Desert Weyr Blog
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Ram Semen Collection
I’m behind in posting here, as per usual. We spent a week in October working with the USDA NAGP to collect and freeze semen from our rams. Some will be used later this year in our flock as part of their AI experiment. We’ll be using it to fine-tune the insemination timing of synchronized ewes… Continue reading
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Sorting Sheep
We just finished the ewe evaluations for fall. I’ve updated our sales list to show the dozen yearlings we’re offering as breeding stock. We’re keeping 52 breeding ewes, and these yearlings will be some great breeding sheep. They’re all double-registered in the US and UK. All are NSIP recorded with Self Replacing Carcass EBVs ranging… Continue reading
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RIP, John Ellenby
We’ve heard that our good friend, John Ellenby, has passed on. One of the companies he founded was Agilis. This picture has been on our wall for many years. In the archives of our old hardware, we had a Compass and a GRiDPad. Here’s a good article about John and his contributions to the world… Continue reading
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Getting Ready for Winter
We’ve been scraping manure out of winter feeding corrals and rebuilding them. We hadn’t done a full teardown and rebuild in several years, so it was high time. Everything is now up and ready for winter. Continue reading
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The Last 2016 Lamb
Gretchen just lambed the last lamb of 2016. He’s a very large lamb by Sterling. He was a bit stuck, but both are okay now. Continue reading
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Lambing Lull
We’re now officially in the lambing lull. It’s the break between when the AI lambs and the secondary lambs are due. It’s been a busy and somewhat difficult lambing so far. Our AI experiment was a rousing success this year! Of the 44 ewes we bred using the AI cervical procedure using frozen semen, 22… Continue reading
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Ewes Out on Pasture
We finally got the ewes out onto one of the pastures. There isn’t much grass, but we need them to start moving so they’re in good shape for lambing. They sure like to go out and find the tasty bits! They’re moving in and out a lot, and that will help aid their condition after… Continue reading
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Tree Protection
The rams spend a lot of time in the front pear orchard pasture. Unfortunately, they can get bored, and they tend to bash the trees. We finally got the trees protected by some welded wire fencing. Hopefully, that keeps the trees alive. Continue reading
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Front Yard Elk
It’s the end of March, and a large elk herd with upwards of 50 members moved through our front yard. I think this is the latest we’ve ever seen the elk here. Continue reading
