[Ag-eq] sheep questions

[nfoster at extremezone.com]

good morning all:

A while back I asked about cows; I'm still interested in getting a cow, but
cattel are very expensive right now and I don't know that I want to invest that
much.  There is way to much grass in my pasture for my horse and goats, so I
want some other breed of animal to help keep it grazed down.  From reading and
talking with farmers it seems that cattle and sheep graze more than goats.
Goats are browsers and eat a little of everything.  My horse has a jaw injury
and I have to supplement his diet with horse feeds.  He doesn't graze as much
as other horses.  So anyway, now I've been researching sheep.  I like how their
poop isn't as messy and they are an easier size to handle than cattle.

What breeds of sheep do people have?

How hard are they to care for?

I've read that sheep can only have small amounts of copper in their diets, while
horses and goats need more.  What do you all know about this?

I want all the animals to be able to run together on the pasture.  I do seperate
when feeding grains.  I wouldn't want to harm the sheep by them accidently
getting food that is for the other animals.

Do people keep sheep and goats together?

My horse is very friendly and loves the goats, so i don't think he will mind
sheep.  He also protects the goats from dogs and such.

It seems that most people here keep hair sheep, which you don't have to sheer. 
They sound easier to me and I don't know if there is a market for wool here,
especially for just a few, which is all I would have.  There is a market for
the meat.

Maybe Zac will know which breeds are used for dairy.  I like the idea of dairy
sheep since I already have the dairy goats.

Do you have to sheer dairy sheep or are they the hair kind?

So I guess I just need to know everything about sheep!

I look forward to hearing what everyone has to say.

Thanks.

Nella