We live on the edge of what is known as Boreal Forest Country.  The farm is situated in Woodlands County which surrounds Whitecourt , Alberta, Canada.  The main industry around us is oil and lumber with several prominent mills in the area.  Our land “Grey Wooded Area”  not especially loamy, lots of rocks but well suited for grazing livestock.  Crops can be grown especially along old river flats that cut across the land.  Like most the unpredictable weather is making growing anything quite tricky.

Things can change in a heartbeat as I found out.  We now have only the Katahdin Sheep and most of the farm land is sold or rented out.  I moved off the farm but am back regularly for doing whatever is needed.  Grandchildren have flown the nest and doing well in their pursuits.  Glad to have help when needed. It necessitated downsizing and the flock is much reduced but that is okay.

I still look after the coat grading process with the Canadian Katahdin Sheep Society.  This involves getting Katahdin’s coat graded so they can have their registration updated and their offspring can be registered.  I also keep track of and organize owners in their second year of owning registered Katahdin’s, apply for their coat grading certificate to grade their own sheep or others as well.  Soon the amendments to our bylaws will be accepted by Ag Canada as the membership voted in favor.  The coat will only be one of two grades “A” or “B”.  AA and C are gone.  Watch for updates on the facebook group Canadian Katahdin sheep.

The Canadian Sheep Breeders Association site is sheepbreeders.ca and has bylaws and descriptions of all the breeds they represent.

The Katahdin is a meat sheep only with the thick winter coat of wool and hair, shedding in the spring.  It can be a bit messy at times when it is very dry but the fibre shed in Spring, is protein and as such returns to the soil as fertilizer.   I don’t have to worry about finding someone to shear my sheep and the udder and belly stay much cleaner than a full coated wool sheep. Hence you leave the tail on.

Don’t get me wrong.  I love wool and have many articles I have made from spinning prepared fibre from sheep and alpacas.  It is just so hard to find fine wool breeds in this country that has clean wool that has never been laid on in straw or hay.  Coming from New Zealand has spoilt me for sure but there are a few new businesses starting up doing just that taking fine good wool and turning it into fibre for the hand craft, spinners and weavers people.

My Katahdins are bred for mothering, easy lambing and carcass qualities.  They are a registered flock with the “Canadian Sheep Breeders Association” through “Canadian Livestock Records”.

We actually enjoy eating lamb but usually at an older age than baby lamb.  Another thing we did in New Zealand.  The family love lamb that is hamburger so that is what I am going to do next.

We have Livestock Guardian Dogs (Lisa and Dozer and now 4 months old Zoro) protecting our sheep and without their watchful eyes, we would not be able to keep sheep for sure.    Two alpacas also keep a watchful eye on the horizon.  Although not much good at attacking anything, they provide the dogs with another watch system.  Their bugle calls are often heard when some poor coyote takes an “innocent” walk through the top fields.  A moose gave them a panic attack but it was a field over and the dogs don’t get too close to moose so maybe they experienced a protective mother at some time.

We have had many LGD’s over the years and feel they are the best protection you can give your sheep make sure you get yours from a farm where they were born in or near the sheep barn.

We don’t know what is in store for us future wise and as I found out the best laid plans can change so I make each day count if I can and try to take it easy for a bit.

I am always good to email and chat sheep.