The American Border Leicester Association Quarterly Newsletter

Transcription

1 The American Border Leicester Association Quarterly Newsletter Summer 2010 BREEDING SEASON RAM MANAGEMENT J. L. Goelz, D.V.M. SheepLetter, Vol.26, No.7, September 2006 Once you turn the rams out into the ewe flock ram management is not done. If possible rams should be observed daily. I prefer observing rams in the evening as you are more likely to see them chasing ewes than during the heat of the day. Rams should be actively chasing ewes during the evening and sometimes you may even observe mounting. This confirms that the libido (desire to breed) is good in the ram. If the ram has a breeding harness new marks can be recorded and a reasonably accurate due date can be calculated. Marking crayons can be switched every two to three weeks (moving from light colors to darker) to help keep track of ewes that remark. Rams should also be observed for general health. Rams should be athletic and sound on their feet. Any lameness is cause to consider pulling a ram out of the breeding pasture. During the act of breeding a ram must be able to support nearly all his weight on both back legs. If one is painful he will not breed. When a ram dismounts half of his weight lands on both front feet; if one is sore he will not breed. Back injuries are a common reason for pulling rams from the breeding pasture. Breeding requires both strength and flexibility in the spine. As rams age the spine becomes less flexible as calcium bridging starts to fuse the vertebrate. If this briging cracks the ram will experience intense pain and have no desire to breed. Intervertebral disks can also become compressed or inflamed and cause compression of the spinal cord. This is often evident as pain or hindlimb weakness or lameness. While lameness from a foot injury carries a good prognosis for recovery and a future as a breeding ram a back injury will nearly always reoccur the next time that a ram mounts a ewe. Other reasons that rams may have to be pulled from the breeding pasture include pneumonia, rapid weight loss or testicular injury. Pneumonia or fever in general may cause temporary infertility if the testicles get too warm. Testicles are outside of the body for a reason. Sperm cannot be produced at body temperature. Therefore if body temperature increases 2-4 degrees the sperm in the testicles and epidiymis are at risk of being dead. It takes 60 days for a sperm cell to be produced so fever can cause After any insult to the testicle such as infection or trauma the first sign is swelling and heat. Heat will cause temporary infertility just like fever. After the swelling phase you may notice one or both testicles shrink in size. This is a poor prognostic indicator as it indicates that the sperm producing tissue is dead. Rams will lose weight during breeding season, especially ram lambs as they are still growing and will not eat enough during breeding season to grow and maintain their weight Ram lambs may need to be pulled out of the breeding pasture if they get too thin. Often this is late in the breeding - open ewes. Treatment for rams that have to be pulled from the breeding pastures is aimed at 1) salvaging for cull value. Number one is not a bad option if the reason for pulling is mild such as pneumonia, foot sprain, etc. Number two is a bad option as cull rams are never worth much. In most cases severe injury, weight loss, etc producers will be better off by culling the ram immediately. As far as we know treatment with Bamamine (flunixin), long-acting penicillin, Excenel, Naxcel or Nuflor is not detrimental to fertility. Treatment with dexamethasone or LA-200 can cause transient infertility for 60 days. Reprinted with permission

