Registered Yearlings Available!

I do not anticipate having any Bluefaced Leicester ewe lambs available for sale this fall.  If you are interested in breeding stock, there are four registered BFL yearlings available now.  Click on the 2014 Registered Animals for Sale to see photos etc.  Email me for further information and prices. 

Virtually all of the Gotland fleeces are now sold or spoken for.  There are a few Bluefaced Leicester fleeces available and also some Bluefaced Leicester cross fleeces that are skirted and ready to go.

If you are interested in Gotland fibre, I do have rovings and some handpainted Gotland fibre for sale at the farm or available for shipping.

Shearing for 2014

Greetings friends on a very bright but cold February morning.  Despite my best intentions to pay more attention to the blog, I have let my entries lapse AGAIN!  Oh well, life happens. 

Shearing is scheduled for mid February .  Fleece quantities will be limited - I think that I will have only 12-14 Bluefaced Leicester fleeces,  5-6  Gotland fleeces and 5 BFL x fleeces available this year and it seems that there are always more requests than there are fleeces available.   Email me if you would like to be confirmed/added to my list of potential purchasers.

Skirted BFL fleeces will start at $14/lb
Skirted Gotland fleeces will start at  $15 ($20/lb for lamb)
Skirted BFL x fleeces will be $10-12/lb

I will be adding a $10 handling fee in addition to the cost of shipping (which seems to run in the the $20- $25 range) in addition to the actual cost of the shipping.

I am planning on selling the Gotland fleeces as half fleeces (split down centre back from neck to tail) as the fleeces are quite heavy AND this allows me to provide fibre to a more people.  I may do the same thing with a few of the BFL fleeces if I have more requests than I can handle.

2013 Gotlands

I have to say that I am more and more impressed with the Gotland sheep.  Not only do they seem hardier than my BFL's but their fleece production is quite amazing.  Lambs born in early April are already sporting fleeces with staples that are about 5 inches long.  Now I am wondering whether to shear this fall, or wait for a longer fleece in the spring time.  There is always some winter damage so it is a tough call.  I will keep you posted.   have set aside one of this year's lambs for slaughter because we would like a chance to evaluate the size and quality of the carcass. 

I have three 82% Gotland rams left. They are recorded rather than registered as the minimum percentage for registering a ram is 87%. One is out of a set of triplets and has a lovely medium grey fleece.  The other is a twin who is slightly lighter in colour and not quite as large.  He is out of a ewe with some Border Leicester in her background and also has a lovely fleece.  There is a third ram that I am watching closely.  He is not quite as large but very well put together with a very dark almost black grey fleece.  He is out of a set of triplets which probably explains why he is just a little bit smaller.

 

There is also one 62% yearling ram that I kept back last year.  He looks as big as the BFL yearling rams.  It is hard to tell with the extra fleece but he seems to carry more finish. His fleece is quite lovely - a dark steel colour.  







On the female side, I have nothing left!  I am keeping the 82% Gotland ewe lambs and one 62% ewe lamb and the other is already sold.  I will have lambs next spring from two different rams which should make it a little easier to provide those who are interested with starter flock packages.

Where has the summer gone?

Our big summer project on the farm this year was my daughter's wedding to partner Adam Cooke on August 24th.  I am using that as my excuse for the limited number of postings this year.  It was absolutely wonderful and so now, we are are finally ready to turn our minds back to other things!  Of interest:


Butcher Lambs Available
I have a limited number of butcher lambs available this fall.  These are out of my BFL mules crossed with a Charolais ram.  The lambs are looking really good.  We have ten lambs booked in for a mid October slaughter date and they are going quickly.  I am expecting carcasses to range from 45 - 55 pounds.  $6/lb cut, wrapped and frozen.  Call the farm if you are interested.

Commercial Ewe Lambs:
I also have some really nice commercial ewe lambs for sale from this cross ie BFL mules bred to a Charolais ram.  I would love to add them to my own commercial flock but once again we are trying to keep numbers down.  Since I am still anxious to keep as many BFL's and Gotlands as I can there is not much room for expanding my own mule flock.  Lambs were born between March 22 and April 6.  $200/ head

Gotland Fleece - Reserve Champion

The All Canada Classic Sheep Show and Sale in Barriere was a great success.  The Gotland fleeces were quite a hit taking a first and second in their class and a Gotland X fleece placing 2nd in that group.

Reserve Champion fleece is on the left shown with Fleece Competition judges Cheryl Weibe and Mary Paddon who faced a very difficult task.  Margaret is holding the ribbon, but really it is the sheep who deserves the real credit for producing such a fabulous fleece!

Getting Ready for the Classic

The All Canada Sheep Classic Show and Sale starts tomorrow and I am busy trying to get everything ready to attend.  I have booked space in the Trade Show and am hoping that being able to introduce breeders to BFL and Gotland fibre will be a good way to promote these breeds.

As always I am far behind schedule but am planning on getting a sales list and some pictures of available animals on the blog later today.  This year's lamb crop is very impressive and I have some very strong, growthy ewe and ram lambs for sale out of my AI son of Blue Dragon (UK) and also out of my own Ranfurly Norman ram (who is a grandson of the Gigrin Red Kite (UK) ram).

If you are planning to attend the Classic, please make time to stop and visit the farm.  We are located 10 minutes south of the Trans Canada Highway between Chase and Sorrento (turn off at Squilax as if going to the North Shuswap) and then make an immediate left on to the Turtle Valley/ Chase Creek Road. Stay on this road for approximately 5.5 kms.  Bailey Road is on the left - look for a directional arrow pointing to "Skimikin" as the road sign is a bit hard to see.  The farm is another 1.5 km down Bailey Road on the right hand side - watch for the Ranfurly Farm sign.  Please call first (250-679-2735).

See you at the Classic! 

Gotland Fleeces Sold Out!

The sun is shining and it is a beautiful day here on the farm.  I think that I have only a few more days to deal with bottle babies and feeding as we hope to put animals out on pasture next week!  YAY!

Just a quick note to say that I have sold all of the Gotland fleeces that were available this spring. If you are interested in acquiring a Gotland fleece, I have set aside three Gotland fleeces for entering in the All Canada Classic Sheep Show and Sale being held in Barrier at the end of June.  Fleeces entered in the show will be sold by Dutch Auction.

There is only one BFL fleece left so move quickly if you are interested.  Again, I have held back three fleeces for entering in the Barrier Show and they will be sold there.

With so much interest in skirted fleeces, I am going to offer my  BFL X NCC and BFL X Gotland fleeces also so will photograph them and post the info later today!