![]() The flock is fairly young and these numbers are expected to increase as they mature. Lambing rates run from 2.3–2.4 in the fall-lambing ewes, and around 3.0 for ewes lambing in season, for an overall rate of about 2.6. Lots of ram power is one of the keys to their successful breeding program. They currently have six ram groups, each with six rams, which are also colour-coded, making for an easy visual tracking system that prevents inbreeding. Harry looks for rams with good performance information but is also interested in the work the Smiths are doing with breeding for parasite resistance. The ewes are grouped using a 4-colour tagging system and bred to unrelated groups of purebred Rideau Arcott rams, sourced from Phil and Liz Smith in Ontario. Harry plans to move into accelerated lambing in 2020, by putting CIDRs in some ewes that lambed this winter, as soon as their lambs are weaned. More out-of-season lambings are planned for this fall, in September, October and November. Last spring (2019), there were 250 ewes synchronised and exposed to rams, and 75% of them lambed last October. Harry uses CIDRs on the ewes that are exposed for fall lambing. The Willowdale ewes lamb just once a year, but some of them do it out of season in October. Most (94%) of the ewes catch in the first cycle after being exposed to rams the rest lamb later with the later breeding groups. Rams go in with the first group in mid-August, and more rams are added to new groups every two weeks until mid-January. The flock is divided into 12 breeding groups of 150 head each. The flock is mostly straight-bred Rideau Arcotts there is also a small group of Canadians. TMR is fed off an overhead belt and into the feed bunks along the outside wall. The new owners wanted to diversify their livestock operations, and asked Harry and Lorna to develop and manage a new sheep operation for them. The Warkentins sold this quarter, with the hog barns, three years ago. That flock was merged into what is now the Willowdale flock. They got into sheep in 2011, and their flock grew to 400 head as they transitioned out of hogs. They ran a dairy for 12 years and then moved to hogs, putting up the buildings that are now filled with sheep back in 1988. Like many sheep folks, the Warkentins have a long history in agriculture. This new venture has been up and running for just over two years, and is currently home to 1,800 ewes. They live on the ¼-section straight north of the sheep barns and used to own this one as well. The Willowdale barns are close to home for Harry and his wife, Lorna. L to R: Harry Warkentin and staff members Edwin Falk, Charity Dueck, Ethan Plett, Bethany Dueck (missing in the photo are Deb Wipf and Alina Fischer). From here you can keep an eye on the sheep through a system of cameras strategically placed throughout the barns. We started our visit in the farm office/staff room over a cup of coffee. As I stepped out of the truck I could hear the voices of the staff hard at work but clearly enjoying what they were doing-always a good sign in any operation. Harry Warkentin is the manager of the facility, and even before I met up with him I knew I was in for an enjoyable afternoon. The farm sits on a ¼-section (160 acres) that is part of a larger operation owned by Apex Farms. ![]() It was a cool, cloudy January afternoon when I pulled into the parking area at Willowdale Sheep & Lamb, 10 minutes south of Steinbach, Manitoba. The wing closest to the shop (farthest from the lambing area) houses the handling system and permanent shearing setup. Ewes with lambs move from the lambing area into the centre areas of the barn. The longest wing of the barn, east of the outdoor pens, is the lambing area. ![]() The Willowdale Sheep & Lamb yard, as seen from the southeast. ![]()
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