2012 Goals

I've been spending too much time in the barn these past few weeks. We have no snow, temperatures are finally normal (below zero for a high) for this time of year and I sit out with the girls in my full Carhart bibs and jacket and my BOGS insulated knee high boots.

I've concluded several MUST DO's for this 2012 year. Some things are a gradual improvement from year to year and will never be complete (like breeding the perfect 1927 standard Shetland). Things I am NEED to do this year are the following:

*Continue fencing with permanent fence. There is a 25 acre pasture that I would like to fence in to paddocks. either 3 or 5 acre paddocks. If I can afford to do the perimeter fence with permanent fencing the inside would be doable with the electro-net from Premier 1 Supplies.

*Said pasture would need to be reseeded/frost seeded/inter-seeded, one paddock at a time (or two).

These above two projects would be quite time consuming and expensive, but on top of my priority list.


*I've been invited over to the UK for a trip to the Shetland Islands and/or the National SSS show in Melton. I haven't decided if I can afford to go there for either but this is high on my wish list. If I would go, there would be many ram inspections done in hopes of finding a few rams to collect and have their semen send back to the US for a much needed new dose of blood.There are several on the 'short list' already but need/want to see them in person, although I trust their breeders' knowledge way better than my own :)

*I wish to continue to market my wool, meat and breeding stock in every manner possible. I need to have more wool processed in to roving and quilt batts as that seems to be the majority of my sales so far.

*There are several things I really would like:

Gulmoget horned ram with fine fleece and stellar conformation

Solid moorit horned ram with fine fleece and stellar conformation

Texel ram for terminal lamb production for my Mules.


Thus far I have been very blessed and fortunate to have outlets for many of my breeding stock, meat and wool, but with 100+ Shetlands, there is always wool to be sold. I'm lucky the local Spinning Guild supports and LOVES my 1927 standard Shetland Wool.

We shall see what 2012 brings. I'm quite eager to see if my breeding groups were wise ones. I'm excited but am more confident that I will know what to expect from my breedings. I can always be proven wrong, but over the years I've been honing in on who to breed to who and fortunately its in the right direction :)

My list seems shorter this year than years prior, but I feel that I'm really making progress towards what I want to do. If i can get this new 25 acres fenced in for sheep, I would be able to grow my Mule flock upwards of 100 ewes for terminal lambs and that would be incredible!

Photo Heavy Fall

I had moments of time and wanted to show you a bit of my flock, since i've been obviously absent for awhile.

The first few photos are of the rams. Their new ram paddocks and they are LOVING it. All beefy (for a Shetland) and in pristine health and condition. I called in a deep voice "Here boys" and the first photo is what they did in response. I do not grain or treat my rams. And most are NOT friendly.

This is my F1 Heatheram Lightning ram, WhitePine City High. He is a modified katmoget out of FirthofFifth Koosi who is F1 Todhill Jericho. His horns last fall looked fatal, but they curved around and look pretty good now actually. He's really filled out this summer and I'm taking him to Jefferson with me.

Below the two black based katmogets (City high in the rear, and Flo Rida in the front). They are my  yearlings I am showing this year. Fo Rida is F1 Holly out of ShelteringPines Fleur de Lis. FirthofFifth Kiso is in the far back and is a modified moorit katmoget with scurs. His sire is WhitePine Eprhaim, an F1 Orion who was mioget.

I love to pick on Stephen Rouse. He has grass this tall and says he is in a drought. I hope all of my 'droughts' are this plentiful :) :P Below are my 2 year olds with my 4 year old Jazz in the front. They have all really filled out this year and look really great.All of them are F1s except for Christian (black, horned) who is F2.

Then I went to see the girls in their rotationially grazed paddocks. This is day 2 of their grazing this pen and they didn't want to be moved and were for the most part wary of my presence. This is the closest they have been to the buildilngs since lambing.

Another shot. It was a bit brisk today at 65 and overcast and windy. Sure signs of fall.

Below is my true shaela (whole color, not blend of black/white fibers) WhitePine Skor. Her daughter is a Levi offspring who looks like she may be modified as well. I'll know more when shearing comes as it took her mother and grandmother the same amount of time to tell me what they would be. Skor is a bit lower in leg than some of my others (the word diversity strikes me here) and her daughter has the same lower leg, which is fine with me!

Justalit'l Black Lambo. A vision at ten years of age. Behind her is her yearling gray katmoget Blu Cantrell (F1 Jericho) and behind them is Lambo's 2 year old F1 Orion daughter Bethany. I'm amazed at the family groups that stay bonded even when seperated for lambing or breeding groups.

Sheltering Pines Catalonia. One of two BFL adult ewes left on my farm. She's never been friendly until this year and she was a welcome guest for scratches.