2 Hi everyone. Well, I have some big shoes to fill, being recently chosen as President by my fellow Board members! Thank you, I think??!?! It was good to visit with Border Leicester friends at the Great Lakes Sale in Wooster, Ohio last month. I believe the quality of the Borders were up from last year, and prices were as well. Lots of buyers got some good additions to their flocks. There are a few upcoming events in this part of the country, I would like to mention where Border Leicesters will be in the mix. The North East Youth Sheep Show will be held in July at the Big E Fairgrounds in West Springfield, Massachusetts, where the ABLA display will be set up with other breed displays. The Border Leicester breed show keeps grow every year and not includes classes for whites and coloreds. This year the judge for the wool breeds will be Graeme Stewart of New York. The youth exhibitors have requested at clinic/workshop on fitting a Border Leicester, Sarah and I plan to fit that in on Friday of that busy weekend. The Eastern Border Leicester Breeders group was formed last spring to support local youth and promote the breed up this way. ABLA also donates money towards awards and premiums for the NEYSS kids showing Border Leicesters. For more entry information go to The Woodstock Fair in Woodstock, Connecticut is hosting the Regional Border Leicester Show this year to be held on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend. This Border Leicester show at this fair has been expanding each year as well, with the youth show on Saturday, and open breed classes are Friday, Sunday an Eastern States Exposition will host the National Regional Border Leicester show this year. The fair runs from mber 29 and the Border Leicester show starting at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday the 26th. They also have a Fleece Show, Lead Line, and lots of contests for hand made items in the Fiber Nook. Entry information is now up on that website at Looking to the fall is the New York Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY in October, and the First Annual Fiber Festival of New England at the Big E Fairgrounds November 6&7. Both these festivals will have a Border Leicester Breed Display set up, promoting our great breed. If there is something happening in your area of the country let us know! The Editor would love to receive pictures, articles or even just a paragraph of anything relating to Border Leicesters happening in your area to print in the next newsletter. Have a great summer and remember START AT THE TOP WITH BORDER LEICESTERS! -Polly Hopkins- Advertising Rates ********************************************************************************************** Display Ads Send Ads to: In This Issue Youth News Corner 5 Maryland Sheep Show Results 6. Annual Meeting Notes 7. National Sale Results 8. Great Lakes Fleece Show Results 11. Your Neck of the Woods 15. Membership Application Per Issue 4 issues Prepaid Full Page $ $ ½ Page $ $ ¼ Page $ $90.00 Business Card -----$ $43.00 Next Deadline: October 5th Sarah Hopkins 135 Kingsboro Ave Gloversville, NY or newsletter@abla.org Editor Notes Hello! Hope everyone is enjoying this hot weather!!! Sorry this newsletter is a little late but my computer quit working, so I had to wait for my new one to show up to finish the newsletter!! Please send me show results and/or pictures from your local shows for the next newsletter. If you find an interesting article or want to write an article please send it to me! Please feel free to contact me with any questions or just to talk at newsletter@ablasheep.org. Happy Showing!!! Sarah Hopkins

3 Youth News Corner 2010 NORTH EAST YOUTH SHEEP SHOW JULY 15-18, 2010 The 2010 show runs from July 15 th thru 18 th and is held in the Mallary Complex at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts. It is open to youth 21 years old and under as of January 1st with all breeds of sheep being invited. The Border Leicester breed has been growing yearly in numbers and last year had 12 youth exhibitors showing 30 head of Border Leicesters! The exhibitors must solely own or lease their sheep or co- own sheep in a youth partnership. The sheep and exhibitors should arrive by Thursday, July 15 th ; with animals being penned by 11:00 p.m. Activities begin on Thursday evening and continue right through the weekend with the finale being the selection of the Supreme Champion Ram, Ewe and Flock on Sunday afternoon. Entry information will be available by mid- May on the NES&WG website ( Deadline for entries is the Friday before the show. This weekend in July holds many activities including the New England Sheep Sale, Used Equipment Auction, the New England Sheep the Harry Hardwick Memorial Scholarship and the annual Ice Cream Social. Junior activities include Quiz Bowl on Thursday night, Skillathon and judging of Market Lambs on Friday, Fitting and Showmanship classes, as well as the fleece show on Saturday, and judging of breeds on Sunday. For more information on any of these events check out the website. This show has become a major event in the northeast thanks to all the loyal supporters. The many New England and northeast breed associations and their breeders have contributed time and money over the past twenty- six years making this the second largest Youth Show in the Country! Many National breed associations also contribute to the show by providing premiums and awards. Funds for this show are raised in many other ways as well: (a) profits made in the Food Booth - which is open the entire weekend of the show; (b) items donated and sold in the Fiber Nook at Eastern States Exposition; and (c) private donations. Any one wishing to lend their support contact one of the following people: to make a monetary donation, forward check to Scott Poitras, Treasurer, 95 Hollow Rd., Brimfield, MA JNEN@aol.com; or to make/knit items to sell in the Fiber Nook or donate your time helping out during the Big E contact Barbara Haberlin at beadsheep@charter.net. In looking ahead for next year please note that there will be a weekend change to the second weekend in July, that being July 7 th 10 th, If you are traveling to the All American the weekend before we hope that you will continue your trip north and join us as well. We look forward to another great weekend this year. A reminder to any junior member to be planning on your ABLA Futurity entries for There are 4 divisions in each of the two ewe age brackets. They are: White purchased, White bred and owned, Natural-colored purchased and Natural-colored bred and owned. These four divisions are included in both the ewe lamb and the yearling ewe age brackets. The nomination fee is $25 per head entered, with a pro-rated payout at the end of the 2010 calendar year, based on the points accumulated at the various shows. The larger classes accumulate higher points. The 2009 ABLA Futurity was a success with only limited entries this participate in this fun and learning opportunity

