225 | Sheep, Polywire, and Practical Grazing with Richard Popham

225 | Sheep, Polywire, and Practical Grazing with Richard Popham

Author: Grazing Grass May 27, 2026 Duration: 1:19:50

In this episode of the Grazing Grass Podcast, Cal visits with Richard Popham about raising registered Katahdin sheep in Kentucky using practical grazing systems and portable electric fencing. Richard explains how he successfully manages sheep with two strands of polywire, why fence training matters, and how good grazing management helps keep sheep content and productive. 


The conversation explores:

  •  Using two and three strand polywire systems for sheep 
  •  Why sheep must be trained to electric fence 
  •  Managing sheep with portable fencing and reels 
  •  Selecting productive and efficient ewes 
  •  Why buying better sheep matters more than buying more sheep 
  •  Building low-stress handling systems 
  •  Using records to improve flock genetics 
  •  Parasite resistance and culling decisions 
  •  Weaning strategies and lamb management 
  •  Grazing sheep on small acreage near neighborhoods 
  •  Managing sheep without livestock guardian dogs 
  •  Portable fencing tools and equipment recommendations 
  •  Rotational grazing timing and parasite management 
  •  Why Richard prefers moderate-sized ewes 
  •  The role of NSIP and flock performance records 
  •  Selecting rams and improving flock genetics over time 

Richard also shares practical advice for new sheep producers, including starting small, focusing on quality animals, and building systems that fit your lifestyle and available time.

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Original Music by Louis Palfrey


There’s a quiet revolution happening in the fields and pastures, one that ties the health of the soil directly to the health of a farm’s bottom line. Grazing Grass Podcast | Rotational Grazing, Soil Health & Profitable Livestock Farming is a part of that conversation, sitting down with the men and women who are putting regenerative principles into daily practice. Hosted by Grazing Grass, each episode feels like a candid chat across a fence line, moving beyond theory into the tangible details of managing livestock on grass. You’ll hear farmers recount their own journeys-what prompted their shift in thinking, the logistical hurdles of changing their operation, and the outcomes they’ve witnessed in their land and ledger books. A recurring segment called "Over Grazing" digs into the specific problems and hard-won lessons that come with this way of farming. This isn’t just a science or nature podcast; it’s a practical resource built on shared experience, aiming to strengthen a community where knowledge about profitable, grass-based systems is passed along openly. Tune in for honest stories that get to the root of what it means to work with the land.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Grazing Grass Podcast | Rotational Grazing, Soil Health & Profitable Livestock Farming
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