Chief Shepherd's Message

By Naomi Leith Smith

As I am typing this message the TV is reporting the horrific terrorist attack on America.  Our prayers should go out for all those innocent victims and their families.  One encouraging note, in the natural world, life goes on. This morning in the pasture a fall lamb had been born and three ewes were in heat to be bred for the next season's lambing.  We are also experiencing the arrival of some fall lambs in the second lambing of the year.  A cool spring plus ample green grass has resulted in a number of ewes lambing twice this year.  A ewe produced quads in February and quads in September. So far this year we have had lambs born in every month but August.  These are the normal production genetic traits of the Finn breed and these
attributes for low input and added value should be stressed in our marketing to the commercial breeder.  I took Finnsheep to Keystone Sale and the New England Sale.  I talked to a number of interested people and I think we need to continue to stress the added value from Finn genetics.  I have asked Grace to include the press release outlining the USDA Standards for Scrapie Control and Eradication in this issue of Short Tales.  Please check with your local vet about your state program if your are not already enrolled. Wool prices continue to be a disaster for the sheep industry.  We sold 247 pounds of pure Finn wool in the local wool pool and received a check for 15 cents a pound or $37.00.  I am interested in Cornell University's blankets from their Finn wool.  We have sent two bags of wool to a local processing plant started by Rebecca Denhoff.  Her address is Solitude Farm, 2706 Solitude Road, Buchanan, VA 24066.  Her phone is 540-254-6691.  She is buying Finn wool and is offering complete processing and producing wool for roving, spun yarns, felt and blankets. We are continuing to work on the update for a new logo to represent the modern Finn breed.  I would welcome your thoughts and suggestions for the future direction of the Finnsheep Breeders' Association.

FINNPOWER

Articles by Grace Hatton illustrated with photos by Elizabeth Luke - - including a great cover photo - - appeared in both the Shepherd  and Country Folks (published in Palatine Bridge, NY) this past summer. The articles featured Stillmeadow's Snobird and her septuplets. Elizabeth reports that Finns been featured on the cover of the Shepherd four times in 2 1/2 years. Martha (GH16), a remarkable Finn ewe, born in 1991, of Magee Finn bloodlines, bred and owned by Grace Hatton of Lords Valley, PA, has beaten one of the records of top production of Finn ewes in Finnland according to the numbers published in "Finnsheep in Finnland" by H. Goot, 1973. Some highlights of her life: · In 1996 she had a litter of five in the spring and four in the fall. · Seven years she bred both spring and fall. · In her lifetime she had a total of 40 live lambs.  Unfortunately, mostly due to our mismanagement, we lost another 11 of her lambs including a litter of five born prematurely due to underfeeding. · Thus her total of lambs born in her lifetime is 51.  The record in Finnsheep in Finnland is 49. · She lambed 17 times.  She averaged 485% lamb crop per year. · In 2001 she had a single in the spring and just dropped a black ram lamb in September.

IMPORTANT CHANGES !!