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.
I am the only St. Croix Hair Sheep breeder enrolled in and submitting data to the National Sheep Improvement Program – NSIP.
Sheep have a remarkable ability to visually recognize each other, especially family members, and humans.
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
2023 Spring lambs start arriving at the end of February. My waitlist folks can expect to hear from me in April.
