SHEEP

• At Lazy Moon Ranch we have Suffolk, Katahdin and Southdown Babydoll Sheep.  Suffolk sheep are a very common breed noted for their large size, black face and legs and white bodies.  Southdown Babydolls are a miniature breed known for their fuzzy faces and perpetual smiles.  Katahdin are a hair sheep and they shed their coats naturally in the spring.  They are mainly raised for meat. 
• Sheep have a field of vision that lets them see far and wide. Up to 320 degrees, in fact! Therefore, while it might seem as though they bumble about aimlessly, they can see more than many creatures can! This vision is great for helping them to keep ahead of predators.

• We started domesticating sheep centuries ago, largely thanks to how relatively easy they are to manage and propagate. However, they can be very tricky to manage if there are lots of them milling about!
• Sheep don’t just come in one or two flavors. The number of sheep species globally stretches into the quadruple figures – meaning it’s likely you’ve seen more than a few different breeds and species over the years.
• Sheep can actually recognize faces – to the point where it’s thought they may be able to recognize people they come into contact with! Don’t write them off as being dim-witted just yet!

• Sheep are very much social animals, to the extent where they will often make firm friends. They’re much like cows and bulls to that degree. Mothers and children form firm bonds, too.
• Sheep can feel depressed – it’s true! If you separate a woolly wonder from its family or friends for too long, it can start feeling sad. Therefore, it’s always worth making sure it has buddies or family around to have fun with.
• Sheep will even get each other’s backs if they are in squabbles or fights. 
• It’s thought that sheep have memory and brain capacity to recognize and remember up to 50 different members of their own flock and family. 
• Sheep can even show off facial expressions. For example, it’s easy enough to spot if a sheep is in a grumpy mood, or if they are happy and smiling. This can also stem from the fact that sheep have very deep emotional ranges. For example, they can feel fear and can even get angry! They’ll also show feelings of disgust if they are so inclined!
• Sheep can’t grow teeth in the upper front portions of their jaws, instead of leaving their lower teeth to fill in the gap. Useful when chewing, of course!
• It’s thought that sheep are able to medicate and look after themselves with certain wild plants and shrubs. 
• A male sheep is a ram, and a female sheep is known as a ewe.
• Generally, you’d refer to a small gathering of these animals as just sheep - but large groups are called flocks.