Psalm23Farm: Future flock sires

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Future flock sires

PS23 Fife (an F1 Orion out of SheepyHollow Sienna) This boy is probably the finest fleeced lamb I've produced and he is growing nicely. This boy is going to be getting a breeding group this fall.

Windwept Lime's ram lamb. He is a month younger than the other ram lambs. He is not able to be registered as I don't know who his sire is, but he is turning out nicely and is for sale for $100.

PS23 Fandango ( an F2 Greyling, F3 Orion) is a keeper as he is unrelated to most of my sheep and I like his fleece (which is much darker underneath) and his conformation a lot. He is out of Maureen Koch's WalnutRise Trevor who is a big ram so this guy might help improve the size of my sheep. I'm not going to use him this fall though.

PS23 Falkirk (an F1 Orion out of SheepyHollow Sienna) He is also very fine.

PS23 Fairlight (an F1 Jings F3 Holly/Greyling out of Sabbath Farm Fonteyn) His fleece is very fine and I really like is conformation. He is also getting a breeding group this fall.

PS23 Fetlar (an F1 Orion out of UnderTheSon Claremori) I'm not sure what to think about his horns/scurrs so I'll probably keep him overwinter and see how they grow before selling , using him or culling him. He is the least fine of these ram lambs, but his fleece is still nice. His fleece is more intermediate.

6 comments:

BethanyJuly 7, 2009 at 7:31 PM
They are all so handsome. Enjoyed your blog.
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KaraJuly 7, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Nice looking rams. Looks like you have a very nice katmoget yourself! Thanks for visiting.
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LaelJuly 7, 2009 at 8:49 PM
Fandango's coloring looks a lot like one of our lambs this year - VERY DARK brown underneath, VERY DARK brown head, a spot on the back, which is fading - katmoget. Of course, his mom is dark brown, so that might explain it - but the rest of our kats are moorit or fawn - or maybe musket? Some of the colors still confuse me!
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RaynaJuly 8, 2009 at 6:14 AM
Looove that F1 Orion! Would happen to be interested in trading for anything, would ya? :D
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MimJuly 8, 2009 at 7:25 AM
Nice rams! Katmoget coloring is a favorite of mine.
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LauraJuly 9, 2009 at 5:41 AM
Thanks!

Rayna, the Orion boy may be spoken for, but if he comes available I'll let you know.

Lael,Fawn Katmgogets keep their dark belly and the musket (and light grey)ones bellies' fade out.
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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."

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Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Future flock sires

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