I chose this breed specifically for sustainable sheep production. Although they offer a smaller carcass, they are so much better in other ways that the return on investment makes them the clear choice. St. Croix sheep essentially have a superpower when it comes to fighting off nasty parasites—especially the dreaded barber pole worm. While other …Read More
Visual appraisal, when done systematically, helps identify rams with the potential to enhance traits like growth and conformation. Selecting replacement ram lambs is a critical step in improving flock genetics and productivity. Here’s a quick guide to how I evaluate young ram lambs for breeding. Structural Soundness I start by assessing the lamb’s structure. A …Read More
and maybe you should too It’s the time of year that I start getting calls about St. Croix seed stock that include questions about whether or not I feed grain. I love that people are interested and have lots of questions. Talking sheep is one of my absolute favorite past times. Those questions are a good indicator …Read More
and you should too It’s the time of year that I start getting calls about St. Croix seed stock that include questions about whether or not I vaccinate. I love that people are interested and have lots of questions. Talking sheep is one of my absolute favorite past times. Those questions are a good indicator …Read More
Someone recently asked me how I go about selecting the right ram. This is an important question, and by asking, a new breeder is demonstrating their interest in developing a solid flock. St. Croix ram selection is the most important decision in a seed stock breeding program. Get the best ram you can afford and be prepared to …Read More
As lambing approaches, many shepherds start thinking about their ear-tagging system. I’m often asked how I do this by those new to sheep. The whole process was rather confusing to me as a beginner, so I totally understand and want to help! This post will explain which tags I use, my system for identifying lambs …Read More
Summit 1179 Jasper went in with the ewe flock on December 20 to cover any ewes that are still open after the main breeding season in October. The girls were all happy to see him and surrounded him to get a good sniff. There are four open ewes that I did not include in the …Read More
I’ve decided to experiment with bale grazing this winter. In the past, I limited my ewes to our barnyard paddock all winter, where I fed them hay in a stationary, collapsible bale feeder on a shared fence line with the rams. It worked okay, but there were some problems. Problems with Stationary Hay Feeder The …Read More
Ho-Ho-Ho! If you want lambs next year, don’t miss out on our Christmas Special. Those who reserve 2024 lambs with a deposit will enjoy substantial savings. So What’s the Special? First, we will cover the cost of each lamb’s registration and transfer fees. This represents a savings of $16 per lamb. Second, as our special …Read More
The 2023 Breeding Season on Melwood Farm started on October 7. This post describes my setup and breeding decisions.
