RAMSAY FARMS: A few promising heifers

Friday, October 16, 2009

A few promising heifers

Speaking of calves....

These first two photos are out of my 3rd generation home bred bull, SenSim Tuscon, a black baldy bull, purebred Simmental (not fullblood, purebred...and yes there is a difference). This is SenSim Rosa. She is out of SenSim Reagan (who also is the aunt to the black baldy below...so yes these two girls are sisters AND aunt/neice....so very related) a gorgeous dark cherry red cow. Rosa's EPDs (expected progeny data) are just astounding, in the top 25% of the breed for 10 of the 13 top traits that the ASA (American Simmental Association follows). For my 'commercial' herd this past year we put black bulls over all of my reds, and my dads blacks and we got both red and black calves in both groups. This year, with smaller numbers we combined the two groups into one. This girl Rosa has everything I want in a replacement heifer, except I wish she had goggles around her eyes (pigment helps keep pink eye and skin cancer from sunburning at bay)

No I didn't just change the color of the calf in PhotoShop :P This is SenSim Renata out of SensSim Tuscon and SenSim Regina (daughter of Reagan). She looks almost identical to Rosa except for color of her hide. Her numbers are also breathtaking with nearly all of her EPDs in the top 15-25% of the breed. Both girls are being retained. Renata is slightly stretched in this photo but hey...she was standing still, with her head up. Something near impossible for me to get in the cattle OR the shee! And its raining.....so they are kinda wet.

This little cutie of a calf is my favorite spotty of the year. I only had three spotted heifers (two of which are actually spotted, the other is just a carrier) and they were all born the first part of July , so only three months old. I havent' name her yet, but she is a stinker...finding ways to get in and out of the fence without leaving a trace. She kinda looks smug in this photo, doesn't she?

Below are three of my original four Guinea hens. They are ALL four HENS too. These are the plain Pearls, with one also being Pied.

1 comment:

Alaska Shetland Shepherd said...: I like the guineas!! Kaahhh kaahhh kaaahhh!!!!!!! LOL!; October 17, 2009 at 11:15 PM

Who we are

Ramsay Farms is situated in the northeastern part of Ottertail County, near Perham, Minnesota. This family farm of 320 acres has been in the Ramsay family for five generations, dating back to 1892. Today our farm prides itself on our Simmental cattle, Shetland Sheep and BlueFaced Leicester sheep. We strive to breed animals that closest match the breed standards given to them, and mindful of production, health and longevity in our animals as well.

In spring of 2016, there was a purchase of 32 acres in Green County, Wisconsin to accommodate Garrett for his work in that region. The animals have for the most part been moved to that location. Both locations will work in tandem to continue educating and promoting these animals and this way of life.

From the Shetland Sheep Society

"Shetland sheep have for generations been noted for their very soft and well crimped fleece. The wool is the finest of all native breeds and shows an amazing variety of colours and patterns. There are 11 main whole colours and 30 recognised markings.

By selecting from coloured fleeces a range of naturally coloured yarn can be produced. This eliminates the need for dyeing and therefore retains the soft feel of the natural fibre and is favoured by those who prefer a totally natural approach.

Shetland wool fibres are of a simple construction witha central cortex covered by a thin scaly cuticle, and have an average diameter of about 23 microns. However there is a range from 10-20 microns for neck and shoulder wool to 25to 35 microns for britch wool. the average staple length is 3.5 inches. The amount of crimp varies, and is most important in providing the 'bounce' required for knitwear. There is a positive correlation between fineness and crimp, with wool of the finest quality being crimped at between 8 and 12 to the inch. Wool from shetland sheep is used to produce gossamer lace, the famous 'Fair Isle' knitwear, and fine tweeds. Pure bred Shetland sheep tend to shed their fleece in sprin. The growth of new fleece can cause a rise or weak point and where this is present the fleece can sometimes be plucked or 'rooed' by hand. The timing of this can be different in each sheep, however, it is worth taking the care to get it right as rooed fleece can be amongst the softest because the fibres have no harsh cut ends as occurs with a sheared fleece.

Shetland fleece can be handspun straight from the fleece or made into rolags and then woollen spun. It can also be sorsted spun by hand, used on a peg loom or handwoven. It also felts well using either dry or wet methods. When processed commercially the wool can be made into the finest lightweight worsted cloth or heavier weight, harder wearing fabrics and tweeds."

RAMSAY FARMS

Friday, October 16, 2009

A few promising heifers

1 comment:

A long time coming!

Fine Fleece Shetland Sheep Association

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