Fertility, Prolificacy, and Fecundity: What are ewe talking about?
Shepherds often toss around three terms when discussing ewes: fertility, prolificacy, and fecundity.
From The Farm
Barn and Lambing Pens Setup
I often get questions about my barn and lambing pens setup. I remember when I started with sheep several years ago, I had lots of questions too! This post should help explain. The Barn The barn was built in November 2019 and is 32 feet long and 24 feet wide. I added a 16-foot open …Read More
We are Under Siege: Foot Rot has Found Us
This year has been full of challenges, and now we get to add foot rot to the list. First, we had an explosion of triplets. Then we got way more rain than we imagined we would, all summer long. That rain has brought some very nasty business to the farm: foot rot. Every year during …Read More
Sometimes, It’s a Zebra
“Doctors are taught ‘when you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras,’ meaning a doctor should first think about what is a more common—and potentially more likely—diagnosis. When I first saw this little lamb out in the pasture with a swollen jaw and droopy demeanor, I thought of the horses. I immediately assumed she had a …Read More
“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”
Ever notice that the plans you make rarely work out? You are so right, Mr. Allen Saunders. I got up early this morning with plans to head out to the pasture with the machete to finish chopping down the tall ironweed before it goes to seed. I started it two days ago but the heat …Read More
Data Collection and Estimated Breeding Values for Sheep
I use data collection to improve my sheep genetics. As my lambs are born, I record their pedigree information, tag numbers, and birth weight within their first 24 hours. Then when the lambs reach an average of 60 days old, I weigh them again. I repeat this process again at 90 and 120 days. I …Read More
Color in St. Croix Hair Sheep
Did you know you can find color in a St. Croix? World, meet Summit Farms Lillian, a 100% purebred, registered St. Croix Hair Sheep. She joined the farm this April, when she was still fluffy with her winter coat. I had no idea what was hiding beneath that fluff: red speckles! I had already noticed …Read More
Our Farm was Featured in Farm and Dairy!
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Sarah Donaldson contacted me by email on March 3rd this year, requesting a visit so that our farm could be featured in Farm and Dairy. She said “I heard about your farm through the Livestock Conservancy a while ago – it sounds like you’re doing some interesting work with preserving heritage breeds…” Obviously, I feel …Read More
Katahdin Project
I added a new project to the farm this week: Registered Katahdin sheep. This is an idea I have toyed with for the last two years. My St. Croix are still my priority, and that will not change. I am dedicated to preserving the breed. However, I also recognize the value of a heavier meat …Read More
Lambageddon 2022: The Year of the Triplets
I called this year’s lambing season “Lambageddon 2022” because I had so many lambs born in a short period of time. I had lots of triplets to boot. Lambing is fun … and stressful … and tiresome. I’m a bit of a worry wart, so I get up once or twice each night to check …Read More