tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738593840518763947.post9189705141943851065..comments2023-04-12T04:35:41.937-05:00Comments on RAMSAY FARMS: Microning lambsEbonwald Cardiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749634503191909772noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738593840518763947.post-2242233728159604422009-09-09T05:59:22.350-05:002009-09-09T05:59:22.350-05:00Hi Garret,
I did micron testing this spring as yo...Hi Garret,<br /><br />I did micron testing this spring as you know, as you were so kind to help me figure out how to read them. Rich also had an article in the NASSA news I found helpful. I will send samples of my lambs this fall and those will be posted on my sales blog which is still public. (Anyone reading wants to read my farm blog, all you have to do is email me and I will add you to the approved reader list). I didn't post the first set for a variety of reasons. One I didn't take it from the mid side last rib before shearing. My shearer just eye balled it and handed me a sample as he was clipping each. I noticed some handfuls were futher back but I didn't want to be OCD on him. Second most my sheep had a various amounts of growth as last year I had my shearer come 3 times to clean up my new comers etc. Many of my sheep were new and the stress of travel and change in nutrition I felt may have influenced the results. Lastly, they were not MY breeding. Results were available and shared with buyers upon request. I will publicly share all sheep lambed here and work toward my goal of a fine intermediate fleece as possible in the future. So why did I send it? Just to have a baseline and to learn what to make of the numbers compared to handle. Luckily my rams were the softest, so hopefully I am going in the right direction. It might take time but I will get there. I am knitting a scarf from my ram blended with Cashmere, and kid mohair and it is delightful to spin and knit.Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02306393089259457114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738593840518763947.post-28257376124757264482009-09-08T22:12:09.954-05:002009-09-08T22:12:09.954-05:00Also forgot to mention.
I've read on the SRS...Also forgot to mention. <br /><br />I've read on the SRS website that diet plays a very insignificant role while en utero. It only changes it .3-.5 micron or something super low. I DO rememember density was a big issue while lambs are growing inside mom, but not the overall micron itself.<br /><br />I'm not disagreeing with the article at all, just think that diet isn't entirely the culprit as i have ewes that are 34 microns and some that are 21 microns and all living and eating in the same pastures and same feed sources.Ebonwald Cardiganshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749634503191909772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738593840518763947.post-78547871279089771092009-09-08T22:09:45.763-05:002009-09-08T22:09:45.763-05:00Hi Becky!
I agree, 16-18 months is better, but wi...Hi Becky!<br /><br />I agree, 16-18 months is better, but with Shetlands I've heard that 3 years is more of the stability of fleece for Shetlands. <br /><br />I don't about you, but I'd rather not wait until they are 18 months or 2 years old to micron them and then use them. <br /><br />That's why I'll test in the fall and every spring after that. Its not an extra cost, but one I find necessary, and if they micron lower as lambs I"m tickled, but yes, I do realize they will all probably not stay that low, and will stabilize more at 3 years of age. <br /><br />That's proven with the ewes that I have that are 3 years old or older. They don't tend to change much from year to year.<br /><br />I'm also very impatient so MUST have as much information NOW on the sheep that I can. I'd die if I had to wait until they were two year olds :)Ebonwald Cardiganshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749634503191909772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738593840518763947.post-46190684011720364342009-09-08T22:01:42.442-05:002009-09-08T22:01:42.442-05:00Coincidentally, there is an article about micron t...Coincidentally, there is an article about micron testing in the issue of Sheep Industry News that I got in the mail today. You can view the article on their website,<br />www.sheepindustrynews.org Click on "Using Wool Fiber Diameter Testing for Flock Improvement"<br />Bob Padula says fall is a good time to test so you can sort out your breeding groups. But he's advocating it more for 16-18 month old rams rather than young lambs. He says, "Seed stock growers will often begin testing rams at 11 months to 12 months of age...This preliminary information is useful, but should be used with caution because fiber diameter is influenced by the diet and age of the animal. These animals should be re-tested when are being offered for sale....<br />By 16 to 18 months of age, rams are generally grown out and physically mature so fiber diameter has stablized."Becky Utechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08664957352385337093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738593840518763947.post-79422011407134672962009-09-08T17:00:38.086-05:002009-09-08T17:00:38.086-05:00Thanks, Garrett! I think I'll wait until the e...Thanks, Garrett! I think I'll wait until the end of September or about the time I put breeding groups together to snip samples from my three lambs; only the ram lamb is being used this year and I think he's finer than his sisters. If neither of the ewe lambs are as soft as I'm striving for, I might still find a good market out here as double coats are more the norm. I'll let you know what Bramble's results are, in case both of us are still interested in a trade at BSG next year.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01550786937196525098noreply@blogger.com