At Narnia Farm, we carefully select breeding stock to ensure healthy lambs that are genetically diverse British Soay sheep. Our first breeding year consisted of 2 rams and 2 ewes of breeding age. Our yearling ewes will be bred this year (Fall 2010) and we have purchased additional breeding stock to increase our foundation flock and bring more diversity into our breeding program. This will increase our ability to provide quality sheep to new Soay sheep enthusiasts and current Soay sheep breeders.
Currently, most British Soay sheep have to be transported from the East or West coast to supply breeders and those wishing to purchase British Soay sheep. There are only a very few British Soay breeders in the Midwest, and all of us have small flocks, limiting our ability to help people who want to purchase starter flocks. With additional breeding stock, we will be in a better position to supply the need in the Midwest without breeders incurring expensive transport costs bringing in new stock from the west or east coast.
The photos below are of our current breeding stock. All of our sheep are authentic British Soay sheep and are all registered with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in the UK. We recently purchase more breeding stock from Kathie Millier's farm in Oregon. They have arrived just in time for breeding season!
RAMS
Imhah:
S: Grier D: Webley.
Imhah is a direct decendant of Gigolo from Island Soay sheep. This year Imhah sired a beautiful dark colored ram lamb who will going to his new home after he is weaned to become part of their breeding stock.
Ignatius
S: Gaellwyd D: Greener Past Sonata.
Ignatius carries some tan genes. This year he sired two beautiful twin ram lambs. Both are considered dark wild in color, however they are a 'lighter dark'. One of the ram lambs has a darker spot on his rump. It will be interesting to see if that 'ink spot' carries on when we start breeding him.
Justin, a new arrival from Kathie Miller's farm in Oregon.
S: Heath (AI) D: Osage
Justin's father, Heath, has genetics from the UK's Gaerllwyd Norris.
EWES
Linden
S: Excel D: Gig.
Linden is a beautiful ewe who is an excellent mother. She has produced 2 sets of twins and two single lambs in her breeding career so far.
Glenda
S: Elion S: Blue Mountain Shasta.
Glenda carries the tan gene. She's produce three single lams in her breeding career so far and one of her lambs is a light phase.
Ariel
S: Blue Mountain Galahad S: Faray.
Ariel is a very friendly ewe. She is always the first to come up to me and enjoys being hand fed and having her photo taken.
Isabella
S: Venturi D: Pikake
Isabella is a twin and very shy, although she does carry genes for light and white spotting.
EsrII S:Wick D:Haidol
Esr11 is my oldest ewe. She has produced three lambs (2 rams and a ewe) in her breeding career. Esr11 is very friendly and will eat right out of your hand.
HP: S: Thurso D: Emerald
HP is my second oldest ewe. She has produced 5 lambs in her breeding career (2 rams, 3 ewes). HP follows me around expecting to get a special treat of rolled oats - which she usually does!
Ouxy S: Excel D: Gilli Dun
Ouxy is my third oldest ewe. She has had 11 lambs in her breeding career. Two sets of twins and one set of triplets. She is one of my largest ewes. Ouxy is protective of the other ewes. She has put herself in charge of monitoring sheep movement and who eats out of which bowl.
Fermi: S: York D: Gigabyte
Fermi is a 5 year old ewe. She has had 7 lambs in her breeding career. Including one set of triplets. She is smaller ewe and very friendly. She has figured out that HP gets special treats so she follows me around looking for her handful of oats - which she usually gets.
Pavlov: S: Gresham D: Debra
Pavlov is a 5 year old ewe. She has had 4 lambs in her breeding career. One of her lambs had a white face and socks, another lamb had white on it's forehead. Another lamb was tan. Pavlov has a very sweet personality.
Our two new ewe lambs (who won't be bred this year)
Jenna S: Heathcote D: GP Galadriel
Jasmine S: Venturi D: Hydrangia