Money-Making Ideas To Boost Farm Income “-Like” Breed

Scottish Blackface Good For Tough Conditions sheep have goat-like Although the is the most According to the Barrhead, Alberta man, foraging habits and numerous sheep breed in the , these sheep are in demand with stock dog train- produce a coarse, ers because people who compete at stock dog long wool fleece, there are only small numbers in North says Canadian America which makes it more of a unique trials have had their dogs completely shut down breeder Ron “heritage” breed. when these sheep have been used in competi- Bowick. They are very distinctive looking, with tions. The dogs aren’t expecting, or used to, such large curled horns and a roman nose. The aggressive sheep, and have been sent flying. horns are similar to the wild Big Horn “This breed is very tough, with goat-like Sheep’s and they produce a coarse, long foraging habits. Because of their aggressive- wool fleece. ness with predators, they have a reputation for herd of this breed in North America, with 105 enough at the time. The Scottish Blackface is raised here having ‘bad attitudes,’ but they are exceptional females. He doesn’t think there are even Bowick sells 20 sheep per year for breed- mainly for meat, but the wool is good for mothers and can survive harsh conditions 1,000 in all of Canada. ing stock, with animals going to Ontario, carpets and rugs. In the U.K., it is valuable thriving on poor quality forage,” he explains. Both the ewe and ram have horns, but the Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and B.C., to date. for making into “tweed” fabric. The meat “They are tougher when it comes to most ewes’ curve into a “C” shape, while the rams’ Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ron has a nice, mellow taste. ailments and recover on their own more eas- develop a full curl. Bowick has a ram with Bowick, R.R. 1, Barrhead, Alberta, Canada “These sheep have a good, hard, black ily,” he explains. “Problems have to be fairly 37-in. horns measured from the base to the T7N 1N4 (ph 780 674-4349) or The Scot- hoof that takes basically no maintenance,” severe before you can even tell that there are end of the curve. tish Blackface Sheep Breeder’s Associa- says Ron Bowick, a Canadian breeder. any. For example, they won’t even limp un- He once had someone contact him look- tion, 1699 HH Hwy., Willow Springs, Mo. “That’s a big plus, especially on my type of til they’ve practically lost a toe. They also ing for sheep with big enough horns that they 65793 (ph 417 962-5499 or 417 962-5466; peatland pasture. I almost never have to trim have a higher resistance to intestinal worms.” would be suitable for his hunting preserve, [email protected]; www.geocities.com/ any hooves.” Bowick believes he may have the largest but Bowick didn’t have any that were old blackies_sbsba/sbsba). Rare Soay Sheep Look Like Small Deer Soay sheep are a rare domestic breed with distinctive, primitive looks that give them an exotic look. Almost deer-like in appearance and behavior, they are small. Ewes average 45 to 55 pounds and rams between 60 and 85 Dave and Mary Falk pounds. developed this hardy Soays seldom grow over 24 in. at the shoul- breed of sheep that thrives on grass der and their bodies and hips are narrower with no grain. than the more modern breeds. Their size makes them easy to handle, although they are generally shy, aloof and wary, especially the ewes. “They resemble small antelope or deer with fleeces that may be blonde, fawn, shades of brown, or black,” says Nancy Hibbing, sec- retary/treasurer of Soays of America, Inc., a group dedicated to conserving, promoting Sheep Bred For Grass-Based Dairy and registering the breed. “Most Soay sheep have light markings on Exotic Soay sheep are a rare breed that Milking sheep in northern Wisconsin re- Market lambs are sold privately for $1.75/ the belly, rump, over the eyes and under the don’t need shearing or tail docking. quires a special kind of sheep, says Mary lb. live weight plus processing, mostly to tail and jaw. There may also be white mark- Soays lamb easily (twinning is common), Falk. Falk, with her husband Dave, has been cheese customers. The Falks haul them to a ings on the face, poll and lower legs. Like they require minimal hoof care and don’t developing a hardy breed of dairy sheep that USDA-inspected meat processor where the antelope, these graceful sheep sprint-jump on need shearing or tail docking. They shed thrives on grass with no grain. lamb is dry aged, European style, for two to all fours when frightened or feeling frisky. their wool in spring so it can be collected “We’ve been working on our sheep breed three weeks. There are thought to be less than 500 pure just before shedding by either plucking or for 20 generations now,” she says. “At first “The meat is like velvet when you eat it,” Soay in North America, and only about 2,500 shearing. we were aiming for the organic lamb mar- she says. “Lamb is like cheese; as it ages, it throughout the world.” Although Soays are considered a hair ket so we started with Romney Marsh, changes texture and flavor. The flavor is con- The Soay’s face is “dished”, and rams have breed, their wool has two types - “hairy” , Finnsheep and Clun Forest centrated when you take out the water, and well-developed, full-curl horns and often a with coarse guard hairs typical of double- blood lines.” because the lambs are slaughtered at 75 to striking mane of long, darker hair that gives coated more primitive sheep - and Along the way, the Falks took a detour 89 lbs., there is less connective tissue.” an elegant appearance. Ewes can be either “woolly”, with more of the soft downy wool when they were exposed to the idea of milk- While they keep the highest production ewe horned, scurred, or polled. that can be separated out and used by hand ing sheep. Ten years later, they now oper- lambs for their milking flock, they don’t need The breed originated on two small islands, spinners. Some fleeces have been compared ate a milking sheep herd and market or- many. Having bred for hardiness, they have Soay and , off the west coast of Scot- to musk ox “quiviut”. ganic, aged sheep cheese. ewes in their milking flock as old as 14 years. land. Here, they have been for at least a Soay meat is mild, low in cholesterol, and “Our ewes don’t produce as much milk Replacement ewes, depending on their pro- thousand years. Soay sheep are believed to similar in flavor to elk. as Friesians (the Holstein of milking sheep), duction genetics, sell for $475 to $1,000 each. be the ancestors of the first domestic sheep. A starter flock of two to four ewes and a but we have a much higher butterfat, and The high-end price is for only the highest pro- It is believed they were first imported to ram can sometimes be purchased for as little our sheep are much more hardy,” says Falk. duction potential and selected ram lambs. North America (Canada) in 1970. as $1,000, according to Hibbing. “We average about 3 lbs. of milk per day An unexpected feature of the selection pro- “Soay sheep are hardy, disease-resistant, Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Soays on twice-a-day milking for about 220 days. cess has been the wool fleece. While not se- and manage on more meager pastures,” says of America, Inc., Nancy Hibbing, Box 551, However, the milk averages 7.5 percent lected for their wool, the flock produces a 4 Hibbing. “In fact, they actually improve pas- Gig Harbor, Wash. 98335 (ph 253 318- butterfat.” to 5-in. length, very fine fiber wool with a tures by consuming Scotchbroom, berry vines, 2691; [email protected]; That butterfat is ideal for making high- high staple count and a luster similar to Sh- and woody plants as well as grass. They www.soaysofamerica.org). quality cheese that the Falks make right on etland sheep. shouldn’t, however, have access to rhododen- the farm. They have won numerous indus- “We sell the best wool to spinners and all drons or azaleas which are toxic to them.” try awards over the years, and their cheese the tags, belly wool and wool with burs in it has been featured in national publications for use as mulch around plants,” says Falk. and radio interviews. “My cheese customers at the farmers’ mar- Have You Renewed Your Subscription? Falk insists that key to success of their ket claim it keeps the rabbits and squirrels breeding flock and the quality cheese they away from their gardens and potted plants.” Don’t miss our next issue! Check your mailing label on make is the fact that the flock is totally grass Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mary front of this issue to see when your subscription expires. fed, no grain. The hardiness they have bred Falk, LoveTree Farmstead Cheese, 12413 in means the only night of the year they are Cty. Rd. “Z”, Grantsburg, Wis. 54840 (ph 715 To renew, use the order envelope enclosed with this inside is the night they lamb. That also re- 488-2966; fax 715 488-3957; issue, or the order coupon on page 44. duces overhead for buildings and expenses [email protected]; Or call us toll-free at 800 834-9665. for producing or purchasing organic grain. www.lovetreefarmstead.com).

1-800-834-9665 • [email protected] • www.farmshow.com• vol. 30, no. 5 • FARM SHOW • 7