Yesterday was an important day for us. Our first 6 Dorset ewes were bought from a farmer near Yarm, who does not have his sheep registered as pedigree, he has over 300, so I contacted the Dorset Breeders Association to ask how we could start a pedigree flock. They informed me that we could get our existing sheep inspected and then get them accredited as being pure, assuming that they are, then any others that we breed with a registered tup will automatically be considered as pedigree.... It's why we went back to purchase 7 more.. and yesterday was the day of the inspection!
We had 20 to inspected in total, the original 6 that James bought for me, the new 7 sheerlings and our 7 gimmer lambs including my beautiful Ellie Mae.
It's fairly obvious to see from their overall appearance that they are all Dorset sheep, and none have been crossed with other breeds, but they also look for blemishes, there should be no black marks around the eyes, or the nose or around their bums....... everything should be clean and pink... and I am delighted to report that they all passed with flying colours..... Each sheep is then marked with a new individual association number... this can be done with either tattooing, which I don't like the sound of, or with a 3rd ear tag, which is the way we chose to do it... We can now be included in the flock book and hope to be called the "Bishopdale Flock", its our first choice of name. Then maybe I can learn to show them and improve my knowledge, when I understand more about the breed? There is a Northern branch of the society that we've also joined and they have classes and events during the year to help people such as us, who are new to these things... but I have to say that everyone we have contacted or met so far have all been incredibly nice and very helpful!
...... oh and just a note about Lilly... she has developed a liking from flowers! She started by helping herself to some little white chickweed blooms, but soon, with my help, progressed to clover...... I've just got to get her to eat them for herself as she's decided that it's fun for me to pick them all for her, and feed them one by one... Ah.. but you should see her little wagging tail........ she's so happy!
It's fairly obvious to see from their overall appearance that they are all Dorset sheep, and none have been crossed with other breeds, but they also look for blemishes, there should be no black marks around the eyes, or the nose or around their bums....... everything should be clean and pink... and I am delighted to report that they all passed with flying colours..... Each sheep is then marked with a new individual association number... this can be done with either tattooing, which I don't like the sound of, or with a 3rd ear tag, which is the way we chose to do it... We can now be included in the flock book and hope to be called the "Bishopdale Flock", its our first choice of name. Then maybe I can learn to show them and improve my knowledge, when I understand more about the breed? There is a Northern branch of the society that we've also joined and they have classes and events during the year to help people such as us, who are new to these things... but I have to say that everyone we have contacted or met so far have all been incredibly nice and very helpful!
...... oh and just a note about Lilly... she has developed a liking from flowers! She started by helping herself to some little white chickweed blooms, but soon, with my help, progressed to clover...... I've just got to get her to eat them for herself as she's decided that it's fun for me to pick them all for her, and feed them one by one... Ah.. but you should see her little wagging tail........ she's so happy!
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