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Doing the Research
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By Julie Turner-Crawford
A desire to raise sheep leads teen to find a breed that works for his family’s farm
Before Jeremiah Ponds delves other breeds to produce superior offinto a project, he does his research. spring. In the U.K., Blueface Leicester The 16-year-old from Grovespring, is crossed with other breeds to produce Mo., spent more than 300 hours re- what is known as a “mule.” searching sheep breeds to determine “That cross makes up about 50 perwhich was the right for him and his cent of their commercial wool exports,” family’s farm. Jeremiah said. “That’s something I am “I have always enjoyed reading about interested in because you can pretty farming since I was about 10 or 11,” he much double wool production, and it’s said, adding that Richard Perkins and a very soft wool, comparable to a MeriJoel Saleton, considered experts in re- no; that interests me.” generative agriculture, are among his Venturing into crossbreeding in the favorite authors. “About two or three future for fine wool production is an years ago, I wanted to get sheep found option, but Jeremiah wants to focus on this breed.” building his herd. Additionally, a mule Jeremiah chose Blueface Leicesters, a exhibits exceptional mothering ability, longwool breed developed in Dishley, the meaty body of a Blueface Leicester Leicestershire, in the 1800s. with the added hardiness of another “I wanted them for their wool quality sheep breed. and their meat quality,” Jeremiah said, “You have to have some really good adding neither he nor his parents, Mark stock to start with,” he said. and Maggie Ponds, had any prior expeJeremiah, a homeschool student, currience with sheep. Because they were rently has about 10 ewes and 11 lambs. novices in the industry, Mark stressed A registered Blueface Leicester ram the need for additional research. breeds ewes, and this year was the first “I gave him an important project,” lambing season for Jeremiah. Mark said. “We looked at all of the “We do spring lambing,” he said. “This sheep in the U.S., and he had to pres- year, we lambed in April, but next year ent the top four items about each one. we want to be a little closer to March, He had to research not only how to early April.” maintain them but the wool and how Jeremiah prefers ewes to produce to have a breeding program. This was twins for profitability, but triplets can an investment, and we wanted to make result in extra labor. sure he did the work to justi“They really don’t handle triplets fy the investment.” very well,” Jeremiah said of the There are only a handful Blueface Leicesters, which are of Blueface Leicester sheep large-bodied sheep. in Missouri. Jeremiah said Last year, the sheep were they were the “best British sheared in May, but because breed” because of their low of the lambing schedule, input requirements and the Grovepspring, Mo. shearing will be done in late breed’s ability to cross with February or early March,
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Jeremiah Ponds has a growing flock of Blueface Leicester sheep at his family’s Wright County, Mo., farm
weather permitting. They currently have a professional shear, but the family hoped to learn more and take that chore upon themselves. The wool of a Blueface Leicester is desirable for many hand spinners. “I’m learning to process it myself,” Jeremiah said of the wool. Being new to sheep production, Jeremiah said there was a learning curve. He said spending time with the flock to observe them has been very critical. At this time, the flock is forage-based, with ewes getting some grain in late gestation, and the hardy Blueface Leicesters have done well. “I heard they were very picky, but they really aren’t. We have a couple of goats, and they eat the same things as the goats,” Jeremiah said. “We make sure
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they have grass and provide them with a good mineral; we haven’t had any issues. Blueface Leicesters are designed to be extremely hardy, and they have done extremely well on just grass. With this being our first year, I feel we have had very good weight gain in the lambs.” Luckily, the farm had existing fencing for their Belted Galloway cattle, but the flock needed a structure for lambing. They invested in a Ketchman’s system for new mothers and lambs. After two or three days, the family goes back outside. The sheep and cattle roam the same farm but are not grazed together. “The only reason we don’t is because of the protection dogs,” Jeremiah said. “The cattle don’t like the dogs. We try to rotationally graze everything for JULY 25, 2022