Winter Sky Layla almost came up to me. she is a mioget F1 Orion out of Underhill Loretta Lynne. she was bred purebred two years and two years to the BFL for mules. Her lambs are always growthy, and her first year shetland ram was a tasty yearling i butchered and ate. Her lamb this year is a Mule ram lamb so I'll probably keep him to eat too.

Parasite Resistance

A big goal with my flock is to have as little chemical dependency for worms of all kinds and liver flukes as I possibly can. Using the FAMACHA eye color chart for Barber Pole anemia I am happy to report that less than 3% of all 150+ sheep I checked today were even marginally anemic. The Shetlands had the highest level of parasite resistance, and only the oldest ewes (8 and 9 respectively) were marginal.

By doing my own fecal floats over the course of the wet summer I'm happy to report that I have not found any round worms or other stomach worms in the fecals. I checked nearly every animal individually and had every 15th animal or so also tested at the vet clinic I use to make sure I wasn't just overlooking them.

I have seen tapeworm segments in a few of the BFL poops and they were immediately given valbazen. Hey. Worms happen. Being open and honest about it can only help the greater group of shepherds.

No tapes in the Shetlands. I am sure many neighbors have seen me stooped or crouched over a sprinkling of sheep poops examining them for tape segments....and chasing sheep down that WERE pooping so I can make sure that those are indeed their poops. Yes. Crazy shepherd.

I was really proud of how cherry red the eye lid membranes were for the majority of the sheep. With the lush pastures and wet and soggy grounds, I was nervous about worms. I guess even though I'll continue to check for worms, I can honestly say that I'm doing OK in that department and choosing animals that have a higher resistance to them.

I also was able to separate the sheep that I'm taking to Jefferson. I believe I'm showing 17 sheep and taking about 22 (some will be for sale). I'm also bringing back a few sheep for shepherds and with the new to me trailer I should be able to fit them all in after doing a 'dry run' today with the show team.

i don't grain my sheep and I don't push the envelope with their growth or feeding to win at the shows, but I do like to take them there to give people an idea of the type of sheep that I am raising and breeding for.

I'm also really tickled with the fleeces on the lambs this year. While not every lamb has the ultra fine crimpy UK fleece, the others have more of a bold crimp, but it is still soft. I have only one that is straighter fleeced and double coated (like his mother) but they are both gorgeous modified colors.

The ram lambs all have their 'boy parts' and bites are looking pretty awesome right now too. Horns are good and there are several with scurs that could be beneficial to a breeding program for polled lines.

when and if time allows, I will be getting photos of some of the sale animals before Jefferson so I can bring them along if need be. Growth and condition scores on all lambs and ewes are just incredible due to the STILL lush green pastures.

That reminds me...I better go move the electro-netting again!

Cattle are finally out to summer pasture

We kept 8 cows that are 9 months pregnant home. They are all due any moment. Seriously. I've not typically had cows calving so late but I wanted to have some of the UK semen utilized the first year. So far from that semen I have a red/white and a yellow/white. Both bulls. Due to the limited semen (20 straws of each) I will be retaining both to evaluate as yearlings. Lord only knows what these 8 at home will produce. They'll be spotted. I'm hoping for a lot of heifers and yellow!

The larger group of 19 went to our northern pasture. Its about 30 acres of lower lying area, where the grasses never dry out. Since nothing has grazed it this year some of the meadow grasses are taller than the cows back! Its so impressive. The stock ponds are full of water to the brim and the clovers, fescues and other grasses are so lush they will have a glorious time out there. There is so much grass I am hoping to not have to bring them home until deer hunting season which is the 1st weekend in November.

What a great stress reliever!

The rest of the day will be spent mowing my lawn, my parents, my sister's, and then weed pulling and setting up the dog agility courses again. I'd hate to get the girls too rusty :)

Enjoy your day everyone! its a beautiful one here!

random pasture photos

A calm view of the sheep in front and the cattle in the back. A nice calm 50 degree day today. Yes we are still under our average. WAAAAAAAAAAY under. Come on rain! Its great grass growing temperatures!

FifthofFifth Evidence of Autumn is laying down with her ewe lamb grazing close by. Autumn is trying to hide in the shoulder high grasses!
Below is RiverOaks Lucky with her Willowcroft Jamie son. He is a smooth polled boy at 10 weeks old!
Black Forest Tilly is now getting side dusting a year after she was born. Show her with her ewe lamb Terah with white dandelion seed heads on her neck :)
Wintertime Galina is my solid sided hold out. Is it slowing coming in at the britch? I can't tell. She is out of Wintertime Forrest and Sheltering Pines Holy Grail.
Potosi Llandewwi from Kathy Davidson in PA! Llandewwi is a little dirty but she is filling out nicely.