Weed eaters: South Dakota cattle ranch brings in sheep to control unwanted plants

Janelle Atyeo
Jul 19, 2019
Jul 19, 2019

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Shepherd Angel Jesus Huaynalaya Catillo and his dog guide sheep on the Rock Hills Ranch of north central South Dakota. The ranch owners, Lyle and Garnet Perman and their son Luke enlisted the help of a sheep flock to control weeds on their cattle pastures.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

SDSU Extension sheep specialist Dave Ollila talks with tour participants at the Rock Hills Ranch on July 8. Sheep and cattle can complement each other in a grazing system, he said.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

Lyle Perman talks about using sheep for weed control on the Rock Hills Ranch. The Permans aim to spend less on chemical weed control.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

Luke Perman discusses grazing on the Rock Hills Ranch.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

A sheep dog watches the flock on the Rock Hills Ranch.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Janelle Atyeo

For the first time in more than 40 years, there are sheep roaming the pastures of the Rock Hills Ranch near Lowry, in north central South Dakota, and they’ve got one job – weed control.

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Grazing squares — Lyle Perman explains the Rock Hills Ranch approach to weed control on a ridge overlooking patches that had been intensively grazed by a flock of sheep.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Luke Perman talk — Luke Perman, right, discusses grazing during a tour at the Rock Hills Ranch July 8. Perman revised grazing plans to fit sheep into rotation with his cattle.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Sheep graze — Sheep from VanWell Livestock graze a patch of leafy spurge on the Rock Hills Ranch north of Lowry, South Dakota.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Janelle is editor of the Tri-State Neighbor, covering South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, northwestern Iowa and northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at jatyeo@tristateneighbor.com or follow on Twitter @JLNeighbor.