Publications / Complete Catalogue / The Sheep Book for Smallholders
WHETHER THE READER keeps sheep for pleasure or profit, this key text covers all the essential information needed to care for the flock.
Split up into the four seasons of the shepherd’s calendar, each section covers, in great detail, the breeds, housing, feeding, grass management, stock management, breeding, lambing and obstetrics, ailments, slaughter, butchering, sales, showing, sheepdogs and shearing, plus a unique section devoted to the processing of the fleece including wool, spinning and weaving.
Combined with an invaluable resource section and appendices, this book will be the ultimate shepherd’s companion and is ideal for both the novice and the more experienced sheep keeper, dealing with real things in a way that will inspire ordinary people to believe that they really can do it. Hardback 320 pages
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Reviews
Add ReviewWilliam Michell - Aug 22 2011 9:24PM
Tim Tyne’s Sheep Book for Smallholders, this book sets a new standard in sheep books. Being new to sheep keeping Tim’s book has given me the confidence to diagnose and tackle problems myself, enabling me to be more self reliant. The book is clear and interesting and funny in places. Reading this book also equipped me to manage my flock to minimise future problems and has made keeping sheep more pleasurable. It is very comprehensive and has relevance to the more experienced sheep-keeper; I have recommended it to many people who agree its usefulness. Referring to this book I have sheared a sheep, trained a sheepdog and increased the size and efficiency of my flock. It has also given more confidence at lambing time. The book has been extremely beneficial both to me and my sheep.
M. Brookbank - Dec 4 2009 10:25AM
Have just received this book after having it on order for ages, and I'm extremly pleased with it, well worth the wait. The book is divided up into the different seasons, so it is easy to pick up and find out what you should be doing at what time of year, as well as having a chapter on land management and sheep magagement systems. It is well written with good photographs to illustrate different techniques such as turning a shep over, and what to look for in foot care. Also there is a chapter on home slaughter and using the by products of the animals.
Anke - Dec 14 2009 2:04PM
This book just answers ALL the questions any prospective sheepkeeper on a smallholding scale might have. Read it BEFORE you get your sheep and keep it handy for referring to any probems you may come up against once you have got them. Written in a very direct and no-nonsense style and peppered with personal anectdotes and photos. Also very good (and unique for currently available sheep books in UK) to have sections on milking sheep, home-slaughter, preparation of skins and wool spinning/dyeing. Comprehensive reference section for breed societies in UK.
Kate Castledine - Jan 12 2010 11:57AM
"I am really enjoying this wonderful book. It would have been such a help if I had had a copy when I started shepherding. Tim is superb at telling you what you really need to know. I am sure it will become a classic. Please will you put my name down for any further publications by this author."
Janice Randle - Jan 12 2010 5:12PM
When you first start reading the book you realise that Tim has been working with Sheep for a long time. His writing is easy to read and on your level. It takes a lot of observation and skill to write such a book. I have some experience with Sheep and wish that such a book as The Sheep Book for Smallholders existed all those years ago. I had to buy several books to gain any useful knowledge. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in keeping sheep or would like to know more about them.
Al Lyons - Jan 22 2010 8:59PM
this is article is written to persuade you for your own benefit that this is the all round but detailed book to guide you in sheep keeping that you NEED. A knowledge of the Author's articles in a number of publications and his farming ethos meant that I couldn't wait to get this book, (Well, at least it had better have been in the christmas stocking!!). I have just finished reading it from cover to cover and am now considering the need to get a second copy; one that can be read and re-read of an evening and look good on the coffee table and one to act as a comfort and aid when out lambing, shearing, grading or seperating the sheep or training the sheepdog (one day!!), butchering our own lambs from the abbatoir(every year) or preparing, spinning and weaving our fleeces (first year). Use the book to arrange the sheep tending year in your diary; use it to both challenge yourself that you are doing the best for yourself and your sheep and to guide and aid you through absolutely everything you will need to do with sheep. I am not sure there is anything else Tim Tyne could write about sheep that isn't in this book but if he wrote it I would be buying it.
