I now post on ...
billstearman.com
This site remains and mostly documents my life as a farmer. I now identify as a quilt maker.
... ... Here, in my own quiet little space on the web ... I'll share my sheepish thoughts ... and some of my quilts ... with the world ... or at least with anyone who is interested ... :-)
These pictures are beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing. I am interested in learning more...more true research...less reaction. I love my Maple Ridge daughter, she is one of my favorite ewes. I talked with Tut a few years back and I thought he said he sheared in February. Are the pictures of his flock before or after sheering? On their web sight they do have some double coats listed in their fleece for sale and long stapled sheep on their sales page, although htey haven't been updated in a few years.(mrsf.com) Is it that double coats were never brought in, or that when they "popped up" they were dominate and began to spread? I don't think my New England double coats are the same as my Midwestern ones, there does seem to be a difference. He also lists microns for Shetlands as between 23 and 31 on the web page. I thought yeah, mine fall there. Do you think that is typical? Trying to learn and be open minded, trying to listen past the emotions to hear the knowledge that can be gained...on all sides of this debate. Don't apologize for your opinion and presenting your views...they are important. I just hope everyone remains civil in our discussions so we can move forward in a positive direction, together. I think you providing these pictures to view is a step in that direction, thank you again.
I'm glad you mentioned shearing time. The year that I was there, Linda said that she had sheared in early Fall in an attempt to get clean fleeces. So ... those sheep where sheared 5 or 6 months ago. I shear around June 10 (5 to 6 months ago)and my fleece lengths look about the same, so that makes sense.
Linda's sheep are smaller than Carole's at the time I visited both flocks, but Carole was feeding a small amount of grain each day.
On the subject of size, it seems reasonable to interject this particular reality at this point:
According to all the fleece experts in NZ, AU and Wales, when working to lower AFD and otherwise refine fleece structure, the actual SIZE of the sheep will reduce.
As we all know, the Merino's have become the finest fleece in the world. According to Dr Lupton, AWTA and other fleece researchers, as fleece improves, the overall structure of the sheep will become smaller. Returning the breed to a larger size has taken time for the Merino community....The philosophy is: Improve the fleece, accept the reduced size until such time as the fleece is fully heritable. At THAT time, breed largest fine ewes to largest fine rams to slowly recover size.
We are certainly seeing the reduction in size within the US and UK (are you in CA Bill?) as we achieve those improvements. Average mature (3yr+)ewe size in improved flocks is probably closer to 65lbs and rams closer to 85. If we use the Merino experience as a teacher, I would imagine we will be seeing this reduction for another 10 or more years before we can begin to breed upward to the more expected range of 80lb ewes and 110lb rams. Of course we have the additional problem of all the known crossing in the Shetlands and may never fully achieve as reliable a fleece as the more historically controlled Merino enjoy.
Wonderful thread you've got going Bill. I have enjoyed coming in for my warm-up breaks and checking in!
Are sheep sizes reducing in the UK?! At one show I attended this year there was some mumbling about certain strains getting rather large! Certainly my "best show sheep" Todhill Robina is pretty big compared to the rest of the flock. She has a very short, fine, crimpy fleece. A little too short for my liking really. Certainly if you reduce micron count, you reduce length because of the strength of the fibers and the extra crimp!
Jenny, The research articles are data based and thus reflect trends. It has been my experience that some individuals as well as individual lines tend to largeness. What the data discusses is total population and the tendency toward reduction in body size (regardless of length of fleece, another whole problem indeed)as stock is selected for increasing fineness.
I'll try to find the research articles and post the links. If I recall correctly they covered over 20 years of collated data.
Note the dark katmoget lamb in this picture ... a Dailley katmoget.
Below is the famous S0555, sire of so many spotted Shetland lines.
6 comments:
Thanks for the pictures, Bill.
These pictures are beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing. I am interested in learning more...more true research...less reaction. I love my Maple Ridge daughter, she is one of my favorite ewes. I talked with Tut a few years back and I thought he said he sheared in February. Are the pictures of his flock before or after sheering? On their web sight they do have some double coats listed in their fleece for sale and long stapled sheep on their sales page, although htey haven't been updated in a few years.(mrsf.com) Is it that double coats were never brought in, or that when they "popped up" they were dominate and began to spread? I don't think my New England double coats are the same as my Midwestern ones, there does seem to be a difference. He also lists microns for Shetlands as between 23 and 31 on the web page. I thought yeah, mine fall there. Do you think that is typical? Trying to learn and be open minded, trying to listen past the emotions to hear the knowledge that can be gained...on all sides of this debate. Don't apologize for your opinion and presenting your views...they are important. I just hope everyone remains civil in our discussions so we can move forward in a positive direction, together. I think you providing these pictures to view is a step in that direction, thank you again.
Kara,
I'm glad you mentioned shearing time. The year that I was there, Linda said that she had sheared in early Fall in an attempt to get clean fleeces. So ... those sheep where sheared 5 or 6 months ago. I shear around June 10 (5 to 6 months ago)and my fleece lengths look about the same, so that makes sense.
Linda's sheep are smaller than Carole's at the time I visited both flocks, but Carole was feeding a small amount of grain each day.
On the subject of size, it seems reasonable to interject this particular reality at this point:
According to all the fleece experts in NZ, AU and Wales, when working to lower AFD and otherwise refine fleece structure, the actual SIZE of the sheep will reduce.
As we all know, the Merino's have become the finest fleece in the world. According to Dr Lupton, AWTA and other fleece researchers, as fleece improves, the overall structure of the sheep will become smaller. Returning the breed to a larger size has taken time for the Merino community....The philosophy is: Improve the fleece, accept the reduced size until such time as the fleece is fully heritable. At THAT time, breed largest fine ewes to largest fine rams to slowly recover size.
We are certainly seeing the reduction in size within the US and UK (are you in CA Bill?) as we achieve those improvements. Average mature (3yr+)ewe size in improved flocks is probably closer to 65lbs and rams closer to 85. If we use the Merino experience as a teacher, I would imagine we will be seeing this reduction for another 10 or more years before we can begin to breed upward to the more expected range of 80lb ewes and 110lb rams. Of course we have the additional problem of all the known crossing in the Shetlands and may never fully achieve as reliable a fleece as the more historically controlled Merino enjoy.
Wonderful thread you've got going Bill. I have enjoyed coming in for my warm-up breaks and checking in!
Are sheep sizes reducing in the UK?! At one show I attended this year there was some mumbling about certain strains getting rather large! Certainly my "best show sheep" Todhill Robina is pretty big compared to the rest of the flock. She has a very short, fine, crimpy fleece. A little too short for my liking really. Certainly if you reduce micron count, you reduce length because of the strength of the fibers and the extra crimp!
Jenny, The research articles are data based and thus reflect trends. It has been my experience that some individuals as well as individual lines tend to largeness. What the data discusses is total population and the tendency toward reduction in body size (regardless of length of fleece, another whole problem indeed)as stock is selected for increasing fineness.
I'll try to find the research articles and post the links. If I recall correctly they covered over 20 years of collated data.
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