THE SHEEP

 

 

The climate of Western Oregon is well suited for Romneys; they are the predominate wool breed raised throughout the Willamette Valley. This longwool sheep originated in England, where it developed an inherited ability to resist foot rot and maintain quality fleeces over long, wet winters. They tend to be docile, somewhat slow maturing and quite adaptable to different pastures; their size and disposition make them relatively easy to manage.  Many Romney breeders maintain flocks in this part of the Pacific Northwest. Competition is keen at regional fairs and at wool shows. But small flock owners such as myself are fortunate to have these different bloodlines to select from, for purchasing additional ewes or bringing in new genetics with a replacement ram.  My flock's family tree includes animals from Fox Hollow Farm, Black Rock Ranch, Silver Cloud, and The Pines farm. FishWhistle sheep are registered with the American Romney Breeders Association (ARBA) and/or the Natural Colored Wool Growers Association (NCWCA).

To understand the appeal of this breed you must get your hands on the fleece. Romney wool has a natural luster and softness that brings a smile to the handspinner's face (even a non-spinner like me smiles!). The locks are open, the crimp is even from body to tip and the yield (after washing) is high. Add these qualities to colored sheep and you find a visual feast: rich silvers, soft grays, muted browns and dark cocoas. White fleeces glisten.   How does one convince these creatures to maintain a clean, pure lifestyle to protect this most lovely of fibers? You won't. Fortunately, coating sheep (or 'rugging' as the Australians call it) makes that goal more possible.

Why Coats?   Good question! Why add something to your management that requires more labor, regular checking for the wool growth/size ratio (to avoid the dreaded stuffed-sausage effect), and an additional cost? Plus some sheep deeply resent this addition to their personal space; they will go to extreme measures to tear, mangle or otherwise destroy the garment. Yet the end result is definitely worth it. At shearing time the coats are removed and the clippers stroke rich, lustrous CLEAN wool away from each animal. The process saves time for the shearer and during skirting (picking out bits of material and vegetation from the shorn fleece). The finished fleece will be much more appealing- and cost effective- for eager handspinners.

More Than a Pretty Coat  Sheep coats alone do not guarantee the best wool. Quality fleeces like these rely on many factors: good bloodlines, healthy animals, careful management, and patience. Nature also plays a role: a very wet winter, a hot dry summer, poor pasture, a difficult lambing- all can impact the final product. I learn something new every year! FishWhistle Farm has earned a good reputation for providing high quality, beautifully colored fleeces, and the sheep and I hope to continue sharing these lovely fibers with our customers.

Clip, Clip, Hooray! Even the best fleeces can be ruined by careless shearing. I am very fortunate to have a shearer who specializes in shearing for handspinners' flocks. She takes care to minimize second cuts (shorter clips of wool missed by the first pass of the clippers). I make her job easier by keeping the sheep dry for several weeks before shearing (no small task in rainy Oregon!) Once off the animal, the warm fleece is gathered up and spread open on a large panel to remove bits of straw, manure and other collected "stuff", in a process called skirting. Remember, these are sheep- coats can keep wool only so clean! Afterwards, the finished fleece is weighed, ready for shipment or show. Skirting gives me the valuable opportunity to note the quality and character of each fleece, and share that information with customers.

Why Sheep? The emotional response: Why not? The practical reply: hmmmmm... Granted, sheep do have some shortcomings. They are clearly not as intelligent as pigs or sheepdogs; they cannot be ridden, nor do they possess the drama and spirit of horses; they do not have the soulful gaze and endearing humming of alpacas.   They can be quite stubborn; they excel at passive-aggressive behavior; they will escape when it's least helpful and they will take root firmly when you really need them to move. Biting is no problem but bumping and smashing can be, especially if you have the misfortune of standing between them and any opening to freedom.   BUT..., given a healthy. content flock, they can warm your heart. A pasture blooming with spring grass and a new crop of lambs is hard to resist. Sheep are easier on the land than cattle; their size allows for easy management for one person- from vet care to changing coats. They willingly mow your fields, fertilizing naturally as they graze; they yield a beautiful fleece at shearing; they even offer companionship. Calm handling and gentleness- and let's face it,  the rattling of grain in a can- will give you a gathering of social, laid-back ruminants. And for me, the sheep-raising cycle wonderfully balances with the rest of nature here in the Northwest: during the winter the gardens are dormant, and I have more time to give to ewes for lambing; in the spring the ewes and lambs feast on fresh pasture while I shovel composted manure in raised beds; over summer I appreciate the animals' relative low-maintenance with my hands full of watering, weeding and picking veggies; and as days shorten into fall there's time to plan for breeding and shearing. All in all, a good fit.

Samples are available for a small charge to cover mailing. Please email at leslie@fishwhistle.com for more information!

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