Grazing

We had the sheep out grazing in the waterway today. I hauled 25 gallons of water out to the field. Suddenly, two tractors appeared, pulling field conditioners behind them! I quickly moved the flock back home, and pulled up 500+ feet of electronet fencing. Ugh!! I am so thankful that we can graze this land, but hate never knowing when the tractors will appear.

Anna's ram Gideon is always trying to sneak a drink from any ewe that will stand still. Because of her mastitis in 2008, I don't think she's producing much milk. I'm feeding Gilligan 3 8oz. bottles per day. So, as much as I hate it, I will have to think about culling her. Her lambs are so nice, though....

Echo, our beautiful black (silvering) ram from Hawks Mountain Ranch in Oregon. He has such a great temperament.Emily with her single ram lamb. What a nice udder! Her ram is growing like crazy.Ivan, our sheltie pup, waiting and watching...

Charlotte nursing her triplets. She seems to manage these rowdy, vigorous lambs with ease.

May Day

It's warming up and violas are blooming.

The grass has turned a shocking shade of green!

Dalla and her twins, Grace & Grey.

Deidra and her triplet badgers Gaea (Je a),

Geode and (ram name?).

Ewes & lambs heading out to pasture.

I love the winding little trails they make.

We use the grass waterways around our farm

in our grazing rotation.

Pippi with twin ewes Garland & Gardenia .

I've planted hundreds of daffodils in the past 14 years.

You should see them blooming!

Charlotte does a great job raising triplets.

Spring crocus

Spring flooding in the lower gardens.

Happy May Day!

2009 Lamb statistics

Our 2009 lambing season has drawn to a close, and here are the statistics:
Average weight 7.4 lb.--just perfect!

15 ewe lambs, 17 ram lambs--fairly even

White lambs: 6

Moorit lambs: 6

Black lambs: 6

Black Mouflon: 1

Badgerface pattern: 6
Black badgers:2

Moorit Badgerface: 4

Moorit Greys: 2

Black Grey Spotted: 3

Moorit Spotted: 2

This was our shortest and easiest season yet. Most likely due to the fact that we bred only mature ewes, and lamb weights were good!

Ag Expo

Our county held it's third annual Ag Expo for fifth-grade students. I am asked to present sheep and wool every year, and it's something I enjoy doing. Over 400 kids participated, and there were 19 different classes. The day was structured into 8, 20 minute sessions. Presenters from local agribusinesses, agencies, farms and schools, discussed livestock, global positioning systems and biotechnology. Other presentations include soybeans, corn, beneficial insects, horticulture, agriculture careers, soil conservation and wind energy.

It's amazing, and kind of sad, even here in "farm country", most kids know nothing about agriculture. Hopefully a day like this gives them something to think about.

I took Delilah and her twins, as well as my yearling ewe Fleecy. I took raw wool, washed wool, roving, yarn, pelts, horns, spindles, a spinning wheel, cutters, combs and carders. I also discussed some of the by-products of sheep, things like marshmellos, jello, baseballs, crayons, markers, violin strings, make up, lotion, etc. It really is incredible, all of the uses of sheep, beyond meat & wool.

Green green grass

We decided to give the ewes a treat, real grass instead of hay. We set up the electronet fencing up around the lower gardens. They were thrilled to have some "real" food to eat. Even the lambs loved their first nibble of fresh grass.Ewes, a view looking west down the lane.

Charlotte and her white tripletsAbigail's moorit ewe, and below, our sheltie pups, waiting for work

A sweet white ram lamb, taking an afternoon nap in the shade.

More pics!

Pippi's ewes

Claire's moorit ewe

Gideon, Anna's ram lamb loves to snitch milk from any ewe that stands still! He's a chunk.

Esther's pair of black ewe lambs, both horned. Names are Gretta & Gretel.

Delilah's badger daughter

Delilah's moorit ram and badgerface daughter

Dalla's ewe lamb

Anna's boys having a snuggle with mom.

Pippi's black grey spotted ewe lamb will be staying here!

Esther's black ewe lambs.

Espen & Echo, checking out the new arrivals.

Claire's morrit grey ram.

Our last lambs, from Abigail!

Our last lambs of the season! A 7.5 lb. moorit ewe lamb with a small white blaze, and a 7.5 lb. moorit spotted ram. At first, I thought the ram lamb was white, until I saw the distinct round spot on his leg. It was the perfect end to a great season. Echo is the sire. Ai lines in this pair include: Morro, Ari, Biskup, Bambi, Hnykill, Laekur, Dropi, Hunn.