Psalm23Farm: OK another lamb!!!

Monday, February 9, 2009

OK another lamb!!!

Bluebell and rambie lamb.

Baby lamb again. He's quite a bit darker in real life.

Bluebell protecting her lamb-he is in the corner.

So much for no more lambs until March! I kept my rams with my ewes in the summer and took them out on September 17th. I thought that no one would breed that early except the two non-Shetland ewes. But obviously Shetlands CAN breed early!!!! I checked udders on the ewes that I did not see come in heat and thankfully they are not ready to lamb. I do know who this guy's sire is as Campbell is the only ram that can sire katmoget and Bluebell does not have the katmoget gene.

(This year I think my rams can live by themselves !)

5 comments:

Ebonwald CardigansFebruary 9, 2009 at 3:27 PM
congrats Laura on your first shetland! :) Now you have a month to wait until the rest of the shetlands lamb! When do your mules lamb?
ReplyDelete
Replies
SharrieFebruary 9, 2009 at 5:34 PM
At least he is a handsome little guy, and he is healthy although unexpected.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Becky UtechtFebruary 9, 2009 at 6:46 PM
Oh what a cutie! At least you know who the dad is by his pattern. I have run my rams and ewes together for the summer, but I got them separated by early August. I don't dare do that now that I have the BFLs. Enjoy your new lambs.
ReplyDelete
Replies
LauraFebruary 11, 2009 at 5:36 AM
I put the rams in on Oct. 26 so they should start around the 20th of March. I only kept 2 Shetland mules I bred both to my NCC, but I think on may have re-cycled and then would be bred to a Shetland. I do have about 10 ewes bred to the BFL for mules.

Laura
ReplyDelete
Replies
LaelFebruary 14, 2009 at 8:18 PM
Hey, Laura - that lamb sure is a cutie. We hope to shear here in about a month. The first group of BWS start lambing end of March, the Shetlands start mid-April, then the rest of the BWS start late April. I'm getting impatient!
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Welcome to Psalm 23 Farm

I'm breeding my NASSA registered Shetland sheep for fine and med. fine lustrous single coated fleeces in both the crimpy and the locky, wavy fleece styles. I have a wide range of colors and makings as well as the bright pure whites. I'm emphasizing on production, mothering ability and sound conformation. I have both horned and naturally polled Shetland rams and a few horned Shetland ewes.

I also produce fast growing grass-fed market lambs and commercial ewes with excellent fleece. (Shetland x Coopworth and Shetland x Australian Corriedale.) These F1 (first generation cross) ewes are great maternal ewes to put under a terminal sire for the ultimate grass fed market lamb.

Angora goats are my other love. I'm selecting for fine yearling grade mohair in adult animals. All of my goats are CAGBA (colored) or AAGBA (white) registered. I'm also selecting for sound healthy goats.

Posts will be about the Shetlands and Angoras with an occasional post about the other animals on the farm. Posts will also be about wool, spinning and a variety of other topics.

Psalm 23 Farm sells raw "jacketed" wool and mohair fleeces, mohair locks, dyed and natural Shetland and Shetland/mohair roving. Also sheepskins, quilt batts, handspun yarn, mohair lock yarn, and mill spun yarn.

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 recognized 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 25 to 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 spring. 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 fibers 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 worsted 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."

Psalm23Farm

Pages

Monday, February 9, 2009

OK another lamb!!!

5 comments:

Followers

About Me