Karakul, coarse carpet wool, excellent for rugs, mats and horse blankets. Felts well The Fat Ewe Farm has exotic rare breeds of sheep, for the most part. These sheep were selected for their fleece and meat is a by product. Hence they are not the largest sheep, but they do have beautiful fleece. For the past 2 years, different methods of feeding the ewes have been tried with the aim to keep the hay out of the fleece. Feeding low to the ground would be the best option, but the sheep are so tame, that as soon as they see me they stand there waiting for the hay. To really keep their coats clean, they would need to be removed for feeding or fed in a long low trough that extends for quite a distance. Another option would be to remove the sheep to a different pen, place the hay and then bring them back in. That is a lot of trouble in the dead of winter at 50 below though. The best system is not yet found. Next year, some of the sheep will wear coats, but they need up to 6 different sizes during the wool growth so it remains light and lofty and does not compact and felt. That, also is a lot of work.
To produce excellent wool, the sheep need good food. This year's hay is superior and their coats are beautiful. The wool would be bring a premium price from hand spinners IF it was free of vegetative matter, which it is not. Still, it will make for some lovely projects. The sheep are bred and due in late May or early June, so do not need to be sheared until April. They will go out to pasture as soon as the grass allows it, lambs in tow. Hopefully one of the livestock guardian dogs will accompany them this year. Mike seems the best prospect for that.
The photos of the wool coats in the sunshine are nowhere doing the fiber justice. It is thick and lush and soft this year, very pretty. Take a peek...
To produce excellent wool, the sheep need good food. This year's hay is superior and their coats are beautiful. The wool would be bring a premium price from hand spinners IF it was free of vegetative matter, which it is not. Still, it will make for some lovely projects. The sheep are bred and due in late May or early June, so do not need to be sheared until April. They will go out to pasture as soon as the grass allows it, lambs in tow. Hopefully one of the livestock guardian dogs will accompany them this year. Mike seems the best prospect for that.
The photos of the wool coats in the sunshine are nowhere doing the fiber justice. It is thick and lush and soft this year, very pretty. Take a peek...
white Karakul in the background, Cotswold left, E'st a Laine Merino middle and Icelandic
Shetland
White Finnsheep. There is a coloured Finn too
White St. Croix cross
White Icelandic ewe lamb foreground, Suffolk rear
Superior Cotswold
center, brown Finnsheep
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