10 minute read
Teen finds the “perfect” breed
from OFN July 25, 2022
by Eric Tietze
meet yourneighbors
Doing the Research
Advertisement
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 into a project, he does his research.
The 16-year-old from Grovespring, Mo., spent more than 300 hours researching sheep breeds to determine which was the right for him and his family’s farm.
“I have always enjoyed reading about farming since I was about 10 or 11,” he said, adding that Richard Perkins and Joel Saleton, considered experts in regenerative agriculture, are among his favorite authors. “About two or three years ago, I wanted to get sheep found this breed.”
Jeremiah chose Blueface Leicesters, a longwool breed developed in Dishley, Leicestershire, in the 1800s.
“I wanted them for their wool quality and their meat quality,” Jeremiah said, adding neither he nor his parents, Mark and Maggie Ponds, had any prior experience with sheep. Because they were novices in the industry, Mark stressed the need for additional research.
“I gave him an important project,” Mark said. “We looked at all of the sheep in the U.S., and he had to present the top four items about each one. He had to research not only how to maintain them but the wool and how to have a breeding program. This was an investment, and we wanted to make sure he did the work to justify the investment.”
There are only a handful of Blueface Leicester sheep in Missouri. Jeremiah said they were the “best British breed” because of their low input requirements and the Grovepspring, Mo. breed’s ability to cross with other breeds to produce superior offspring. In the U.K., Blueface Leicester is crossed with other breeds to produce what is known as a “mule.” “That cross makes up about 50 percent of their commercial wool exports,” Jeremiah said. “That’s something I am interested in because you can pretty much double wool production, and it’s a very soft wool, comparable to a Merino; that interests me.” Venturing into crossbreeding in the future for fine wool production is an option, but Jeremiah wants to focus on building his herd. Additionally, a mule exhibits exceptional mothering ability, the meaty body of a Blueface Leicester with the added hardiness of another sheep breed. “You have to have some really good stock to start with,” he said. Jeremiah, a homeschool student, currently has about 10 ewes and 11 lambs. A registered Blueface Leicester ram breeds ewes, and this year was the first lambing season for Jeremiah. “We do spring lambing,” he said. “This year, we lambed in April, but next year we want to be a little closer to March, early April.” Jeremiah prefers ewes to produce twins for profitability, but triplets can result in extra labor. “They really don’t handle triplets very well,” Jeremiah said of the Blueface Leicesters, which are large-bodied sheep. Last year, the sheep were sheared in May, but because of the lambing schedule, shearing will be done in late February or early March,
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 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
Submitted Photo
meet your neighbors
parasite management. We follow basic principles like not overgrazing, leaving 3 inches (of grass), and ensuring everything have shade when it’s hot. We move the sheep twice away.”
In September, Jeremiah and the Pond family will be offering lambs for processing.
“Once we do that, we will have a better idea of how to improve the carcass,” Mark said.
Wool and meat are the primary products of Blueface Leicester sheep, but Jeremiah hopes to become a seedstock producer of the little-known breed. Jeremiah purchased his sheep from Caryn Miller in Smithville, Mo. Those sheep are from the genetic lines of some of the “original five bloodlines” of Blueface Leicester importers to North America.
“I want to get into the breeding stock side,” he said. “We have kept our hands on everything so far, but we are going to look at the meat lamb side. We will keep our breeding stock, but considering the lack of rain we’ve had the last few weeks, we may stick with what we have and not expand much more right now.”
“I think we will sell most of the lambs, and then with next year’s program, after we get a little more under our belt and Jeremiah gets a little more experienced, we will look at next year’s output and look at the situation,” Mark said. “I don’t want to get him any more than he can handle and take him away from school and other activities.”
Jeremiah may be a novice in raising sheep, but the teen has a passion for agriculture.
“Farming is one of my favorite things to do,” he said. “I am experimenting with some things, but I hope to stick with farming. The way I look is that eating is something everyone has to do, so if I stay in business, I will have a solid clientele.”
Jeremiah explained that the family has a small vineyard and orchard, and a large garden where he is honing his skills.
“We’ll see where it goes, but right now, I’m still 16 and have a couple of years to figure it out,” he said. “I am excited about it, and I just keep trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t work, and keep trying.”
Specializing In SW Mo. Farms & Ranches!
