Fiber farmer Chris McLaughlin offers a comprehensive guide to raising sheep, goats, angora rabbits, and alpacas for wool. With practical information on breeds, housing, feed, breeding, heath care, shearing, and more, Chris helps the reader to decide which species will best serve their lifestyle criteria and needs.

Most livestock in America currently live in cramped and unhealthy confinement, have few stable social relationships with humans or others of their species, and finish their lives by being transported and killed under stressful conditions. In Livestock, Erin McKenna allows us to see this situation and presents alternatives. She interweaves stories from visits to farms, interviews with producers and activists, and other rich material about the current condition of livestock. In addition, she mixes her account with pragmatist and ecofeminist theorizing about animals, drawing in particular on John Dewey’s account of evolutionary history, and provides substantial historical background about individual species and about human-animal relations. This deeply informative text reveals that the animals we commonly see as livestock have rich evolutionary histories, species-specific behaviors, breed tendencies, and individual variation, just as those we respect in companion animals such as dogs, cats, and horses. To restore a similar level of respect for livestock, McKenna examines ways we can balance the needs of our livestock animals with the environmental and social impacts of raising them, and she investigates new possibilities for human ways of being in relationships with animals. This book thus offers us a picture of healthier, more respectful relationships with livestock.

• A comprehensive guide to raising sheep, goats, angora rabbits, and alpacas for producing fiber • Provides practical information on housing, fencing, feed, grooming, shearing, plucking, basic health care, breeding and birthing • Includes a comparison of popular breeds and how their fiber differs from breed to breed • Features a frank discussion of the energy and commitment that it takes to raise livestock, and how much room and land each animal species will need • Contains essential biosecurity practices to prevent spreading pests and infectious animal diseases, as well as advice on hand spinning and crafts to utilize your homegrown fiber

This one-of-a-kind encyclopedia shines a spotlight on more than 200 animals and their wondrous fleece. Profiling a worldwide array of fiber-producers that includes northern Africa’s dromedary camel, the Navajo churro, and the Tasmanian merino, Carol Ekarius and Deborah Robson include photographs of each animal’s fleece at every stage of the handcrafting process, from raw to cleaned, spun, and woven. The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook is an artist’s handbook, travel guide, and spinning enthusiast’s ultimate reference source all in one.

"Fiber Farming 101: A Beginner's Guide to Raising Animals for Yarn" is a comprehensive and accessible manual crafted for individuals eager to embark on the rewarding journey of fiber farming. Tailored for beginners, this guide demystifies the art of raising animals specifically for their luxurious fibers. From sheep to alpacas and rabbits, readers will learn the essentials of animal husbandry, breed selection, and ethical fiber harvesting practices. With practical insights, step-by-step instructions, and real-world anecdotes, "Fiber Farming 101" empowers aspiring fiber farmers to create a sustainable and ethical fiber production system. From tending to the animals' well-being to processing and spinning their fibers, this guide covers every aspect of the fiber farming process. Whether dreaming of cultivating your own yarn or simply interested in sustainable agriculture, "Fiber Farming 101" provides a holistic and beginner-friendly approach to turning the dream of raising animals for yarn into a rewarding reality.

Moo, Oink, Knit! Knit up your favorite furry or feathered critter, or make the whole barnyard! The colorful characters in this book—including a clever pig, a gentle donkey, and a family of chickens—would love to be your friends. Children and grown-ups alike will fall for the fifteen bighearted, oversize farm animals designed in Sarah Keen’s signature style. All of these roly-poly toys, made with child-friendly yarn and durable finishing techniques, are quick to knit and can withstand years of affection. Whether you’re a beginner or you simply need a refresher, a comprehensive reference of knitting basics and toy-making techniques will help get your needles clicking—or clucking—right away. Also available as an ebook

A guide to raising sheep that covers production systems, breeds, housing, facilities, fences, enclosures, feeding, pasture management, predators, marketing meat and wool, environmental stewardship, and other related topics.