RAMSAY FARMS: I'm done, I quit. I'm going to town

Friday, March 20, 2009

I'm done, I quit. I'm going to town

Well I haven't posted any lamb photos because I don't have any yet! Ugh.

I was told by several shepherds that have been 'in the biz' longer than I that they can go earlier than their due date. One even moved the due date up two days for me. So since last Sunday I've been sleeping the barn in preparation for early lambs, lambing problems, detached placentas (yes I'm Debbie Downer all doom and gloom) but its better to be prepared than go out and find a dead ewe with a stuck lamb!

The wireless security camera doesn't work for my parents house or mine. We have a one hundred year old solid stone barn whose walls are a good foot thick. Add to that a few silos in the way of the signal and big metal doors and you can see why the camera doesn't work. My house is a good 300-400 feet from the far side of the barn where the ewes are currently at, so I was not expecting this security camera to work. I thought about a cable one but stringing 400 feet of cable across three farm roads where our huge tractors drive over the constantly freezing and thawing roads just didn't seem feasible. So sleeping in the barn works. I think I'll make our last horse stall into a 'waiting room' for me and get a small table and futon in there wtih a plug in heater. I saw at someone's farm they had an 'office' out in their barn with huge windows to watch the sheep out of from a warm(er) room.

Online gestation calculators tell me my sheep are due SUNDAY and not TODAY. I have so many girls with tails sticking out, constantly looking back at their sides, pawing, nesting, panting, waddling. I've never been such a nervous wreck, especially since they are AI lambs out of some of the last straws of these rams....it makes me more nervous. I'm sure everything will be fine, but I am done! Those ewes are too selfish and holding in all those lambs. I'm going in to town for coffee :)

3 comments:

Sherilyn said...: Poor G! You know..."A watched pot..." so I'm sure it's the same with ewes. Hang in there and I'm sure you will be up to your kneecaps in lambs in the near future. Good luck!

Hugs!
S; March 20, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Becky Utecht said...: I'm glad you posted, I was wondering if your lambing had started yet. I'm with you on the worrying part. Sorry to hear the camera didn't work out for you -- good idea to make yourself a comfortable area in the barn. I'm sure you'll be seeing LOTS of action soon.
According the my lamb calculator, a breeding date of Oct. 25 would give you a due date of Mar. 19, but I always just count ahead 21 weeks (147 days) from the breeding date and mark the calendar for that. Of course my girls usually have plans of their own. LOL.; March 20, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Kara said...: I have one ewe that I swear is in labor and as soon as she sees me she stops it! I think she is doing it on purpose because I watched her deliver last year. I am glad you took a coffee break. Try not to worry too much you will have lambs up to your eyeballs very soon. My rams were put in on Oct. 22nd and only one ewe has lambed so far.; March 20, 2009 at 2:04 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

Friday, March 20, 2009

I'm done, I quit. I'm going to town

3 comments:

A long time coming!

Fine Fleece Shetland Sheep Association

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