4 MARYLAND SHEEP & WOOL FESTIVAL SHEEP SHOW May 1-2, 2010 BLACK BORDER LEICESTER YEARLING RAM 1) John & Kate Bostek, Roclans, Fairfield, PA; 2) & 4) Linda & Bill Koeppel, Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI; 3) Kelly Mansfield, Spring Breeze Farm, Kearneysville, WV; 5) Dave & Cathie Shiff, Witts End Farm, Amissville, VA SENIOR RAM LAMB 1) & 2) Tiffany Deakin, Deakin Family Farms Cuba, IL; 3) & 4) Linda & Bill Koeppel, Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI; 5) Moran/Morehouse, Bear Hollow Farm, Newark, OH PAIR OF RAM LAMBS 1) Tiffany Deakin, Deakin Family Farms Cuba, IL; 2) Linda & Bill Koeppel, Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI CHAMPION RAM John & Kate Bostek, Roclans, Fairfield, PA RESERVE CHAMPION RAM Linda & Bill Koeppel, Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI YEARLING EWE 1) & 3) Tiffany Deakin, Deakin Family Farms Cuba, IL; 2) & 4) Sarah Hopkins, Maybe Tomorrow Farm, Chepachet, RI; 5) Linda & Bill Koeppel, Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI PAIR OF YEARLING EWES 1) Tiffany Deakin, Deakin Family Farms Cuba, IL; 2) Sarah Hopkins, Maybe Tomorrow Farm, Chepachet, RI; 3) Linda & Bill Koeppel, Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI JUNIOR EWE LAMB 1) & 3) Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 2) Carol Penwarden, Three Fields Farm, Wantage, NJ; 4) & 5) Linda & Bill Koeppel, Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI PAIR OF EWE LAMBS 1) Tiffany Deakin, Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 2) Linda & Bill Koeppel, Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI CHAMPION EWE Tiffany Deakin, Deakin Family Farms Cuba, IL RESERVE CHAMPION EWE Sarah Hopkins, Maybe Tomorrow Farm, Chepachet, RI FLOCK 1) Tiffany Deakin, Deakin Family Farms Cuba, IL; 2) Linda & Bill Koeppel, Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI PREMIER EXHIBITOR Tiffany Deakin, Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL WHITE BORDER LEICESTER YEARLING RAM 1) & 3) Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 2) & 4) Marilyn & Gilbert Fogle, Fogle Farm, Raymond, OH; 5) Dave & Cathie Shiff, Witts End Farm, Amissville, VA SENIOR RAM LAMB 1) & 2) Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL JUNIOR RAM LAMB 1) & 4) Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 2) & 3) Marilyn & Gilbert Fogle, Fogle Farm, Raymond, OH; 5) S. Larochelle, Sweetmeadow, Webster, NH PAIR OF RAM LAMBS 1) Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 2) Marilyn & Gilbert Fogle, Fogle Farm, Raymond, OH CHAMPION RAM Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL RESERVE CHAMPION RAM Marilyn & Gilbert Fogle, Fogle Farm, Raymond, OH YEARLING EWE 1) & 2) Marilyn & Gilbert Fogle, Fogle Farm, Raymond, OH; 3) & 4) Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 5) Polly & Kevin Hopkins, Maybe Tomorrow Farm, Chepachet, RI PAIR OF YEARLING EWES 1) Marilyn & Gilbert Fogle, Fogle Farm, Raymond, OH; 2) Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL 3) Polly & Kevin Hopkins, Maybe Tomorrow Farm, Chepachet, RI; 4) S. Larochelle, Sweetmeadow, Webster, NH; 5) Moran/Morehouse, Bear Hollow Farm, Newark, OH SENIOR EWE LAMB 1) Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL JUNIOR EWE LAMB 1) & 3) Marilyn & Gilbert Fogle, Fogle Farm, Raymond, OH; 2) & 4) Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 5) S. Larochelle, Sweetmeadow, Webster, NH PAIR OF EWE LAMBS 1) Marilyn & Gilbert Fogle, Fogle Farm, Raymond, OH; 2) Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 3) S. Larochelle, Sweetmeadow, Webster, NH CHAMPION EWE Marilyn & Gilbert Fogle, Fogle Farm, Raymond, OH RESERVE CHAMPION EWE Marilyn & Gilbert Fogle, Fogle Farm, Raymond, OH FLOCK 1) Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 2) Marilyn & Gilbert Fogle, Fogle Farm, Raymond, OH; 3) S. Larochelle, Sweetmeadow, Webster, NH BEST FLEECE S. Larochelle, Sweetmeadow, Webster, NH PREMIER EXHIBITOR Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL

