Raising sheep flocks on pasture is the low labour, low input approach. Other than for treatment days or shearing, the flock is on pasture year round eating the available forages, and when that runs out, eating hay.
The Benefits
The sheep stay on pasture year round even though the grass may not grow year round. Sheep can be kept out on the pasture through alternative feeding measures such as swath grazing and bale grazing
The clean air, space and grass all contribute to overall health and well being in the sheep. We spend less man hours tending to sheep and sheep problems then when raising sheep in close quarters
Ewes seem to have less birthing troubles
Mis-mothering rarely occurs provided the ewes have enough space when lambing
The sheep fulfill their need to migrate and graze as a flock unit. Animals are always walking and moving to clean ground and new feed
The animals help to restore balance to the grassland through urine and manure deposition and animal impact to the soil. In turn the grassland takes care of the animals. Take care of the grass and the grass will provide the bulk of what the sheep need
Easier to maintain and develope a mineral regime. The flock will be healthier as a whole and since there is natural variety in the grass feed there is less guessing about what the ewes could be lacking
Animals birth on clean ground. Dry lots and corrals see a continual influx of animals and animal waste. They rarely get a break to rejuvenate and cleanse thus there is always a heavy concentration of various bacteria and larvae that lambs and ewes will have to ward off. Animals still experience bacteria and larvae on pasture but at a lower concentration that decreases the chance of illness occurring
Intensive labour is not required. It is the perfect match for ranchers like us who like to work less and who appreciate time to pursue other interests (like writing about what we do)
Not spending time or money to clean up after sheep who were raised in a corral
No reliance on expensive buildings to house sheep flocks
No reliance on expensive equipment to feed sheep. If we don't rely on tractors or grinders to feed then we aren't paying for them, or the fuel, or the repairs.
The last four points are ways to control overhead costs. When you minimize overheads you are controlling how much money you keep and therefore you have a means to take control of your profit.
Less labour and not paying for buildings and repair or equipment and its maintenance are two of the most fundamental ways to cut expenses on a ranch.
The animals help to restore balance to the 
