RAMSAY FARMS: fencing

Showing posts with label fencing. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Serving Time

These two boys are serving time behind 'bars' as they are constantly sliding underneath my woven sheep fencing! I haven't had time to go and add an electric wire to the 'temporary' fencing so they are being forced to spend a long 'time out' in the barn.

Jazz is REALLY sorry and was begging for chin scratches.

Mohician seemed a bit confused as to why he was inside.

Here he looks a little more guilty. Shame shame!!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Fencing

Well my dad and I got three more acres fenced in for the sheep today. Its always a good feeling to get the sheep onto fresh pasture. With all the threatening of rain the last few weeks we still haven't gotten any. Nothing measurable anyway. We haven't really had any rain since the good flooding we got back in March when I was sleeping in the barn watching the AI lambs being born. The ground was still frozen then and needless to say, the water ran away and didn't soak in.

We also got the spotted group of cattle into their pasture at home today. The solid black and solid red girls already went out to pasture a few weeks ago and are loving it out there.

I got the electronet up to section off the 3 acres into three smaller pastures. This now brings my acreage for the sheep up to over 9 acres of rotational grazing for the ewes and 2 acres for the rams. I still do feed hay as they need it but I find they don't really want it. They also have fresh water daily but don't seem to drink it much when they have fresh grass to eat. They must be getting it from grasses and forbs that are filled with water?

We also started cutting first crop hay. If it doesn't rain we won't have any 2nd crop which scares me as this will be our third dry summer in a row and we don't really want to be worrying about hay and pasture when its only the first week of June!

On other weather related news.....we have had temperatures at night hovering around 32 degrees and have had several nights with frost advisories and such. Some neighbors have lost their veggies like green peppers and tomatoes to the cold if they didn't cover them. The extended forecast shows temperatures in the 50s and 60s which is about 20 degrees cooler than average temps. Today's average for our town is 76 degrees. I think it hit 50 today. Not really fun.

Come on summer!

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

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Serving Time

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Fencing

A long time coming!

Fine Fleece Shetland Sheep Association

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