Family raises sheep for fun and profit

By KRISTY HEMMINGSEN | East Texas Edition

Zachery Zant shows off one of the sheep at his family's farm in Lamar County. His dad Craig Zant, (background with cap) saw potential in raising sheep years ago, and today has about 105 sheep on the farm's 13 acres. Also in the photo are Craig's wife Barbara, and two of his grandkids, Steven McDowell and Jayla Davis. Craig and Barbara enjoy watching the kids show, and win, with sheep they raised at the family's farm. -Staff photo by Hemmingsen

May 9, 2002 -- A sheep is a sheep and a goat is a goat.

But, according to the Texas A&M University Extension Animal Science Department, whether it is a sheep or a goat, these animals, along with mohair and associated industries are all a major agricultural enterprise in Texas.

Texas is one of the nation's leading producers of mohair - producing enough mohair to knit more than 135 million sweaters according to Texas statistics. And each year, Texas producers shear about 2 million head of sheep.

Craig Zant of Lamar County has seen the potential for raising sheep ever since he was a teen in high school. At the time, Craig and his brother were in need of a project for FFA, and as a result the brothers would purchase a small flock of blackface sheep.

Although Craig would not continue raising sheep once out of school, the experience had made an obvious impression on him, and years later he would buy more sheep.

Today, Craig, now with his own family, owns a small herd of sheep on a few acres in Sumner. (The small size and domestication of sheep are often said to make them ideally suited for small acreage operations.)

Primarily, the Zants raise breeding sheep and club lambs. Breeds on the farm consist mostly of Suffolk, Dorset, and Hampshire. There are around 12 head of breeding and market lambs.

But, the Zants view their sheep operation more as a hobby than a business.

"One of the more enjoyable things about raising sheep, is watching the kids show and win with sheep that we raised ourselves," explained Craig.

Over the years, Craig, his wife Barbara, and a few of the children have exhibited some of the family sheep.

But right now, Craig's 9-year-old son, Zachary, is the main showman of the family. Recently, Zachary exhibited the Champion Ram in the Suffolk Junior Breeding Sheep Show in March at the 2002 Houston Livestock Show.

The North Lamar fourth grader and Lamar County 4-H member also won a reserve and two grand champion awards at Houston last year.

Zachary first showed at the age of 8. In addition to Houston, he has exhibited some of the family sheep at other shows including San Antonio, Dallas, and area county fairs. Other awards entail once winning Premier Exhibitor and he has taken home everything from cash to buckles to trophies, ribbons and plaques.

Craig, along with wife, often frequent area, state and out-of-state sheep sales in order to purchase additional show stock.

According to Craig, taking care of the sheep herd, mainly entails feeding them twice a day, and keeping water available for them.

Off and on throughout the year and mostly in the months of March and April, the Zants sheer the ewes right before lambing. (The show sheep are sheered before each show they are exhibited in.)

Also according to state statistics, Texas leads the nation in lamb and wool production with a resident population of approximately 1.5 million sheep (20 percent of U.S. population) and an annual wool clip of over 6,000,000 pounds.

And currently, Texas has eight large-scale lamb feedlots and two lamb packing plants.