animal husbandry

The cold days are behind us and it seems every animal is jumping around the farm.

Mostly, we have Dorper lambs bounding up the hills and springing up and over each other. Last year we only had four lambs because many of our females were too young to breed. This year we have lots – we have tripled our herd.

We have 8 males and 7 females – 6 sets of twins – 14 altogether. Our cheviots have not given birth and one dorper female is all that is left but her milk sack is growing.

Many friends ask about holding them. the best time to hold one is the first day they are born. They are sleepy and often lay day to sleep – just like all baby animals. However, mother ewes are very protective and some are even scary and will hit you.

Young male lambs often weigh more and are more jumpy and they have a quick instinct to mount other lambs. We separate our males and will be selling them for meat.

You can read about Dorper meat and we invite you to dine with us to understand it’s qualities and see how pasture raised Texas sheep tastes.