As Nature Intended

 

Sheep

This year (2012) we will be breeding 160 plus ewes.  With our new barn being finished this spring, we will be able to move to lambing 3 times in 2 years, increasing our profitability. 

We started out with a mixed flock of mostly purebred Dorset ewes, with a sprinkling of Dorset crosses and Suffolk plus other crosses.

I did some research and found that if we bred the Dorsets to the Dorper breed (self shedding), we would end up with PB Dorpers several generations down the line, as the Dorsets were the foundation stock for this breed.

We purchased 2 Registered Dorper Rams, Wallace and Upton (picture on the right) and are on the second breeding so will have some 3/4 Dorpers this year.  We have kept all the Dorper crosses to increase our flock and eventually to cut down on shearing.

We also purchased a flock of PB Katahdin (hair sheep)  who don’t require any shearing.  They have hair like a goat but grow a thick undercoat of wool in the winter which sheds every spring. 

Both these breeds are naturally worm resistant and disease resistant. 

The sheep are rotated through different fields (intensive grazing) and this further reduces the need to de-worm.

Our sheep are healthy and easy to manage.  When we bring them in for the night, all we do is clap our hands and call “come on girls, come on ba ba’s “ and they all head for the barnyard.  They are let out every morning as soon as there is available grass in the spring until there is too much snow on the ground.  They are fed hay from our own property and supplemented with alfalfa pellets all winter.  They also receive Kelp, Salt and minerals all year round.

I keep extensive records on parentage, treatments (if any) so that I can offer good quality PB Katahdin Ram Lambs for Sale.

By 2013, I should have PB Dorper Ram Lambs for sale as well.

I also have Cross Bred Ewe Lambs for sale.

Please check the Product page for current availability.

 

The scenario above happened when someone found a hole in the old rustle fence that was due for replacement.  They all funneled through patiently and spread out on the fresh field.  Some turned around to regard me as if to say “but we didn’t do anything wrong”.