Updated 10/15/04
I took Molly and Mandy away from Barron around the end of September. They both look healthy and pregnant. We are expecting lambs in December or January. The ewe lamb, Tabitha, is now in the same pasture with the ewes.
Updated 8/05/04
I have started breeding for the 2004/2005 breeding season. I put the ewes in with the ram in mid July.
I am very happy with the conformation of my lambs but they were too young to compete in the fair this year. I took Turk & Treat to the Fair on 7/20. Turk weighed 108 lbs. and Treat weighed 105 lbs. Turk was non-marketable because he didn't have enough meat on his frame. I was told he had a nice conformation and the judge would like to see him in 40-60 days. Treat was marketable and went to auction.
My brother took Taloulla & Tabitha to the Fair on 7/02. Taloulla & Tabitha both weighed 112 lbs. Tabitha was Grade 1 and Taloulla was Grade 2. Since my brother didn't get two Grade 1's he could only sell one lamb. He took Taloulla to auction so we could bring Tabitha home for breeding in the fall of 2005.
The way the livestock auction works in our county is you try to purchase or breed Grand Champion/Reserve Champion stock, are well known, and/or you send out letters asking for people to bid on your animals. Since I had young stock, my family isn't well known in the area, and I didn't send out any letters, I didn't have anyone bid on my lamb except for a group of guys that call themselves the Amador County Dumb Sh*ts. This group of guys make sure that every exhibitor gets a minimum amount on their animal every year. THANK YOU ACDS. My brother and I are both thankful for these kind men. Unfortunately, they were the only bidders for either one of us.
I don't intend on having to rely on ACDS in the future. I plan on being very competitive next year with quality stock that I am capable of producing. I am very proud to say that I breed, raise, and care for my project lambs. I rely on my parents for transportation and support only. Since I am not old enough to drive, my parents go to the feed store and transport the animals to the fair for us.
Updated 6/15/04
On 5/22, we took our lambs to the fairgrounds for pre-weigh in. Turk weighed 60 lbs., Treat weighed 53 lbs., Tabitha weighed 63 lbs., and Taloulla weighed 60 lbs. We have to get them to 100 lbs. by weigh-in on 7/20. I've been feeding them alfalfa, grain, and alfalfa pellets.
Updated 4/18/04
I now have my own sheep breeding program, ram and all. We are keeping two adult ewes, Molly & Mandy to breed with Barron in the fall of 2004.
We were successful in breeding all of the ewes my grandparents gave us. My brother and I each plan on taking two lambs to the 2004 Amador County Fair.
We are selling a ram and 2 month old wether lamb. We are taking four of the ewes my grandparents gave us to the auction because they are not the quality we wish to sell or breed for 4-H.
On 3/14/03, Molly had triplets, two rams, Romulus and Remus, and one ewe. The ewe was the third one born and it was stuck. By the time my Mom and I were able to get her out she was dead.
On 5/17/03, my grandparents supplied us with our 2003 fair lambs. I took two lambs to fair and received two Grade A ribbons. I was able to sell them both at the auction. Trina and Jim were able to sell one each at the auction. We brought one ewe, Maggie, home.
On 8/15/03, my grandparents gave us five ewes, Marge, Millie, Martina, Mattie, and Mandy. They also gave us one ram, Barron.
In September we put the six ewes in with our two Rams, Romulus and Remus and we put Molly in with Barron.
On 2/9/04, Martina had one ewe, Taloulla. She will be going to the Amador County Fair in July.
On 2/13/04, Mandy had two ewes, with one survivor, Tabitha. We will keep Tabitha to breed with Barron in the fall of 2005.
On 2/20/04, Maggie had one ewe, Thora. Maggie died that same night because she prolapsed.
On 3/3/04, Mattie had two rams, with one survivor, Teddy.
On 3/3, Millie had one ram, Thug. He was born deformed. We bottle raised him until he died on 3/23/03.
On 3/7/04, Molly had triplets, two ewes, Treat and Tippy, and one ram, Turk. They will be going to the Amador County Fair in July.
On 3/16/04, Marge had triplets, two rams and one ewe with no survivors.
On 4/17/04, we sold Remus to a nice couple in Vacaville.