What is so useful about sheep that has people choosing to raise a flock of sheep instead of other livestock like cattle or goats? Along with meat, wool and milk sheep also provide vegetation control, income and production
Sheep grazing in a field of solar panels is becoming an increasingly common sight as both farmers and solar developers are starting to experiment with co-locating solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and agriculture.
Sheep graze along arrays of solar panels in Hammond, Minnesota. ‘Solar grazing’ around panels is providing a lifeline to the US shepherding sector as clean energy expands. Stung by high fuel costs and a labor squeeze, some clean energy companies are turning to an unlikely ally — flocks of sheep — to keep their solar panels out of the shade.
Sheep, on the other hand, fit nicely under the panels, typically built 2–3 feet off the ground, and they keep their heads down for the business at hand. The panels provide shelter and shade. Studies are also finding that vegetation planted for grazing under solar panels helps keep the panels cool, boosting energy production.
Studies are also finding that vegetation planted for grazing under solar panels helps keep the panels cool, boosting energy production. Sheep feed from a mix of plants growing at the Nittany 1 solar array in central Pennsylvania. The plants were selected to support the sheep’s nutritional needs and attract pollinating insects. Lightsource BP
There are a few reasons sheep are the superior choice for grazing on solar farms. For one, they are shorter than cows and horses. They will also eat most kinds of forage, which helps keep plant growth at bay. Goats, on the other hand, will chew pretty much anything, which is a bit of a risk on solar farms.
Sheep feed from a mix of plants growing at the Nittany 1 solar array in central Pennsylvania. The plants were selected to support the sheep’s nutritional needs and attract pollinating insects. Lightsource BP “Normally, we hired crews with lawn mowers and Weed Wackers.
Raising the livestock in the US could also bolster local economies. There are a few reasons sheep are the superior choice for grazing on solar farms. For one, they are shorter than cows and horses. They will also eat most kinds of forage, which helps keep plant growth at bay.
