RAMSAY FARMS: AI stats

Saturday, March 28, 2009

AI stats

Well here is the break down of lambs for AI:

Total AI Lambs: 17
Total Ram lambs: 14
Total Ewe lambs: 3

Nice ration huh? :)

Colors:
three black rams
two fawn katmoget rams
two musket rams (one is Hst)
two white rams
four moorit based rams
one gray katmoget ram
two moorit based ewes
one fawn katmoget ewe

Weights: Average weight was seven pounds
lowest weight: 5.5#
highest weight: 8#

Mostly all nice sized lambs!

Seven ewes twinned, three ewes singled with the singles coming from two year old ewes, the twins from mature ewes.

Orion I used six straws and got 8 ram lambs and 2 ewes
Holly I used one straw and got 1 ram lamb and 1 ewe
Minder I used one straw and got 2 ram lambs
Timothy I used one straw and got 2 ram lambs
Jamie I used one straw and got 1 ram lamb.

Overall I'm quite impressed with structure and many of the lambs have a very single coated, even fleece with very few primary follicles. They did not necessarily come from my softest ewes however.

I did get spots (krunet, smirslet and sokket) and modified (mioget and fawn) and the Jamie lamb appears to have no horn buds at this time. His grandfather Sheltering Pines Bombarde is a poll carrier and down from Roban Dillon lines, so its a possiblility as most of the other boys already have substantial horn buds.

4 comments:

penni said...: Do you really want more boys than girls -- or are you funning us? With the dogs, I always hoped for more female puppies -- and that's what buyers wanted. The exception, of course, being a top show boy -- as if a breeder is normally going to sell a boy that good.

If it was rams you wanted, then you REALLY got them. If not, I'm sorry.; March 28, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Franna said...: Wow! If someone's looking for AI rams, I know where to send them!
Looking forward to "watching" them grow.
Will you be traveling "west" this year?
- Franna; March 28, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Sabrina Wille Erickson said...: Hey Garrett,

Congratulations on all of those incredible babies. It's wonderful that everything seemed to go well with the births too. I hope they all grow up healthy and turn into some exciting additions to your flock. They are beautiful!; March 28, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Juliann said...: Very cool! If I were to do AI, I would want tons of ram lambs to spread those F2's around.
That Jamie ram lamb sounds like someone worth keeping an eye on. Hope he's polled!; March 28, 2009 at 7:04 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

Saturday, March 28, 2009

AI stats

4 comments:

A long time coming!

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