October 24,2001

Some Farm Photos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Name—EARL & SHIRLEY MITCHELL

Location CAMPBELLCROFT ONT.

Farm Name—HAGGIS RISE FARM

Flock Size, -- Currently 82 ewes.

Breeds in Flock Commercial Rideau & Dorset

Acreage, -- 100 acres

Production practices and information—Annual spring lambing. We grow our own hay, and buy any grain or other supplements. Animals are on rotational grazing, come into the barnyard at night, and usually have access to the barn during the daytime, as they choose.

Marketing Strategy-- 85 lb lambs in summer. Shipping to Cookstown. Freezer lambs also available. We do not synchronize breeding, and do not keep a strictly uniform flock. This allows us to market lambs from the same breeding over a long period.

Feeding and Nutrition

Ewes feed on grass when sufficient pasture is available. They also get hay as necessary in all seasons. A commercial ewe ration is fed during late gestation and lactation.

Weaning at about 80 days, lambs are also fed on pasture as available, and supplemented with a commercial lamb ration. Early-born lambs are usually raised predominately on a commercial ration.

One or two specific issues you have faced in your flock and your

solutions

We used to have a mastitis problem. The most important factor in control of mastitis is proper feeding. More feed means more milk, which means less fighting for the teat, which means less stress on the ewe, and in turn, less mastitis.

We are assisting fewer and fewer ewes at lambing. Feeding outside and

forcing the ewes to exercise in gestation reduces the number of ewes needing assistance.

Flock Health Program—All animals are vaccinated regularly for clostridial diseases, and treated for internal parisites. Incurable and chronically diseased ewes are culled.

Breeding Strategy—Purebred Rideau and Dorset rams are used on crossbred ewes. Virtually all ewes have been bred on the farm. Once a year lambing is practiced with ewes lambing in one or two groups in winter or spring. 2002 lambs will be coming in May.

Please list any Breeding Stock / Meat / Milk / Wool that you have for

sale.—Breeding Stock—Currently we are offering surplus, quality, mature ewes for sale, 5 years old. We also have a number of our best ewe lambs for sale, judged suitable for breeding, and so far with-held from the market, but surplus to our own needs. There are about 15 ewes and 15 lambs in the sale lot. Several mature Rideau and Dorset rams are also available.

Freezer lamb—Freezer lamb is available on an individual cut basis.

Whole and half lambs are available on a one week custom order basis.

Wool—Small quantities of wool and small number of tanned sheepskins are often available.

Any special tips that you would like to share with other producers.—

Record keeping is worthwhile. Always put the tag in the front side of the ear. The only time you get to look at a tag in the back side of the ear is when the sheep is running away from you! Build the best fences you can, and keep them well maintained.

A livestock guard dog is a good investment.