The Baalands is a small 8.2-acre farm in Western Maryland, approximately 9 miles northwest of Hagerstown and 9 miles from the major intersection of I-70 and I-81. The flock consists of 38 purebred and crossbred Katahdin ewes. The ewes are of mixed colors, though mostly white.

Sires for the 2013 lamb crop include Phelps, a purebred registered Katahdin ram purchased from Triple L Farms in Virginia; Spooner, a 5/8 Lacaune x 3/8 Katahdin ram purchased last year from the Spooner Agricultural Research Station in Wisconsin; and B'ears, a home-raised 1/2 Katahdin x 1/4 Hampshire x 1/4 Suffolk ram. The purpose of the breeding program is to produce purebred registered Katahdins, as well as crossbred lambs of two types: Katahdin "Mule" (3/4 Katahdin x 1/4 Blackface) and Katahdin "Dairy" (11/16 Katahdin x 5/16 Lacaune).

During the winter feeding period, ewes and rams are housed in a 30 ft. x 72 ft. Clear Span "hoop" structure, purchased from Farmtek. A new cover was put on the hoop house in 2012. Movable pens are set up in the hoop house utilizing 8 ft. open gates purchased from D-S Livestock Equipment. Pastures are enclosed in high tensile, electric fencing. Six wires are utilized with all wires carrying a charge, except for the top wire. The bottom wire can be switched off. There are three permanent paddocks and a separate pasture for rams or other small groups. Electric netting from Premier can be used to further divide pastures for rotational grazing.

After the pasture resource is depleted, usually in mid-December, pregnant ewes are fed grass hay. During the last month of pregnancy, ewes are fed grain to meet their increased needs for energy and calcium. 1/2 lb. of grain per head per day is typically fed. A locally-made pelleted protein supplement (38%) is mixed with whole barley to increase the level of calcium in the ration prior to lambing and the level of protein after lambing. Barley is purchased and stored at a local grain elevator. It is delivered and stored in a galvanized metal 3.5 ton bulk feed bin on the farm.

Ewes are vaccinated for overeating disease (type C and D) and tetanus prior to lambing. Starting one month prior to lambing, ewes are given free choice access to a vitamin-mineral pre-mix containing Bovatec®. Lactating ewes are penned and fed according to their age (mature vs. yearling) and the number of lambs they are nursing. Generally, ewes receive 1 lb. of grain for each lamb they are nursing. The composition of the grain ration is varied according to the type of hay fed: grass or alfalfa. Protein, then grain is removed from the ewes' ration prior to weaning to prevent mastitis.

In 2013, the lambing season will be split. Half of the flock will lamb beginning in early February. The second group will lamb beginning in mid-March. Ewe lambs will lamb in April. Lambing occurs in large drop pens or outside on pasture. After lambing, ewes and lambs are placed in lambing jugs for 1 to 3 days, before being moved to mixing pens of four ewes and their offspring. Lambs are weighed at birth and ear-tagged, but are not docked or castrated. Crossbred (hair x wool) lambs are sometimes docked. Lambs are creep fed a mixture of cracked corn and soybean meal. Fresh water and hay is also available in the creep area. When the lambs are approximately one month old, the ration is gradually changed to whole barley and pellets. The lambs' free choice minerals contain a coccidiostat.

Any orphan lambs are fed lamb milk replacer according to the manufacturer's label and weaned at 6 to 7 weeks of age. Lambs are vaccinated for overeating disease and tetanus twice. They are weaned between 60 and 90 days of age, usually when the youngest lambs are 70 days old. Lambs are weighed at weaning and weights are corrected to a common age and adjusted for birth type, type of rearing, sex of lamb, and age of dam. The top-indexing ewe lambs are retained in the flock. Ram and ewe lambs are separated when they are between 3 and 4 months of age.

Ewes and weaned lambs graze orchardgrass-ladino clover and Max Q tall fescue-ladino clover pastures. While on pasture, lambs are supplemented with a 16 percent protein grain ration (barley + protein supplement). Ram lambs receive 1.0 to 1.5 lbs. per head per day while ewe lambs receive 1/2 to 3/4 lb. of grain per head per day. Ewe lambs and the top-indexing ram lambs are sold for breeding. Ewe lambs are fed and bred to lamb when they are 12 to 13 months of age and have achieved approximately two-thirds of their mature weight. Thoughout pregnancy and lactation, they are fed and managed separately from mature ewes. They are not mixed with mature ewes until they have weaned their first lamb(s).

Hooves are trimmed as needed, rarely more than once per year, many not even that often. Only lambs showing clincial signs of barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) infection (anemia, as evidenced by lower eyelid color, FAMACHA© system) are dewormed. Few lambs require deworming. Mature ewes are not dewormed. Sub-therapeutic antibiotics are not fed. Antibiotics are administered only if an animal has a rectal temperature of over 104°F or a preventative dose of antibiotic is warranted.

Mortality, afterbirth, and slaughter wastes are composted. No major health problems have been experienced in the flock. CL (Caseous Lymphadenitis) has never been identified as the causative agent of the occasional abscess. The flock does not test for OPP or Johne's, but has also not experienced any chronic wasting or debilitating diseases or hard bag. The flock is certified scrapie-free (Maryland flock #23). Status date in the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program is October 18, 2003.

The farm "employs" two Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dogs, McComb and Boone, to provide protection from predators and possible intruders. McComb was a gift from Katahdin Hair Sheep International. He takes his name from McComb, Mississippi, the location of the 2004 annual KHSI Expo. Thanks to KHSI for McComb! Bone was obtained at the 2008 annual KHSI Expo. He takes his name from Boonsboro, the location of the meeting (which I hosted in Maryland)