Meet Fluff: Summer Synergy's Champion Yearling Ewe

You may have seen Fluff (aka Prairie Winds 1X) and her babies on display at this years Calgary Stampede in the Agriculture Building. She was visited by people from all over the world and I spoke to people from New York, Australia and Algeria all in one day. I was lucky enough to win the yearling ewe class at the inaugural Provincial Sheep Show and this meant that my champion ewe would be travelling to the Stampede for the final two days to be showcased along with the other sheep, beef and dairy winners. 

Fluff aka Prairie Winds 1X
Born: January 14, 2011
Tatoo: PSH 1X
Fluff's Family Tree: Pedigree


Lambing Record
February 5, 2011         2 x Ewe




Show Record
May 28-30, 2010          4-H on Parade                                                                 Calgary, AB

June 12, 2010                West Wheatland 4-H Show and Sale                            Rockyford, AB

August 11-14, 2010      Prairie Shepherds 4-H Invitational                               Neepawa, MB
August 21, 2010            Millarville Fair                                                                  Millarville, AB
June 11, 2011                 West Wheatland 4-H Show and Sale                             Rockyford, AB
July 12-15, 2011            Provincial Sheep Show and Summer Synergy             Olds, AB
July 16-17, 2011            Calgary Stampede Supreme Show                                 Calgary, AB

Sheep Snapshot Sunday: Pasture Pals

Our horse, my 4-H heifer and one of the lambs who all share the pasture together.

Stampede Junior Art Entries 2011

Pen & Ink Drawing

Pencil Drawing

Here are my entries for the Calgary Stampede's Creative Arts & Crafts Competition. Check them out July 8-17, 2011 in the BMO center. 

Sheep Show Classes: Yearling Ewe

One of my yearling ewes that was shown
as a yearling without being bred.

What kind of animal can show in a yearling ewe class?
A yearling ewe is a female that is over a year old but under two years old. Yearling ewes may have already had lambs or they may have not been bred to allow them to have a year to grow and mature before they have babies. For this class, depending on the show, ewes may be shown with or without lambs at foot (their babies). The yearling ewe and her lambs, if they are being shown, must have a fleece that is under two inches in length. 
What is the judge looking for?
In yearling ewes the judge is looking for good physical characteristics to pass on to the ewes offspring, conformation that will allow her to carry many lambs, longevity traits and what the current condition of the ewe. If the ewe has lambs the judge will also check the quality of the lambs she has raised and the number of the lambs she has.
Lambs inherit half of their genetics from their mom so in order for your ewe to produce good lambs for market she needs to have the traits of a champion market lamb herself. This includes length, width and depth of body as well as a large leg. 
In order for the ewe to be able to hold multiple lambs during pregnancy she must have a large body capacity. This means she needs to have length, width and depth of body. The stomach, lungs and uterus (where the baby lambs develop) are all relatively close in the body of a ewe. As the pregnancy progresses the lambs grow and take up more space inside the ewe, so if she has a small body there will be less room for her the stomach and lungs. If the stomach is being squished the ewe will not be able to eat as much and won't get the nutrition that herself and her lambs need. If the lungs are restricted by the lambs she is carrying the ewe may not be able to properly breathe. 
By the time the ewe is a yearling, any undesirable traits may have become more obvious. Her legs need to be set straight and squarely under her her body and her pasterns need to be strong. Her teeth also need to align with her upper gum. These things should have been checked as a ewe lamb so most yearling ewes who are show animals will not have any problems with their legs or teeth. 
Upon the birth of her first lambs the ewe will develop an udder full of milk. Judges will check to see that the ewes udder is not damaged in any way. Damage to the udder could mean that milk will not be produced properly by the ewe which means her lambs will not be able to get the milk they need from their mother. When a ewe is unable to feed their lamb(s) it creates a very large headache for the person who owns her. 

My yearling ewe and her twin lambs.

Raising lambs can greatly affect the condition of the ewe. If she is not on the proper diet she can lose a lot of weight and become run down. The judge will reward a ewe that is able to raise  lambs and keep herself in good condition. 
The judge will also take into account the number of lambs the ewe has. The more lambs the more money you will make when you sell them. 

