Othala Acres

Sheep

We are looking into heritage breed sheep, including Border Leicesters, which are an important foundation breed from England. Border Leicesters are a calm and easily handled breed, and are commonly used to crossbreed with other breeds of sheep. They do well in most climates, and are excellent mothers.

In the future, we plan to breed purebred Border Leicesters, both natural colored and white. Their wool is long and lustrous and excellent for spinning. Spinning count is from 40s to 50s (30-38 microns).

Early in 2004 we purchased two bred 6 year old Icelandic ewes (Bertha and Edda), who gave us three beautiful lambs at Ostara: a badgerface moorit ewe (Erla), her twin brother, a black/grey wether (Skuggi), and a black/grey ewe (Brynja). Bertha, Edda and Brynja are no longer with us, but we still have Erla & Skuggi, who enjoy being the farm lawnmowers.

Our Sheep

Erla
2004 Icelandic ewe
(out of Bertha)
(a month before her lamb -below- by a BL ram are due)

Skuggi
2004 Icelandic wether
(out of Bertha)
(twin brother of Erla)

Butterfly Monster Truck
(the kids named her! :)
Prince Edward (Border Leicester) / Erla (Icelandic)
(late summer 2009)
Butterfly has beautiful curly fleece like her sire,
which will be perfect for many of my needle felting projects.

Skuggi asking little sis Erla, "wanna play?"
(March 2004)

Here are a few recommended links to learn more about sheep:

Border Leicester Sheep - Oklahoma State University's Dept of Animal Science's page on Border Leicester Sheep.

American Border Leicester Association - The ABLA was founded in 1973 to promote and register Border Leicester sheep in the United States and Canada.

Icelandic Sheep - Oklahoma State University's Dept of Animal Science's page on Icelandic Sheep.

ISBONA - Icelandic Sheep Breeders of North America, Inc. homepage.

RavenStead Icelandic Sheep - Homepage of our good friends in Maine who breed & sell gorgeous registered Icelandics!

Pigs

We are looking into adding pigs to our farm, and the Tamworth breed is at the top of our want list.

In the future, we would like to acquire a couple of Tamworth sows to breed and raise. Tamworth hogs are listed as threatened by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, as well as being listed in the Slow Food USA Ark of Taste, so we look forward to helping with keeping this breed alive and available.

OSU Breeds of Livestock Page - Tamworth Hogs

Photo at the top of this page is of "Wilbur the Lucky", our Hampshire/Poland China cross boar, who went to a new home in the summer of 2008 where he can "get lucky" with a pretty sow or two.

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