The Rural Voice, 1981-09, Page 15Florence Pullen
One of the province's most respected purebred Suffolk sheep producers
by Dean Robinson
In the 1960 s many farmers, for reasons
which included predators, disease, poor
markets and the high cost of adequate
fencing, got out of sheep.
Not Florence Pullen.
The R.R. 4 Clinton woman took up
sheep (in 1963) because she was bored
with housework, and the industry's
troubles of the 60s merely offered new
challenges.
She met those, and dozens since. and
today is one of the province's most
respected purebred (Suffolk) sheep
producers. Her expertise has drawn her to
classrooms of the agricultural college at
Centralia where she teaches the sheep
course. She also is writing a textbook.
The sheep pendulum has now swung
the other way and for the past five or six
years there has been a resurgence in
Ontario, which is now the country's
leading producer. Pullen believes much of
it has been tied to the popular back -to -the -
land movement. Sheep fit in well with the
part-time farmer, or the farmer's wife.
"Women seem to have a knack," she
says, "a kind of touch with the sheep,
especially when they're lambing."
Growing ethnic communities, par-
ticularly in Toronto, have created an
increased market for Iamb, especially
during the Easter season. The initial
capital investment required to establish a
viable sheep enterprise is less than that
which is required for most other livestock
operations.
Recent developments in production and
management techniques (including con-
finement rearing, the introduction of extra
- prolific breeds, and accelerated lambing)
have provided increased opportunities for
profit for the top manager. And in many
cases, small flocks, as secondary
operations, allow farmers to bring an area
of roughland into economic production.
Though the industry now appears (aced
with problems (see other story in this issue
of the RV), Pullen believes sheep
production could be and should be in a
healthy state. From the production end of
things she says there are hardships
because of poor management. Good beef
or swine farmers don't necessarily make
good sheep farmers. Sheep are a different
game.
Too, she says, producers must look
beyond the lucrative Easter ethnic de-
mand and shoot for the overall Canadian
market. They must help their fellow
country men discover or re -discover Iamb.
There's a selling job to do.
Sheelf farming is not for everyone, says
Pullen, but the farmer who makes a
conscientious effort can do all right.
She's a case in point.
THE RURAL VOICE/SEPTEMBER 1981 PG. 13