Dreary Day in Iowa with Pics

Nate V. IA · Mar 7, 2012

Not exactly billonthefarm, but its my little slice of heaven. Since dave2 at some birthing pics I thought I could catch a few of my own. We have about sixty five lambs on the ground with another fifty ewes left to lamb. The weather has turned nice for once. The black and white ewes are purebred Romanov. The ewe lambing is a Romanov crossed with a Hampshire. The white ewe in the headgate lost her lambs and I just happened to have a couple extra for her, but she doesn't like the black lamb yet, I give her a few more days in the headgate to think about it.

Stan - Florida · Mar 7, 2012

Great pictures, for sure.

I don't know a lot about sheep, but we always had about 20 ewes at my grandfather's place. They kept the weeds down around the barnlot, and my main memories of them are going to Grandpa's place to make sure they were all in the barn at night (the sheep, not Grandpa).

Dogs killing sheep were common back in the '50s, and I found out many years later that my old English Shepherd was one of the bad guys. I thought he just died of old age in early 1956, but I was told some 40 years later that he had to be put down for killing sheep.

As I remember, lambs sold at about $20/hundred in those days, so it was fairly easy money. We also sold the wool at shearing time.

Stan (old Indiana farm boy)

John Diercks · Mar 7, 2012

Nate,
where are you in IA? Family is in BV county and in Des Moines

Kow Farmer · Mar 7, 2012

Hi Nate,
Looks like the same ugly day we are having in Southern Minnesota today, except with a little rain drizzle mixed in. Is that a Heider wagon in pic #4? I have one just like that I use for filling my steer self feeder, works great.
Good luck with your lambing season.
Kow Farmer

Organicfarmer1972 · Mar 7, 2012

I love the look on the dog.

He seems to be saying "just wait until I catch you outside this fence again!!"

ChasK · Mar 7, 2012

Are all your Romanov ewes bred to a Hampshire? Would you be interested in selling a ram lamb?

I live near LaMotte, south of Dubuque...

Nate V. IA · Mar 7, 2012

email me [email protected]

Nate V. IA · Mar 7, 2012

We are in Boone County, NW of Des Moines about an hour. God's Country!!

Brian G. NY · Mar 7, 2012

Interesting Stan, about the dogs.
I know absolutely nothing about raising sheep; we had only, cows, pigs and chickens when I was a kid. Oh, and one turkey we raised for Thanksgiving.
I have a neighbor who raises sheep and he has two great big white dogs that live right out in the field with the sheep; sorta blend right in.
He got them after he started losing sheep to the dam d coyotes; ain't had a problem since!
Somebody told me the name of those dogs once but I can't remember now!

Brian G. NY · Mar 7, 2012

Now, you tell me how dreary can it be when you've got them cute little lambs poppin' right out like that!!

Nate V. IA · Mar 7, 2012

I've seen it a thousand times, they look like $$$ to me, I only got a couple hrs of sleep last night. I could make a lot more money for a lot less work in town. But then again I'd be working for someone else. The first ten are cute the rest are just lambs.

Sleep Deprived
Nate

Brian G. NY · Mar 7, 2012

Yeah, yeah, they just look like $$$.
I believe there is a deeper reason behind your
doing what you're doin'!!
And.....maybe only the first ten are cute; that still give's you something to look forward to each spring!
Also, it gives you an opportunity to show us some really nice pictures. Thank you for that!

johndeereman · Mar 7, 2012

I know those dogs your talking about can't think of name right now either they have mountain in there name lol. Neighbor has 2 paid $1500 each plus shipping and he had to learn there language. Huge dogs been told if you break down on the road by his place do not get out of vehical they are trained to attack any human other than there owner unless he tells them otherwise. He has old Subaru station wagon for them for a dog coupe they can barely get into it through the rear hatch.

johndeereman · Mar 7, 2012

What breed is the dog in pic? Border collie? Don't see the tan eyebrows typical of an aussie

northvale · Mar 7, 2012

they are 'Great Pyrenees'.

Nate V. IA · Mar 7, 2012

Yep, Border Collie, her name is Will. I trained her to work in a parlor when I was milking cows and we can do normal everyday chores pretty good. She doesn't mind nipping at the heals of a 1600 lb Holstein but she won't face a 60 lb feeder lamb. She's more honest than a lot of the people I work with, but she is a chicken.

Rich Iowa · Mar 8, 2012

Are you by chance related to any Venards around the Adel, IA area?

Nate V. IA · Mar 8, 2012

Kevin's my brother, we met at his wedding.

Rich Iowa · Mar 8, 2012

I was wondering if that was you. When I saw a post with sheep from a guy by the name of Nate V. IA, then saw the email address I had to ask! Nice looking set up you got there.

tjiniowa · Mar 8, 2012

I am in NE iowa, nice to see your sheep pictures, I have 24 lambs on the ground myself and about 13 more ewes to lamb, which will probably be in April. Glad to see other people raising sheep, most people just like to harass me about them.

Dreary Day in Iowa with Pics

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