RAMSAY FARMS: April 2013

Monday, April 22, 2013

Lambs abound in 2013

With Facebook pages now much easier to post on, and update, most of what goes on, on our farm is updated there. So for those of you not on FB, my apologies.

I do like the idea of Blogger better for thought out blog posts, giving my experiences and opinions, and for listing things, such as lambs :)

We are well underway with lambing here. Both our Mules and our Shetlands are over halfway done. Several of the rams I used, have had all their lambs born already so I will post them first.

Whistlestop 1123 - black light badgerface ram was bred to the following ewes:

WhitePine Salome - horned black yuglet sokket flecket (Jazz x ShelteringPines Snow Cloud) - produced a black light badgerface smirslet ewe lamb. We will wait to see if she's horned ( I am hoping!)

WhitePine Terah - black ewe (UTS Arapaho x BlackForest Tilly (a Forrest daughter)) - produced twins, a black ewe and a moorit light badgerface ewe. both just stunning.

WhitePine Fiji - black ewe (White Pine Roman AI (Orion) x ShelteringPines Fleur de Lis - produced a smashing moorit light badgerface ram. If all turns out, I want to hang on to this guy.

WhitePine Naomi - fawn katmoget (Wintertime Blues AI x ShelteringPines Nirvana) produced a gorgeous moorit light badgerface ewe. i'm calling dibs on this ewe lamb too.

WhitePine Skor - shaela ewe (FirthofFifth Don Telmo Bourbon x FirthofFifth Assam Meleng) produced twin ewe lambs: a black ewe (could be shaela) and a moorit light badgerface ewe. She always produces quality lambs but never modified....hence why she's still here.

WhitePine Faith - gray katmoget krunet sokket ewe (Jazz x Minwawe Flopsy) produced twin ewe lambs: a black ewe and a black light badgerface ewe. Both have krunets.

UTS Cinnibarina - moorit ewe (UTS Taggerty x UTS Anglaise) produce twin ewe lambs! Both moorit light badgerface.

FirthofFifth Rahu - white illget ewe (Forrest x RYL Rachildas) produced a POLLED and smashing black light badgerface ram. Rahu never disappoints me with her lambs and he is breathtaking.

FirthofFifth Ashegon - moorit ewe (Wintertime Blues AI x FirthofFifth Ashanti) produced a moorit light badgerface ewe! Another keeper.

BlackForst Tokhara - fawn ewe (WhitePine Ephraim AI x BlackForest Towanda (a Forrest daughter) produced twin rams, both moorit light badgerface.

WhitePine Bethany AI - moorit ewe - Heights Orion x Justalit'l Black Lambo - produced twins: a black ewe and a black lightbadger face ram, who's also polled. he's incredible.

And then we have RTF Robb a white horned ram. He is out of WhitePine Barnabas AI x WhitePine Rush (FirthofFifth Aman AI x RYL Rachildas). His mom was sold as a bred ewe and I liked him so much as a lamb that I traded him back for a different ewe :)

He was bred to the following ewes:

WinterSky Layla AI - mioget horned ewe (Heights Orion x Underhill Loretta Lynn). She produced twin ewe lambs: a white and a moorit. Let's hope for horns :)

Sommarang Eva - gray katmoget ewe (Underhill Bandit x V Creek Snowflake) produced a spotted gray katmoget ewe lamb.

BlackForest Azteca - emsket ewe (WhitePine Ephraim AI x FirthofFifth Agio) produced what will be an emsket ewe lamb!

WhitePine Tecate - gray kamoget ewe (FirthofFifth Nekomis x BlackForest Tilly) produced a smashing ram lamb. He's Musket however. And Robb is Awt/Aa. and I don't own a musket ram (or gray). So either he belongs to a musket ewe and my dad got mixed up when they were born (I was away when she lambed). So we shall hold out on registering him until we know parentage. He's so worth it though!

WhitePine Neriah - gray katmoget (Wintertime Blues AI x ShelteringPines Nirvana) produced a lovely white ewe lamb.

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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

Monday, April 22, 2013

Lambs abound in 2013

A long time coming!

Fine Fleece Shetland Sheep Association

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