Friday, December 9, 2011

Breeding groups are sorted and 2011 lambs are registered!

Our breeding groups are now together for the 2011 breeding season. This year, we are using four rams - our two BFL rams, Amadeus and Byron, as well as our Shetland ram Gizmo (this is his first year breeding) and Donna's Shetland ram, Stir. We are breeding 22 ewes of which six are our yearling mule ewes. I can't wait to see what lambing brings us in the Spring.

I'm also happy to report that I am all caught up on my paperwork! This means that I finally have a "keeper" list of 2011 lambs for whom registrations have been sent in (yay!). We are retaining 10 Shetland ewe lambs and 1 mule ewe lamb as well as two Shetland ram lambs.

This year's name theme for the girls was "Flowers":

By V Creek Leo:

(Daisy pictured above)

Violet - Black gulmoget out of Ewenique Eve. She may end up on our sales list at a future date.
Daisy - Grey yuglet bersugget out of Sheltering Pines Hope. She is the coolest looking ewe lamb we've had yet!
Holly - Black gulmoget out of WillowGarden Joan Crawford. Her twin brother, Oslo, was sold to another Shetland flock as their new flock sire.

By WillowGarden Wedge:

Poppy (L) and Ivy (R) / Petunia

Ivy - Black out of Valley Road Sarah. She looks modified to me. I have to confirm with Bill, the Shetland colour expert. :-)
Poppy - Black gulmoget, twin to Ivy.
Rose - Moorit krunet sokket by Wedge, out of Ewenique Bella. I loved this girl from the day she was born. I like her even more now. She is a definite keeper.
Lilly - Black gulmoget by Ewenique Daphne
Petunia - Moorit gulmoget krunet sokket by Valley Road Sierra. She may be for sale.

By FirthofFifth Aman AI:

Azalea (pictured above) - Moorit out of WillowGarden Aretha Franklin
Tulip - Emsket out of Fibre Works Easter. A definite keeper.


Ram lambs:

Mochaccino (pictured above) - Fawn katmoget out of WilloGarden Chocolantini. He will make an awesome flock sire for someone. I just can't bring myself to put him in the freezer so we'll keep him and put together a nice starter flock for someone in the Spring. :)

As yet unnamed - Grey *scurred* ram lamb by FirthofFifth Aman AI, out of RuisDair Elwyn. What a surprise this little guy is! When I realized he was indeed scurred, I was quite speechless. He is a bit on the small side at the moment but his structure is excellent and he's got a lovely lovely fleece. So, we'll winter him and see what he looks like in the Spring. Now he needs a name. Any suggestions?

3 comments:

  1. Love the colors of your shetlands, good luck on the next crop of lambs.

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  2. Lovely flock you have there! Thanks for posting the pictures. Spring will be very exciting at your place.

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  3. The sheep look terrific! Makes me long for some fencing on our property so that we can have some bouncy critters running around! This year is the year of fencing!

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