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ABOUT
THE BAALANDS
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The
Baalands is a small 8.2-acre farm in Western Maryland, approximately 9
miles northwest of Hagerstown, Maryland, and 9 miles from the major intersection
of I-70 and I-81. As of 01/01/07, the flock consisted of 36 commercial
and registered Katahdin and Katahdin x Dorper ewes. Most of the ewes are
white. There are a few black (3) and red ewes (2). Stud rams include a
registered Katahdin (Bull's Eye, QR) from Triple L Farm in Virginia, a
registered Katahdin (Hurricane, RR) from Country Oak Ranch in Louisiana,
and a home-grown registered Katahdin ram lamb (Snow Wolf, RR).
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 Fall 2006 |
 "Hoop" House and Grain Bin at the Baalands |
During the winter, ewes and rams are housed in a 30 ft. x 72 ft. "hoop" structure, purchased from Farmtek. 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 when too much vegetation is touching the fence. There are three permanent paddocks, and an additional small pasture.. Electric netting from Premier can be used to further divide pastures for rotational grazing. |
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During
the winter feeding period, ewes are fed grass hay. Due to the high cost
of hay in the area, whole barley is sometimes substituted for part of
the hay in the diet. Barley is stored in a galvanized metal 3.5 ton bulk
feed bin. A locally-made pelleted protein supplement (38%) is mixed with
the barley to increase the level of calcium in the ration prior to lambing
and the level of protein after lambing. Ewes are fed according to their
age (mature vs. yearling) and the number of lambs they are nursing. Protein,
then grain is removed from the ewes' ration prior to weaning to prevent
mastitis. 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®.
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 Ewe nursing twin lambs |
 Ewe with triplet ewe lambs |
Lambs are born in March, during a short two to three week lambing season. 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. Lambs are creep fed a mixture of cracked corn and soybean meal. Fresh water and hay are also available in the creep area. |
 Peter was a flock favorite. |
Any orphan lambs are fed Merrick's lamb replacer according to the label and weaned at approximately 6-7 weeks of age. Lambs are vaccinated for overeating disease and tetanus when they are approximately 6 weeks old. They are boostered for CD-T at approximately 10 weeks of age. Lambs 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. Ram and ewe lambs are separated when they are between 3 and 4 months of age.
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Ewes and
weaned lamb graze orchardgrass-ladino clover and Max Q tall fescue-ladino
clover pastures. Due to limited amount of pasture, lambs are supplemented
with grain (barley + protein supplement) while on pasture. 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 best ram lambs are sold for
breeding. Ewe lambs are fed and bred to lamb when they are approximately
12 months of age. They are fed and managed separately from mature ewes.
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Hooves are trimmed as needed, usually no more than once per year. Only animals showing clincial signs of barber pole (H. contortis) infection (anemia, as evidenced by lower eyelid color, FAMACHA© system) are dewormed. Only two lambs required deworming in 2006, and they were marginal. Antibiotics are administered only if an animal has a rectal temperature of over 104° F. Digestive upsets are usually treated with Kaopectate or Mylanta. Mortality, afterbirth, and slaughter wastes are composted. No major health problems have been experienced in the flock.The flock is enrolled in the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program (Maryland flock #23) and will receive "scrape-free" certification in 2007. The Baalands is a closed flock. Only rams are brought onto the farm. |
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The farm
employs a livestock guardian dog named McComb. McComb was a gift from
Katahdin Hair Sheep International. He takes his name from McComb, Mississippi,
the location of the 2004 KHSI Annual Gathering. Thanks to KHSI for McComb!
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