The OWLS BARN flock was founded in 1987 with 50 ewes.
We now run a 200 ewe flock of which 150 are
Poll Dorset or Dorset horned sheep.The
'Dorset Sheep Breeders Association'
was established in 1892 making it one of the earliest
recorded British Sheep Breeds. It is a
hardy breed
and can produce early maturing lambs off of average grazing.
It is also capable of
producing lambs at any time through the year which makes it a perfect breed for
'organic' production.
We lamb most of our Dorset's in the early autumn with the flush of grass which keeps
the ewes in milk and avoids the parasite challenge to the lambs ( i.e.
worm burden)
that is on the pasture during late spring and early summer.
The autumn lambing along
with the organic clean grazing system
minimizes
the need for
veterinary
medication to control this.
They are excellent mothers and need little assistance at
lambing time. I have great pleasure working with my
Dorset's
and watching the ewes grazing with fit healthy lambs
at foot.