5 American Border Leicester Association Annual Meeting May 1, 2010 West Friendship, Maryland The annual meeting of the American Border Leicester Association began with delicious snacks and beverages and was then opened with a welcome from Greg Deakin, President. Greg recognized the ABLA Directors who were present; Polly Hopkins, JoAnne Tuncy, Sue Johnson and Jennifer Bierhuisen as well as the Newsletter Editor Sarah Hopkins and Recording Secretary Sally Barney who were also present. In addition, in attendance and recognized as past Presidents and Directors were Bill Koeppel and Cathy Schiff whose husband was present. JoAnne Tuncy was thanked for putting up the very nice ABLA breed display; Kelly Mansfield provided the sheep for the display. It was announced that Polly Hopkins had been re-elected for another term as Director and that Anne Key had been elected for her first term as Director. Sally Barney shared that Di Waibel had been sent a thank-you note on behalf of all ABLA members for her time of service as a Director. the newsletter and on the web site. Polly handed out the 2009 Treasurers report. There was no discussion on the budget. Polly also announced that the audit of the financial statements Greg announced that registrations and transfers are on track and that registration activity remains steady. Greg recapped up-coming 2010 ABLA activities and shared that there were over 30 Border Leicesters entered into the National Sale. He announced the Eastern National Regional Show scheduled for Eastern States Exposition and the National Show scheduled for the North American International Livestock Exposition on November 17, Greg also announced a youth show for Border Leicesters at NAILE starting in There is a possibility that the 2011 National Show may be held at the Oregon State Fair. Sarah Hopkins reminded all present of the June 15 newsletter deadline and encouraged members to send pictures, ads, articles and results of shows to her for inclusion in the newsletter. Greg reminded all members about the opportunity that the Futurity offered to youth who have bred or purchased ewe lambs and yearling ewes for show this year. Futurity details can be found on the web. The meeting was opened to member discussion and an auction of items to support youth programming was held. Jennifer Bierhuisen asked if all present could introduce themselves and introductions were made. There being no further member discussion the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully Submitted, Sally Barney Recording Secretary - 5 -

6 2010 Great Lakes Sale Wooster, Ohio May 30, 2010 Border Leicester Yearling Rams Lot Consignor Price Buyer Reserve Champion 122 Deaking Family Farms $ Pem- Bor- Lei, Ottawa, OH 101 Bear Hollow Farm $ Shepherds Run, Auburn Twp, OH 108 Montana Aerie $ Colin Siegmund, N. Grosvenordale, CT 128 Dealin Family Farms $ Roger Green, Greenbush, MN 109 Montana Aerie $ Linda & Bill Koeppel, Ann Arbor, MI Champion Rams Border Leicester Fall Ram Lamb 111 Montana Aerie $ Frank & Barb Hintzsche, Rochelle, IL Border Leicester Spring Ram Lambs Champion 123 Deakin Family Farms $1, Connor Vincent, Laurel, DE 119 Hintzsche Sheep Farm $ Bear Hollow Farm, Newark, OH 112 Montana Aerie $ Roger Green, Greenbush, MN Border Leicester Yearling Ewes Champion 125 Deakin Family Farms $2, Connor Vincent, Laurel, DE Reserve Champion 126 Deakin Family Farms $1, Paige Vincent, Laurel, DE 116 Montana Aerie $ Deakin Family Farm, Cuba, IL 113 Montana Aerie $ Cinderella Farms, Knoxville, TN 102 Bear Hollow Farm $ Deakin Family Farms $ Pem- Bor- Lei, Ottawa, OH 129 Tiffany Deakin $ Thomas Key, Great Falls, MT 114 Montana Aerie $ Bear Hollow Farm, Newark, OH 121 Hintzsche Sheep Farm $ Becky Kron, Alden, NY 115 Montana Aerie $ Roger Green, Greenbush, MN 120 Hintzsche Sheep Farm $ Ralph N Dean, Bremen, OH Border Leicester Fall Ewe Lamb 117 Montana Aerie $ Roger Green, Greenbush, MN Reserve Champion Rams Champion Ewes Border Leicester Spring Ewe Lambs 127 Deakin Family Farms $ Paige Vincent, Laurel, DE 118 Montana Aerie $ Roger Green, Greenbush, MN 103 Bear Hollow Farm $ Pem- Bor- Lei, Ottawa, OH Natural Colored Border Leicester Yealring Ram Champion 151 Bear Hollow Farm $ Ralph N Dean, Breman, OH Natural Colored Border Leicester Spring Ram Lamb Reserve Champion 157 Tiffany Deakin $ Bear Hollow Farm, Newark, OH 158 Twin Hickory Farm $ Thomas Key, Great Falls, MT Reserve Champion Ewes Natural Colored Border Leicester Yearling Ewe Champion 153 Twin Hickory Farm $ Thomas Key, Great Falls, MT Natural Colored Border Leicester Spring Ewe Lambs Reserve Champion 154 Tiffany Deakin $ Thomas Key, Great Falls, MT 155 Tiffany Deakin $ Thomas Key, Great Falls, MT 156 Tiffany Deakin $ Thomas Key, Great Falls, MT 159 Twin Hickory Farm $ Thomas Key, Great Falls, MT - 6 -