“A Cattleman Who Knows Real Estate”
ADJOINING PROPERTIES
STOCKTON - Hwy B, 153 Ac. This beautiful 153 ac. Has it all! Bottom ground, scattered woods and upground w/nice highway frontage, some sites, cattle-tights fence, Cedar Creek fl owing through entire property. Don’t miss! .....................................$688,500 STOCKTON - Hwy B, 250 Ac. Really nice, mostly open property for livestock & hay production, upland & bottom ground, pipe corrals, well, Cedar Creek fl owing through entire property ...................... $1,125,000
BRIGHTON - 3 to 6 Acre residential lots, paved roads, underground electric ...................... ...............................STARTING AT $45,000 WILLARD - 10 Acre residential lots between Willard & Ash Grove off Hwy 160, great views, live water, more land available .................. ............................. STARTING AT $145,000 BILLINGS - Hwy M, 30 Ac., Great private setting, open/wooded combo, new well, new fence, road on two sides ...............$225,000UNDER CONTRACT ASH GROVE - Hwy MM, 60 Ac., This great property offers new fencing, mostly open pastures, pond, road frontage, Lawrence County ......... ..............................................$255,000 EVERTON - 45 Ac. Dade 177. Great panoramic views, mostly open, scattered trees, pond, road frontage on 2 sides................$292,500 HALFWAY - 445th Rd., 9 Ac., 6 BR home, horse barn, 10,000 sq. ft. shop & offi ce, 3 phase power ......................................$425,000UNDER CONTRACT EVERTON - 80 Ac. Dade 77. Mostly open, scattered walnuts, fenced, gently rolling. .......... ..............................................$440,000 MARIONVILLE - 10 Ac Hwy 413. Recently remodeled home, 40 x 60 shop, 40 x 80 hay barn and detached garage....................$470,000 MILLER - Lawrence 2022, 97 Ac., Awesome recreation & hunting property, open & wooden ground, 38x36 new building w/concrete fl oors, really nice ................................$625,000 BOLIVAR - 325th Road, 202 Ac., This 202 +/- acre property is located north of Bolivar & adjacent to Pomme de Terre Lake, great hunting, livestock or recreation ground...$649,000 EVERTON - 130 Ac. Dade 117. 1.4 miles of road frontage on three sides, open, fences, well, pond, pipe corals, great views........... $715,000
LOCKWOOD - 160 Ac CR 41. Open and level pasture ground just north of Lockwood, fenced, rural water. ...............................$720,000 SQUIRES - CR 955, 264 Ac., Beautiful farm situated in a valley south of Ava, 3 BR home, shop, garage, equipment shed, livestock barn, ponds, creek. Don’t miss this one! ...$750,000 LOCKWOOD - 138 Ac CR 72. Road frontage on 2 sides, mostly all tillable, great Location ......... ............................................... $759,000 GREENFIELD - Dade 125, 181 Ac., Great grass farm, new fencing & waterers, multiple pastures, new pipe corral, ponds, Nice! .. $724,000UNDER CONTRACT LAMAR - 160 Ac Hwy 160 & 100th Ln. Nice open farm, Fenced and live water, Tillable acres. .... ............................................... $800,000UNDER CONTRACT PIERCE CITY - Unicorn Rd., 122 Ac., Updated & operating dairy farm, 75 cow pre-stall, double 4 herringbone, hay barns, shop, calf barn, 3 BR home, cropland ........................... $825,000 REPUBLIC - Hwy PP, 44 Ac., Great agritourism business opportunity, berry farm & family fun park, new high fence, irrigation system, multiple varieties of berries, state-of-the-art operation, too much to list.............$849,000 EVERTON - 186 Ac. Dade 184. Fenced and crossfenced, well, several ponds, barn, shed, one mile of road frontage. Very Nice! ....$1,018,350 MT. VERNON - 27 Ac. Hwy M, World Class Equestrian and Event Center, 135x200 indoor arena, 110 event stalls, 80x120 training indoor arena w/58 training stalls, full service restauSOLD rant, RV hookups & so much more .............. ........................................... $1,350,000 LEBANON - 414 Ac. Just off Hwy 64, great grass farm, over 200 acres of bottom ground, home, equipment/hay building, fence & cross fence, NICE ..................................... $1,904,400 EVERTON - 522 Ac., Dade 184, all contiguous w/road frontage throughout, great open pasture w/views all around, 14 ponds, 2 barns, pipe/corral, really nice ............. $2,583,900 FORDLAND - Tall Grass Rd., 392 Ac., Great tillable farmland 60x320 ft. feeding barn, shop, commodity barn, beautiful home, several traps UNDER CONTRACT w/line bunks ............................$3,200,000 NORWOOD - 2,590 Ac. Hwy 76 CR 137, Exceptional cattle ranch in heart of cow/calf country, mostly open w/fence, 3 acres of bottom ground, many buildings, 30 plus ponds & SOLD pipe water, 2 nice homes, too much to list .... ........................................... $7,888,200 tomkisseerealestate.com 417.882.5531
Mark Your Calendars!
To Better Serve You, Now Holding Two Special Dairy Sales Per Month, 2nd & 4th Tuesday of Each Month Special Dairy Sale
Wednesday • July 27th Feeder Wean-Vac Special Sale
Wednesday • August 3rd Special Dairy Sale
Wednesday • August 10th Special Cow Sale
Saturday • August 20th • 4 p.m. Stock Cow & Bull Sale
Starts 9 a.m. Every Monday Feeder Cattle Sale
Starts 7 a.m. Every Wednesday Dairy Sale
Sale starts at 11 a.m. every 2nd & 4th Tues.
Josh Ford Tonto Kissee Jake Ford
839-3610
Steve Hawk
224-5047 788-2240 838-4638
Kelly Crain
376-2878 839-0613 225-8929
Tye Stokes
316-3435
Cowboy Church Every Thursday Night at 7 p.m.
Visit Us Online At
Springfi eldLivestockMarketingCenter.com
facebook.com/Springfi eldLivestockMarketingCenter
Exit 70 • I-44 & Hwy. MM, Approx. 3 Mi. W. of Springfi eld & 1 Mi. E of James River Hwy.
417.869.9500
19