Sheep Show Classes: Ewe Lamb

What kind of animal can show in a ewe lamb class?
A ewe lamb is a sheep that is a female under a year old can show in this kind of class. The lambs normally have to have a fleece that is under an two inches long. Ewe lambs have not had any lambs yet and are judged based on their current conformation and potential.
What is the judge looking for?

A sheep with weak pasterns.
Notice how the pastern is sagging.

The judge is looking for the ewe lamb displaying good physical characteristics to pass on to her offspring, conformation that will allow her to carry many lambs and longevity traits. Length, width and depth are characteristics of a good market lamb, these things will also give the ewe lamb more body capacity to hold multiple lambs. Feet, legs and teeth are body parts that need to be structurally sound when a ewe is a lamb so that she will last a long time in your herd. Legs need to be placed squarely and straight under the body of the lamb, this will allow her to move freely around the pasture and to the feeder. An important part of the leg is the pastern, sheep need to be strong on their pasterns to prevent strain on their legs. A sheep`s teeth are very important because they need to be able to eat! Sheep do not have any teeth on their upper gum. It is important that this upper pad aligns with the teeth on their lower gum to have maximum efficiency when eating.

The judge checking my lamb`s teeth.

Is the fact that your ewe lamb a twin significant when in the show ring? 
Depending on the judge, this information may or may not be relevant. If your ewe lamb is a twin there is a better chance of her producing twins and some judges may place value on this genetic trait.
What about the breed of your lamb?
For purebred stock ewe lambs should adhere to the standards of their breed. If they don`t embody the breed they will be criticized.
Take the Hampshire breed for example:

• Face should be black or dark brown colored. Ears should be of the same color and rounded at the tip. From their neck to forehead and cheeks wool should be present, wool feathering can exist on the rest of the face. 
• Legs should have some wool covering from the knee down.
• White hairs should not be present on the face, ears or legs. Fleece should also be free from any black or dark fibers. 
• Meat breed that stands tall and has a full body.

The Wool Advantage

A close up of the fleeces on one of our ewes.

Sheep are a multi-purpose species; they can be used for their milk, meat and wool. Wool was the go to textile for man until cheaper synthetic options came on the market. While wool is not cheaper than other materials it has some natural benefits.
Wool is water resistant.
Wool fibers do not retain any water, which prevents it from being affected by mold or mildew. Sheep walk around with a wool coat on all the time and their fleeces never go moldy. This also allows them to have added protection from rain and snow because the fibers let moisture run right through them without becoming damp. 
Wool is warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Wool is able to regulate temperature by allowing extra heat to escape through its fibers. 
Wool is non-allergenic.
Wool is a renewable resource that comes from nature.
As long as there are sheep there will be wool. Sheep benefit from being sheared and start growing a new fleece after they have been sheared.

Sheep Show Classes: Market Lamb

In a sheep show there can be many classes. One of them is the market lamb class.


What kind of animal can show in a market lamb class?
True to the name all sheep in the market lamb class are lambs, meaning they are under a year old. By the show day our market lambs are usually 4-5 months old and weigh 120 lbs. on average. Ewes (female) or wethers (castrated males) may be shown in this class. Market lambs must be slick shorn (sheared recently with a short fleece) to get the best look of the animal as wool can hide their true conformation.
What is the judge looking for?
The market class is judged based on the animals conformation or the body of the lamb. There are two components: structure and finish. The ideal body structure of a market lamb is one with length, width and depth. Finish refers to the amount of fat cover and muscling on the body. A market lamb should have a thin layer of fat covering over their body and be muscled throughout their back leg and torso. 
What are the most important parts of a market lamb?
The leg and the loin are the best cuts of meat on a lamb. Since this is the market lamb class the animals are being judged based on which one would have the top amount and quality of meat. The loin is the area on a lamb measuring from the last rib to the hip bone. This area needs to be as long and wide as possible to maximize the amount of meat. The leg or more specifically the upper back leg also needs to be as large and as muscled as possible. When looking at a market lamb from behind there should be a deep 'v' between the lamb's legs. The deeper the 'v' the more meat the lamb has. 
How does the judge choose a winner?
In a sheep show the judge is very hands on, meaning that they will use their hands to feel the amount of finish on the lamb and conformation traits like the length of the loin.