Our Sheep

We feed our sheep the very best grass, hay and whole grains. We keep our barns clean and our farms and pastures beautiful, healthy, fertile and abundant.

We raise two types of sheep at Shady Hill: Polled Dorsets and Suffolk.

Polled Dorsets

The Dorset is a medium-sized white sheep with good body length and muscle conformation. Dorset ewes weigh from 150-200 pounds at maturity; some in show condition may very well exceed this weight. Dorset rams weigh from 225-275 pounds at maturity. The Dorset has a very white, strong, close fleece, free from dark fiber. Dorset ewes have a sweet feminine character and are among the best mothers found among sheep breeds, far excelling most other breeds in maternal instinct and ability to care for their young. Their lambs grow with astonishing rapidity.

Even though the number of Polled Dorsets far surpasses the number of Horned Dorsets in this country, there is still considerable interest in the historic beauty of the original horned animal. The past several years have seen a wonderful increase in interest for the Dorset breed. The breed has been tried and proven. In experiments conducted with other breeds, it has proven equal to many others, and in many cases is deemed superior. Such facts, coupled with the many desirable characteristics which the Dorset maintains over other breeds, makes it a breed that is outstanding in meeting the requirements for lamb production in this country.

Suffolk

Suffolks are by far the most popular pure breed of sheep in the United States, accounting for more than fifty percent of purebred sheep registrations. The Suffolk breed originated almost 200 years ago on the rugged southeastern coast of England, the result of crossing Southdown rams and Norfolk Horn ewes.

The first Suffolks were brought to the U.S. in 1888, but it wasn’t until after WWII that they gained in prominence. They are a large breed with a distinctive all-black head and legs that are free of wool. Mature weights for Suffolk rams range from 250-350 pounds, with ewes weighing from 180-250 pounds. They are very popular show sheep at fairs.