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Scottish Blackface Sheep

We’ve been raising sheep since 1991. Our first breed was the Southdown. While we really enjoyed raising them, our move to a more hilly location set us on the search for a breed more suited to a varied topography and less than prime grazing. After looking at different breeds and not being “hooked” on any of them I recalled seeing sheep grazing on marginal pasture in the west of Ireland. A quick search online and they had a name – Scottish Blackface! That was in 2001 and we’ve been raising them ever since.

Scottish Blackface ewes are great mothers and easy lambers rarely requiring assistance at lambing time.  We prefer to plan our lambing for when the weather is milder and snow is starting to melt.   Lambs are born in our lambing barn and moved back into the main barn and outside pens by the time they are 5 to 7 days old.   Due to predators we prefer to lamb in the barn rather than outside.    Lambs are vigorous and are usually up and nursing within five minutes of birth. Our ewes mostly produce twins with occasional triplets being born. Yearling ewes who lamb out typically have singles. Ram lambs are sexually mature at about six months old, and more than capable of servicing a flock at that age.

Scottish Blackface are a very hardy breed, resistant to a number of conditions sometimes seen in sheep (including foot rot). They thrive in conditions where other breeds would have trouble surviving. They are agile and sure-footed. They will eat brambles, thistles, nettles, broom and wild roses, often ignoring grass until they’ve cleaned up the browse.

Lambing season at Crannog Farm begins in early March.   This year we anticipate having limited numbers of registered lambs available so please contact us early.  

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Please note that we require a 50%  deposit to reserve lambs.  Deposits are only refundable if we don't have available lambs - they are not refundable if you change your mind or go elsewhere.

 

****We currently have some lambs born since early March who will be available for new flocks in June.      Several are already reserved so if you are seriously interested please contact us as soon as possible - crannog@hotmail.com

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Click on any of the photos below to enlarge and view slide show.

Prices for 2024 are as follows (breeding stock): Ewe lambs up to 6 months old - $550. Ram lambs up to 6 months old - $650.    All animals are sold as Canadian Sheep Breeders' Association registered through Canadian Livestock Records Corporation. Deposits of 50% per animal are required to reserve sheep/lambs. Deposits are non-refundable should you change your mind or go elsewhere.

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