Sheep, sheep and more sheep

Due to our overwhelming schedule so many little details slipped by the wayside.
So, this blog is dedicated to the sheep.
The next few  blogs will be all PUPPIES!!



So, this is what has been happening on the sheep side of things:

 The grazing season started late due to extremely dry conditions and  therefore no grass on the pastures.
We finally did turn the ewes and their lambs out.
The ewes thought this was sheep heaven, still not a lot of grass but will have to make do with what we have.

The winter born lambs are doing really well and we are particularly happy with the Blue Faced Leicester lambs we have.
These lambs are LONG, and alert and cute as a button.

OUR BFL ram, father of some of our lambs this year.



The sheep were in a leaner condition than I like but looking at how well the lambs are doing, all I can say is that the ewes are working hard and raising some heavy weights.

Mom and suffolk x lamb

Shearing time rolled around and it took quite a bit of preparation to get things set up outside the coverall for shearing.
We had high winds and arid conditions the first day.

Roy was the chute boss for most of the day, ensuring all the sheep went in a timely and orderly fashion into the shearing chute.
The wool was gathered up and pressed into a a bag for shipping to the Canadian Wool Growers.
Two and a half days later, it was all said and done.

Yep, that's me.

We did have funny moments when some neighborhood sheep came to be shorn.

One a huge Jacob ram, with foot long horns provided some entertainment,

some other local heavy weights and of course,

 those few sheep that have dodged being sheared for the last few years.

Earnie coming to be shorn.

 The ewes heading back out to pasture after shearing.
They look pretty naked.

Their trusty sarplaninac guardian,  ever watchful. 

Mali

 Coming in after a day of grazing.

The new barn

Three weeks ago the rebuilding of our barn started.
today, the outside ( except for the doors) is done.

So, here are a series of photo's to show how the building went:

This is what we had:

This is what happened to it:

 This is the rebuild:

almost done, 3 weeks later

We decided to to go with a traditional red barn.

We are excited about our new barn and look forward to "moving in".

4-H Achievement day

I cannot believe how busy we have been, that has left me with no time to do any blogging so I have a few things to catch up on.
I will start with the 4-H Achievement day.

Roy and Rocky, Club Champion 2015

Roy did a whole bunch of livestock projects this past year.
He did a market steer, market lamb, prospect ewe lamb, yearling ewe with lamb and mature ewe with lambs.
In total 8 animals to prepare for the show and sale day.

Roy, Market Lamb Buddy.

The preparations start way before the achievement day show.
Weeks before the lambs are washed and trimmed.
The hooves are done, the wool is carded and working on getting them well halter trained for the show.

Unfortunately for Roy, his one lamb got quite seriously injured from his mature ewe so that really put a spoke in the wheel on that project.
The lamb is still recovering and we hope that it will be fully healed before the next show.

Roy's steer has always been a little touchy.
He is not mean but if bothered, would kick.
Roy and I spent lots of time working with him.
He has been washed down, clipped and  sprayed down in an attempt to keep his hair on him so he does not shed out ( this failed as he did shed out..).
Jess gave advice and helped Roy with some of the clipping as Rocky was a little feisty.

Finally it was the day before show day.
Time to pack show things, the list includes buckets, feed, show halters, grooming tools, soaps, sprays, hair dye, back number holders, show sticks, grooming stand, shears, clippers, spray nozels, foamers,
towels, wet wipes, vinegar, show clothes etc.

The animals get loaded and taken to the wash bays at the arena and the day is spent washing and drying the animals.
The black Angus steer gets some black hair dye to colour over the sun bleached red bits.
The lambs was washed with a bluing soap to make them all nice and white.

The whole day is spent cleaning and cleaning and making sure they look perfect.

Show day starts bright and early.



The animals are fed, watered and spot washed and dried.
They get installed into their stalls.



The market steer and lamb get their final weigh in.

The show gets under way.

Roy won the ewe lamb class, and placed second in some of the other conformation classes.
He placed 3rd in the Market lamb class, as his lamb did not have as much "finish" as the two above him.

On the market steer he did really well.
His steer Rocky ( home bred) won the Club Champion 2015.
( Jess won the club Championship last year with another home bred steer)
He won the Rate of  Grain. ( ADG 3.3lbs/day).
His starting weight was 530 lbs in November, he finished at a respectful 1278lbs.
Although he did not look huge, he was well finished and was one of the heaviest  steers in the club.
Roy placed second in both grooming and showmanship.
He handled a nervous steer well and we are proud of his achievement.

Thank you to all the buyers who came out to support 4-H and the kids.
A special thanks to DELORME ENTERPRISES in High Prairie for purchasing Roy's steer.

Roy decided to donate the proceeds from the sale of his lamb to the High Prairie Food Bank,
a thank you to the Community for all it has done to help us this past year.
Thank you to Len Parke for Purchasing this lamb, all the money will be donated.

As the sheep leader of the club, I am really proud with how the sheep members conducted themselves, they worked hard and  their animals looked great.