Quarter Mile Farms


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ehodel@indianvalley.com
Phone 309.264.7412
last revised January 21, 2008
Eric & Gina, Ethan, Kara, and Ty Hodel, Kent & Janet Hodel, Kevin & Jolynn Hodel
Resource page
The purpose of this page is to share some key nutrition and show tips. Additionally, I have included some links to other helpful websites.
In my opinion and 24 years of raising sheep experience, it takes 4 things to produce a top quality breeding animal and show winner. 1.) The sheep. One must start with a good and sound animal. 2.) Feeding. The lambs and yearlings need to be pushed gently, keeping bloom and cover on the lambs and not getting the yearlings too fat. 3.) Fitting. Get the sheep clean, but more importantly keep the wool short. Another key is cutting the sheep out 8 weeks prior to the targeted show. This will help drastically reduce the fitting effort and time at show date. 4.) Showing. The sheep needs to be show ring broke so that it stands tall and proud for the judges inspection.
Feed:
1 lb. corn per ewe December - January for late gestation
2.5 lbs. corn per ewe February - March for milking and lamb rearing

Hay:
1 bale of hay will feed 8-10 ewes daily
Suggest feeding half morning and half at night
Depending on pasture availability, typically feed hay November - April

Pasture:
4 ewes with lambs = 1 cow with calf = 1 acre per year
In Illinois, pasture should be available May - October, conservatively.

Deworming:
Suggest 4 times per year. Levasole before Spring pasture turn out. Valbazen before August breeding season. Ivomectrin in November after couple good frosts. Safeguard, 2 days after ewe lambs.

Feeding Show Lambs:
Typical requirement is 3 lbs. per lamb per day. Feed 1.5 lbs. morning and night. Offer 1/3 flake hay morning and night.
Suggested show feed is a 16% protein balanced ration of whole corn, whole oats, and Soy/Protein pellet.

Managing financial expectations: A general rule of thumb for a commercial flock is $100 per year ewe and lamb expense with an $100 per lamb return. So if a ewe has a single and raises it to weaning and then the lamb is fed to 130 lbs. market weight, it is a break even year. Twins yields an $100 rough profit.

When raising purebred sheep for show, there are additional costs. A rough estimate is around $250 per year ewe and lamb expense. Additional costs include registration papers, DNA tests for scrapie, health papers for show, additional feed and bedding for shows, etc. If the lambs are sold as breeding stock, a fair price is $250. Again yielding a break even project with a single and a small profit with twins.

Note that the above cost estimates do not include purchase price and any show or travel expenses. Therefore, I encourage you to look at a sheep project as a hobby or family project that has intangible benefits. Like anything, management, hard work, and good decisions are key to minimizing cost and maximizing enjoyment.

A quote shared with me, "It's not about raising sheep, but raising kids" could not be more accurate.


The QMF 2000 feeder works great for feeding grain and hay with no waste.
The University of Illinois Sheep netcontains links to sheep activities and general information.
Pipestone's website has useful sheep supplies, excellent articles, and a phone number for the tough vetinary questions.

Breeding Suffolk and Dorset sheep that are;

  • Structurally correct and sound

  • Long bodied and extended

  • Heavy muscled and fast growing

  • Prolific and easy keeping

    •  email us at
    ehodel@indianvalley.com

    Quarter Mile Farms
    1220 Mennonite Rd.
    Metamora, IL 61548
    Ph. (309)264-7412