Psalm23Farm: June 2013

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Sheep/Goats for Sale

Shetland Ewes:

I have added a few more Shetland ewes to my sales list. Fleeces range from super fine single coats to a couple more double coated girls. All have lambed (except the yearling.) They are all good mothers. Some roo. http://psalm23farm.blogspot.com/p/shetland-sheep-for-sale.html

Ewe lambs:

So far I have...

Moorit-super fine fleece out of PS23 Irene and PS23 Huckleberry, F1 Drum Black. Both parents rooed. Single out of a yearling ewe. $300

.

White- super silky and fine fleece out of PS23 Hope and PS23 Fife. Twin out of a first time lambing 2 year old. $250

White- silky and fine fleece out of PS23 Glitter and Sommarang Gilroy $250

Moorit-very soft and super silky fleece out of SheepyHollow Sienna and Sommarang Gilroy $325

"Pet Grade" (no registration papers) ewes and wethers $125 ea.

Black with horns-soft silky fleece

Black HST / Spotted

Back Gulmoget (Mouflon)

Blacks

Moorits

Grey Katmoget (only wethers)

Ram Lambs:

Grey Katmoget, very soft and fine (full sister from last year rooed), twin. Out of PS23 Funzie, F1 Jings and Sommarang Gilroy $300

Half poll/scurred black (may carry spots) twin out of PS23 Goldenrod, F2 Orion and Sommarang Gilroy . Super soft fleece. $275

White- Crimpy fine fleece (may carry spots) twin out of PS23 Grettle, F2 Jings and Sommarang Gilroy. $250

I also may have a few moorit and possibly another black ram lamb/s to sell. I want to keep one and after that I will have the rest available.

Commercial Ewes:

I also am going to be selling a few crossbred ewes. I have two BFL X Shetland ewes, one is a grey katmoget and the other "English Blue" or charcoal. I have white Corriedale X Shetland, Shetland X Merino and Coopworth X Shetland ewes. I am not particular as to who gets sold vs. kept so you can choose. All types of fleeces (these girl's fleeces have won prizes at fleece shows including Champion, Reserve Champion and a Best of Show) sell for me and they are all good milky mothers or they are sold for slaughter only. I bred the crossbred ewes to an Ile De France X Dorset ram and the lambs are growing fantastically well.

If you are looking for crossbred ewe lambs I have plenty of white Coopworth X Shetland ewe lambs and also one black Corriedale/Coopworth/Shetland (very nice fleece on her!) $150-175 each. Group discount available depending on how many you take.

The commercial girls in full fleece.

The commercial girls a week off from lambing after being (blade) shorn.

Here are some picture of some of the crossbred girls with their Ile De France X Dorset sired lambs. The ewes will do well under a variety of rams. They could be bred to a Coopworth, Romney, BFL, CVM or Corriedale ram for more commercial ewes with great fleeces or put to a terminal sire for market lambs.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Fleece Shows

I entered these fleeces at Hoosier Hills Fiber Show in southern IN.

First place on a white Coopworth X Shetland, "Henrietta".

Second clip kid, "Indonesia"/ #613 won first place. (I never showed a mohair fleece before, their aren't too many shows for mohair.)

And Best of Show with...

A silver Corriedale X Shetland lamb fleece, "Iola".

I also showed a couple at Greencastle, IN Fiber Show.

I won a first place with a white Corriedale X Shetland/BFL, "Hava". (Hava should also win a prize for having the biggest lamb. He was 15.5# at birth and is close to 80# now!)

I won a second place with a 3/4 Coopworth X 1/4 Shetland lamb, "Idalia"

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

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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Sheep/Goats for Sale

Friday, June 21, 2013

Fleece Shows

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