About Our Farm

02/29/08

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Sheep in the morning light 9/15/06

Bellwether Farm is a lovely 22-acre sheep farm and herding facility located in the rolling hills and orchard country of southern Illinois.  The farm was established in 1998, and we have been raising our Border Collies and purebred Barbados Blackbelly sheep here ever since that time.  We invite you to learn about our farm, our flock of beautiful and rare Barbados Blackbelly sheep, and our beloved Border Collies.  We also welcome your interest in our herding clinics and events, and hope you will join us as a participant or spectator at one of our events soon!  

 
bulletBarbados Blackbelly Sheep

We raise a flock of purebred, registered polled Barbados Blackbelly sheep.  We are proud to say that this flock is known as one of the finest purebred registered flocks of BB sheep in the United States.  At the present time, we have 30 breeding ewes from 5 maternal blood lines, and 6 mature rams from 3 paternal blood lines on the premises.

We are members of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC), and as such we adhere to the ALBC conservation breeding plan for rare breeds.  Also, we are enrolled in the USDA's Voluntary Scrapie Free Certification Program, and we have a closed flock in accordance with this program. 

We sell breeding stock on a regular basis, and we also sell market lamb, available by request.  Additionally, we maintain a flock of herding wethers for herding clinics and events, and occasionally we sell dog-broke herding stock.

We usually have two crops of lambs per year of approximately 50 lambs per crop.  Breeding stock lambs are available for shipment or pickup at 3 months of age.  All breeding stock lambs are registered with the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association International (BBSAI), and will come with a registration certificate and a multi-generation pedigree.  All stock is guaranteed healthy.

Our next lambing will begin on March 01, 2007, and we expect lambs to be available for pickup or shipment beginning June 01, 2007.  Currently, our lambs sell for $125.00 each, plus the cost of any veterinary health inspection paperwork needed for interstate transport, and plus the cost of shipping.

For more information about our Barbados Blackbelly sheep, see Sheep Sales.

 

bulletBorder Collies

Our beloved working Border Collies are Jet, Meg, and Pip.  They work sheep on a daily basis, and work cattle on occasion.  They have also competed in stockdog trials in the USBCHA, AHBA and AKC venues.  These dogs are a most valuable asset to the sheep farm, and are regular assistants to us each day during ranch chores.  They also have a place in our household, and live in the house with the family.  Jet, Meg, and Pip assist with all our herding events by sorting and setting stock for our clinician and participants, and of course they usually end up winning the hearts of all who visit Bellwether Farm!

To find out more about our dogs, see Our Border Collies.

 

bulletHerding Clinics and Events

Since 2001, we have been hosting several herding events each year, including herding clinics with nationally known clinicians, beginner clinics, herding fun days, and private herding practice sessions.  There are several events planned for this coming year which you may be interested in.  Please join us if you can!

For more information about herding clinics and events at Bellwether Farm, see Clinics & Events.

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This site was last updated 04/19/07