7 GREAT LAKES BORDER LEICESTER FLEECE SHOW Wooster, Ohio May 22-23, 2010 White Ewe Class 1., Marilyn & Carroll Fogle 2. Cape House Farm, Linda & Bill Koepple 3. Marilyn & Carroll Fogle 4. Seldom Seen Farm, Barbara Thompson 5. Seldom Seen Farm, Barbara Thompson 6. Twin Hickory Farm, Frank & Pat Bradish 7. Siegmund Family Farm, Colin Siegmund 8. Deakin Family Farms, Deb & Greg Deakin 9. Jerry Millikan 10. Bear Hollow Farm, John Moran & Don Morehouse 11. Deakin Family Farms, Deb & Greg Deakin 12. ZNK Border Leicesters, Dena & Jerry Early 13. ZNK Border Leicesters, Dena & Jerry Early White Ram Class 1. Cape House Farm, Lind a& Bill Koepple 2. Marilyn & Carroll Fogle 3. Bear Hollow Farm, John Moran & Don Morehouse 4. Twin Hickory Farm, Frank & Pat Bradish 5. Jerry Millikan 6. Siegmund Family Farm, Colin Siegmund CHAMPION WHITE BORDER LEICESTER FLEECE:, Marilyn & Carroll Fogle (White Ewe Fleece) Natural Colored Ewe Class 1. Seldom Seen Farm, Barbara Thompson 2. Seldom Seen Farm, Barbara Thompson 3. Cape House Farm, Linda & Bill Koepple 4. Cape House Farm, Linda & Bill Koepple 5. Bear Hollow Farm, John Moran & Don Morehouse 6. Fairy Dust Farm, Emily Gibson Natural Colored Ram Class 1. Bear Hollow Farm, John Moran & Don Morehouse 2. ZNK Border Leicesters, Dena & Jerry Early CHAMPION NATURAL COLORED BORDER LEICESTER FLEECE: Seldom Seen Farm, Barbara Thompson (Natural Colored Ewe Fleece) Donations received from: Linda & Bill Koeppel, Greg & Deb Deakin, Barbara Thompson, Marilyn & Carroll Fogle, Dena & John Early, Sally & Dwight Barney - 7 -

8 Mark your Calendars!!! Here are some shows and festivals! August 21 & 22, 2010 Michigan Fiber Festival Allegan County Fairgrounds Allegan, MI September 5, 2010 Regional Border Leicester Show Woodstock Fairgrounds Woodstock, CT September 10-12, 2010 Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival Jefferson County Fair Park Jefferson, WI September 24 26, 2010 Northern Michigan Lamb & Wool Festival Ogemau County Fairgrounds, Michigan September 26, 2010 National Regional Border Leicester Show Eastern States Expoxition (The Big E) West Springfield, MA October 16 & 17, 2010 New York Sheep & Wool Festival Dutchess County Fairgrounds Rhinebeck, NY November 6 & 7, 2010 Fiber Festival of New England Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds West Springfield, MA November 17, 2010 National Border Leicester Show North American International Livestock Expo (NAILE) Louisville, KY John Moran Don Morehouse Bear Hollow Rd Newark, OH Bear Hollow Farm Border Leicesters Border Collies Fleeces, Breeding Stock A Sheep Farmer's Prayer Heaven won't be so lonely, If what I hope is true, If a little lamb of God is there, Or some old friendly ewe, In those celestial pastures, Beside still waters deep, May the eternal future find me, With a little bunch of sheep

