The More Ewe Know...
- Woodrow Wilson kept sheep on the White House lawn during WWI as a cost-saving measure to mow the lawn and show support for the war effort.
- Sheep are known to self-medicate, eating certain plants that can cure them if they’re feeling ill.
- Sheep are excellent helpers in forest management, eating small seedlings to help thin the forest, and allow the older trees to get plenty of sunlight.
- There are around a 1.2 billion sheep in the world, on every continent except Antarctica.
- Wool from sheep makes excellent insulation, and when used in clothing is effective both wet and dry- it keeps us warm in winter and cool in summer.
- Felt is made of condensed and matted wool and has been used for centuries as body armor and construction material for yurts.
- Sheep manure and wool waste can be useful in preparing soil for agriculture. Such sheep farming byproducts can help soil retain water and improve soil fertility.
- Since 2019 UMass Lowell has been using sheep to manage a hard-to-reach area on the north end of campus – at half the cost of traditional mowing! Read this short article about sheep being used as lawnmowers for solar panel farms.
- Ancient seals from Mesopotamia (c. 3000 BCE) clearly illustrate the importance of sheep for food, wool, and religious sacrifice.
- Art Historians have found sheep represented in paintings, decorative objects, and textiles in Mongolia from ancient times up to the present day.
- Lanolin is a wax secreted by sheep. They use it to keep dry in snow and rain. Lanolin-based products are used by humans to moisturize our skin.