About Our Sheep
My flock is predominately Dorset, but not registered with any registry, because first of all, they are not 100% pure Dorset, and secondly it is my opinion that no registry would adhere to the ideals that I hold for sheep production. These are not the Dorsets you will find in many circles that put emphasis on the show ring. I put my emphasis on lambs that are not spindly legged at birth and don't require grain at any time during their life.
My non-Dorset influences have come in the form of a Dorset with a dash of Finnsheep - an orphan ewe from a commercial flock (that is now 13 years old and still producing), some Merino blood from a ram I acquired from a producer with very similar ideals as mine who was perhaps 1/8 Merino and possibly some Suffolk influence from a couple of crossbred ewes that survived a 1982 dog attack that were the start of my shepherding career. Also surviving the dog attack was a really nice purebred Dorset ram. Add some bottle lambs from a neighboring purebred Dorset flock, some intense selective breeding, a few mistakes, some natural selection and some very careful outcrosses, and that's where I am today!
I now strive to maintain a closed flock, only introducing outside blood when absolutely necessary, and then testing them thoroughly to ensure that #1 they cross well on my lines, and #2 their offspring are comparable to the rest of my flock. My sheep are hardy, prolific, milk good so as to raise nice lambs, are fairly parasite resistant, and are easy to get along with (not flighty). Much like the Dorset of old, except without horns.
Thank you for your interest in my flock.
He is shown as a yearling ram in the top pictures and the bottom pictures he is a two year old.