9 ound covering the peas and spinach and lilac blooms at the end of April;; early May heat wave followed by 3 nights of killing frosts and freezes taking a big toll on vegetable and fruit farms alike. Then farmers worried about a drought building in late may and then most farmers getting a big chunk of their first cut hay mowed and baled before June began which is also unheard of here in northern Vermont. Now, the weather is just heat and humidity and RAIN. And nearly 2 inches more these past two days in my rain gauge. This afternoon, I watched a cloud of white roll in from the north, and with it a sidewise blowing wind and torrential rain, as the sheep, peacefully grazing in the field were totally taken by surprise with the rain that pelted them before they could run back for cover in the barn. I have wanted to share my thoughts about a growing breed trait, that I have noticed more and more on registered Border Leicesters at shows such as the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. This trait is pink eyeliner on many sheep I see now, and having had Border Leicesters for nearly 25 years, it is something I rarely saw before 4 or 5 years ago. Most people that I knew years ago would cull lambs that had pink around their eyes, on their noses, or lips. Now many of the sheep that place high in show standings possess these qualities. I am t curious where the genes have come from that cause this. Looking at the breed standards, it states that border Leicester sheep can have spots on their ears, y eyeliner. Could this be because years ago they always had dark lines around their eyes and no one thought to add it to the standards? Could the pink be from NZ or Australian Blood introduced? Could it be that breeders are trying to get away from Canadian Border Leicester genetics? I am curious and would love to have others share their thoughts about this. On a totally different vein, I got a phone call yesterday from a fellow sheep breeder sharing the news that David Hinman, my friend and my st while shearing a sheep, doing what he always did, for so many of us up and down the New England and Mid Atlantic States. I still am in shock and tomorrow will go to his memorial service on his family farm in Actworth, NH. I am sure many sheep breeders from New England will be there beside me to bid him a final farewell. Dave was an institution in the sheepshearing world. He is responsible for me getting into Border Leicester Sheep, convincing me to put a Border Leicester ram on my Romney and Corriedale ewes to improve the quality of my fleeces and lamb crop. He told me to buy a ram from Betty Levin, another long time border Leicester breeder who set the example for me of what a beautiful flock of sheep could look like. He was kind and patient;; and could always shear the most difficult sheep, no matter how much they fought him, in stride. Shearing was in his blood, beginning to shear at the age of 14 and never stopped until the Lord took him, doing what he knew best for 50 years. He taught school in a 2 room school house for many years in addition to shearing thousands of sheep a year on weekends and school as my friend. Sue Johnson Hinesburg, VT - 9 -

