Our 2022 Lambs

What a crazy,exhausting lambing season this has been but we are thrilled with the results!

Meet our Sheep

At High Ridge Meadows Farm, we raise both Icelandic and Gotland sheep for breed stock, meat, milk, fleece and pelts. Each breed has specific traits which make it valuable to our farm. Let us introduce you to our flock.

Icelandic Sheep

The Icelandic is one of the world’s oldest and purest breeds of sheep. It is in the North European short-tailed group of sheep, which exhibits a fluke-shaped, naturally short tail. The breed is truly triple-purpose, treasured for its meat, fiber and milk.

Due to their large rumens, and the selective pressures of their history in Iceland, the breed is feed efficient. The sheep have evolved over 1,100 years under difficult farming conditions in Iceland. As a result, they have a sturdy and efficient constitution. A defining quality of the Icelandic breed is the ability to survive on pasture and browse.

Icelandics are a mid-sized breed. Ewes average 130-160 lbs and rams average 180-220 lbs. Conformation is generally short legged and stocky. The face and legs are free of wool. The fleece is dual-coated and comes in white as well as a range of browns, grays and blacks. The breed includes both horned and polled strains. Icelandics are very cold hardy when left unshorn for the winter.

Lambing with Icelandics

Icelandic ewes are seasonal breeders. Most come into heat in late October, and continue cycling until spring if not bred. Rams are sexually active year round, and the ram lambs can start breeding at 5-6 months. Icelandics mature early and ewes commonly lamb at 11-12 months of age. Many ewes remain productive until age 10 or longer.

Gestation averages 142-144 days, which is several days shorter than the species average. The lambs are small and triplets are not uncommon. Twins average 6-8 lbs and are very lively. Lambs are vigorous at birth, and this trait carries through in crossbreeding programs. The first lamb born is commonly up and nursing before the twin arrives.

Gotland Sheep

Gotland sheep are another short tailed breed of sheep. They are related to the Icelandic and other North European Short Tail Races. Gotlands originate from Gotland Island off the coast of Sweden. The Vikings established the breed by crossing Karakul and Romanov sheep (brought from Russia) with the native land race sheep.

The Gotland is a medium sized, fine boned sheep with an inquisitive and friendly personality. This is a polled breed and their heads are black with no wool on the head and face. The meat is mild and fine grained.

Gotland wool comes in many shades of gray (sometimes white or black) and is thick & soft with a beautiful lustre. The fleece has a long staple with defined curl and is about 29 to 34 microns at 18 months of age, making it a favorite of felters and spinners. Gotland pelts are lovely with gorgeous, lustrous curls. Because of the suppleness of the hide, a pelt can be used for a bedside rug, an armchair throw or can be made into apparel.

Lambing with Gotlands

The Gotland sheep is a seasonal breeder and easy lamber, with a high lambing rate. The ewes produce abundant milk for their lambs and are excellent mothers. The lambs are born with thick black coats, are vigorous and quick to seek mother’s milk. They grow rapidly on summer pasture and can reach 66-110 lbs in 6 or 7 months.

Please fill out the form below if you are looking for lambs to add to your flock or start your own flock. Come fall, we will also have delicious lamb meat for your freezer. Please let us know in advance if you are interested so that we can have you on our list. All our sheep are pasture raised and managed organically. No hormones or antibiotics ever.