The Rural Voice, 1998-06, Page 24QUALITY FARM GATES
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Owen Martin Mfg. Inc.
RR #3 I%'allenstciz, Ont. NOB 2S0
(519) 699-4144
20 THE RURAL VOICE
The price starts going up about the
end of September and stays up until
Easter, he says. Most of their Iambs
are marketed through Brussels
Livestock.
"We're lucky we've got such a
huge ethnic market for the lambs
down in Toronto. We can't fill the
market in Ontario," he says, noting
Iamb is still being imported from
New Zealand and Australia.
The Easter and Christmas Iambs
are sold at about 60 pounds
while the grass lambs go out at
80-100 pounds. About 70 per cent of
the Hallams' lambs are sold between
late September and the end of April.
Only a small percentage of the lambs
go out on grass.
"We like to have lambs to put out
on grass because they're the cheapest
ones to produce," Steve says. "We
don't get as much for them but you
don't need as much for them to make
the same money."
With so much expansion going on
in the industry the Hallams have built
up their ewes from their own flock.
Other expanding producers haven't
been so fortunate. The Hallams have
had to turn away offers to buy their
breeding stock. Breeders didn't have
to advertise because buyers were
always coming looking for stock.
The situation, Steve says, seems to be
levelling off a bit now.
Now the Hallams have gone from
being novices in the business to
veterans and other, newer producers
are coming to them for advice.
They've sold Iambs for 4-H programs
and hosted tours by the Ripley
Beavers. They've been involved in
Roots of Bruce and other educational
opportunities. Steve served as
secretary for district 2 of OSMA.
Sheep farming is a good
alternative to other commodities but
Steve advises going in with your eyes
open.
"Before I got into it I think I'd ask
around and talk to a lot of people
who had been in it for quite a few
years and see their set-up."
"Know where you're getting your
sheep from and know the history of
the sheep," Tracy adds.
"You can save a lot of problems
that way," Steve says. "You could
buy in diseases like foot rot or buy
somebody else's problems with older
ewes they've culled out."
Choose your breed depending on
the market you're aiming for, he
advises. The Hallams chose Dorset -
Suffolk crossed ewes and have used
Southdown, Texel, Suffolk, Dorset
and Arcott lambs.
"I would start out with mature
ewes, maybe four years old — where
the sheep know what they're doing.
That's how I learned.
"A neighbour started out with ewe
lambs which he grew up and bred
and he had a lot of interesting
problems the first year."0
Shepherds share skills with novices
Because of the huge increase in interest in raising sheep in the Grey -Bruce
area, District 2 of the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency has scheduled a
hands-on opportunity to learn some of the skills used by shepherds to
manage their flocks.
On June 6 in the cattle pavilions at the Mildmay fairgrounds there will be
two sessions of activities. The morning session runs from 10:00-11:30 a.m.
while the afternoon session runs from 1:00-2:30 p.m. The cost is 520 per
person and registration is accepted at the Walkerton OMAFRA office by
calling 1-800-265-3023. Included in the registration is a copy of the current
Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Sheep.
Body condition scoring of ewes will be explained, demonstrated and
practised, as well as crutching ewes, trimming feet and tipping up sheep the
easy way. Ram evaluation and sponging ewes will also be demonstrated and
each participant will have an opportunity to try the techniques with the
guidance of an experience shepherd. The objective of the day is to
encourage good shepherding and learning how to make your shepherding
easier by working with the animals, rather than against them. Restraining
and handling sheep is not as simple as it looks. Three methods of tail
docking will also be demonstrated and participants will have an opportunity
to try their hand at each one, complying with the current Code of Practice.0