Gill says, “The biggest aspect is to have access to good, clean water to help cattle cool and regulate their internal temperature.”

Research from Oklahoma State University has shown on average, a typical 1200-lb spring calving cow (not counting the calf) requires about 27 gallons of water each hot summer day. Gill advises producers lay out pasture watering systems in a way which provides all animals with equal opportunity to drink. Gill notes side benefits of this practice are an increase in grazing efficiency and better livestock distribution. If possible, he suggests multiple watering points be placed in each paddock and if necessary, shade structures over water sources to keep water cool.

When it comes to shade, Gill says, “There has been work that shows there is no increase in animal performance from providing shade, but we all like to get in the shade when it’s hot. From a cow comfort standpoint, I think they should have access to some kind of shade.”

Shade options might include letting trees grow in certain areas of your pastures or possibly even using portable shade structures. Portable shade covers, Gill notes, are easily moved with an ATV and specially designed to allow the shade to move with the sun throughout the day, so the same area isn’t continuously under roof.

For livestock in confined operations or periodically housed indoors, Gills recommends producers construct facilities which utilize cross-ventilation to optimize air flow through the building.

“It creates an almost vortex effect with the design and eliminates the need to have fans,” says Gill. “That, of course, means there needs to be some breeze to work, but most of these facilities have really good ventilation if designed properly.”

Lastly, Gill says producers should avoid working animals if they know a heat wave is coming. Cattle overheat easier during times of high heat and humidity and increased activity can lead to heat stress.

“Manage how much you move and work with animals during these bouts,” says Gill. “Get your work done before the heat wave or be prepared to make sure you’re done by eight or nine o’clock in the morning.”

By taking these simple steps to ensure cattle stay cool and comfortable during the sweltering days of summer, Gill says livestock will be happier and producers will rest easier knowing their animals continue to be healthy and productive despite the heat.

Authored byJesse Bussard, an agricultural writer based in Bozeman, Montana.