10 From my neck of the wood... hing. been getting just small amounts of rain lately. This will really give the corn and soybeans a boost. Most of our corn is already canopied over and the. I guess the final verdict is always up for debate until the combines roll this fall. I just came back in from shutting off the livestock fans, really warm and with all the Iowa humidity, the sheep really appreciate a little air moving through the barns. I always enjoy a stroll through the pens and lots and looking at our flock. It is a very satisfying time, what with all the lambs weaned and sorted into ram and ewe lamb groups. This gives us a real opportunity to size up the lambs and see if want in our flock. Of course we also use adjusted weights to insure that our visual appraisals are backed up by hard facts. It eliminates any personal bias I may have based on previous family performance. We all need to take the time to enjoy what we work so hard to produce. re good enough to be kept in our flock or be sold to purebred or commercial flocks as replacements. My personal goal is to have next stud ram. I hope you and your families and flocks are doing well. If you ever just want to talk s that talk. Just a reminder that our ABLA Futurity is off and running again this year with a very good start. Just check out the web site for further details. it from my neck of the woods for now. Always remember that we have one of the do our individual parts to keep it that way. Kerry Phelps Phelps Farms, Tipton Iowa Montana is the greenest we have seen since our arrival here in 1993! Spring rains have been abundant and pasture is plentiful. Average rainfall in central Montana is only 14.5 inches per year and in year's past our grazing is all but none existent after July 4th. It is a delight to see the sheep in lush grasses! We have just returned from back to back shows & sales with the Border Leicester Nationals in Wooster, Ohio and the Columbia Nationals in Minot, North Dakota. The 34 hour drive to Ohio was well worth the trip. Through the years we have felt that the people we meet through the sheep industry are some of the nicest and most interesting people around. This is especially true with Border Leicester breeders. We particularly enjoy the open and helpful attitude and actions and the lack of 'politics'. Perhaps we are still too new to the breed, but it appears to us that Leicester breeders truly want their breed to succeed and are willing to offer advice and experience when asked. We hope this remains the case in the future. I love this time of year with two big sales behind us, two loads of market lambs sold, and watching the 'keeper' lambs grow and mature. A few are 'cut out' for more shows and the Montana State Fair, but the majority were slick shorn mid May. We are convinced the lambs grow better once shorn and the fleece that grows back is usually very nice. Our biggest concern is not letting the Borders get too fat--they do their best to keep up with the Columbia and Suffolk lambs at the troughs! It's a fine line when to pull them out and put them in their own pasture! The mature ewes are all on a section of leased State Land. There are approximately 10,000 agreements for crop and rangeland uses on 4.65 million acres of school trust lands throughout Montana. We are very fortunate to have one of these agreements within a mile of our home! It's always a great day after weaning the first crop of lambs to trail the girls to their favorite pastures! At first they are reluctant to leave the yard, but once headed south they remember and off they run! We should begin cutting hay soon and thus begins a busy time of swathing, raking, turning and baling. I will listen to many 'books on tape' as I run the square baler! Come January I will long for those long, hot days of summer. anne

11 Your Ad Could be here!!! Contact Sarah for more information!!!! Need to Register a Border Leicester??? Fill out any ABLA application for registration you may already Registering Sheep to download an application for registration form. Send all forms for registering your sheep to: Associated Sheep Registry rd Avenue Milo, Iowa Telephone: Fax: E- mail: kclaghorn@earthlink.net Fees for registering: Registration: $5.00 for members $10.00 for non- members Transfers: $5.00 for members & non- members Be sure to include all the necessary and correct information on the forms in order to register your sheep. Applications that are incomplete, incorrect, or lacking fees will be returned to the sender with an explanation of the problem. Applications will not be accepted unless an ABLA Application for Registration form is filled out for all animals to be registered by the breeder/owner. ABLA Directors Polly Hopkins (2013) President 494 Evans Road Chepachet, RI Khop4811@aol.com Kerry Phelps (2011) Vice President 1563 Highway 130 Tipton, Iowa Tel: keepingintouch@iowatelecom.net JoAnne Tuncy (2011) Treasurer/Promotional Director 692 Smithfield Road Millerton, NY ewebe_53@yahoo.com Jennifer Bierhuizen (2012) Jr. Coordinator Kibler Road Culpepper, VA daedalus6@hotmail.com Greg Deakin (2012) Director P.O. Box 500 Cube, IL as.banner@sybertech.net Sue Johnson (2011) Director 578 Baldwin Road Hinesburg, VT suejohnson@gmavt.net Anne Key (2012) Director 140 Russell Ranch Lane Great Falls, MT mtaerie@sofast.net Board Appointed: Sally Barney Recording Secretary 52 Cartland Road Lee, NH Woolmark@Live.com Sarah Hopkins Newsletter Editor 135 Kingsboro Ave Gloversville, NY newsletter@ablasheep.org

12 Barbara Thompson Border Leicesters Lamar Leicesters Breeders of White Border Leicesters. With Length, Depth & Width Murray & McKinney 580 Sioux Street Lamar, Nebraska Evans Road, Chepachet, RI Mistwood Farm Border Leicesters Irene Nebiker 28 Grange Road N. Smithfield, RI CAPE HOUSE FARM Bella with 23 minute old ram lamb We have several really nice black ram lambs and a set of all white "RR" triplet lambs. Thanks to the buyers of our yearlings and ewe lambs. Breed Character: Roman nose, ear set Mothering instinct, newborn vigor Linda & Bill Koeppel Ann Arbor, Michigan (734) ; koeppels@peoplepc.com