The Shepherdess

Grace is an entrepreneur, Shepherdess, and rotational grazing enthusiast. This eclectic mix converges here on the Shepherdess Podcast where we talk about regenerative farming for profit, raising Dorper sheep, and daily life as a small-scale, regenerative farmer.

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The Shepherdess

HAIR SHEEP VS. GOATS, AND WHY YOUR LIVESTOCK IS WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD (w/ Bowen Troyer of Rational Ranchers)

July 14, 2026 • Grace

0:00 | 24:27

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I sat down with Bowen Troyer of the Rational Ranchers, and I'll be honest, I brought him on knowing we'd have a little bit of a friendly feud over Katahdins vs. Dorpers. Bowen runs Katahdin ewes, South Pole cattle, and Royal White sheep across two ranches in Arkansas and Missouri, and we get into his hair sheep vs. goats decision, his no-blanket-dewormer parasite protocol, and his surprisingly fascinating sheep-to-silver and cattle-to-gold ratio videos. He’s intentionally building his ranch as a family legacy, and I know his story will inspire you in your own farming or homesteading journey.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction to Bowen’s ranching operation in Arkansas and Missouri

00:04:20 Stats on Bowen’s flock, grass-fed lamb weights, and sale avenues

00:06:26 How Bowen built his full-time ranching operation from the ground up

00:09:38 Why Bowen chose hair sheep over goats and what he recommends

00:14:12 Parasite management protocol and livestock breakdown

00:17:31 Bowen’s predictions on the near future of the cattle market

00:19:07 The curiosity that started Bowen’s popular video series exploring the livestock-to-silver ratio over time

00:22:43 Bowen’s long-term vision for his family ranch

CONNECT WITH BOWEN

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RationalRanchers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Ranchers-Rational-61580788962777/