Our Dorper lamb is fed a majority grass and hay diet but the lambs do get a bit of whole corn when they are growing as well. We feed their mothers a pail of corn in the morning and the little gaffers start trying out what their mommas are eating by the time they are about a month - 2 months old. They just get a nibble alongside the moms and this continues for a short period during and after weaning. When they are missing milk they greatly enjoy the treat of corn, which adds some interest to the same old hay, day in and day out. Once they get over the stress of weaning and are big and confident enough to start going outside to pasture, they do not need the grain any longer. The fresh grass and good pasture is richer and has more energy and nutrients than when it has been dried and turned into hay. Some levels of nutrients, protein and sugars will be lost in the drying process of grass to hay.

We purchased a flock of Shepherd's Cross sheep in the fall of 2024. This is a new addition to the diversification of our farm and at this point we are not selling meat from this breed in our store. As we are striving for consistency in our offered products, we are only selling Dorper lamb in our shop for the time being, though we have made some custom arrangements for buying whole or half lamb from our larger commercial flock. The commercial flock is a wool sheep whereas the Dorper's are a hair sheep, thus the lanolin from the wool will add a fuller more traditional lamb taste than what can be expected from an animal without or much lower lanolin levels, resulting in a milder, sweeter tasting lamb.

Dorper sheep is a breed of Purebred sheep developed by crossing the Black Headed Persian and the Dorset sheep breeds together. The outcome was a unique combination of wool and hair sheep that is capable of self-shedding. They have an extended breeding season and are excellent mothers. This breed is known for their hardiness and adaptability, capable of thriving even in harsh conditions, where other breeds may struggle. They are adaptable to a wide range of climates, perfect for Canada where we seem to get it all! They are non-selective grazers and can utilize a wide variety of forages. Dorpers are an exceptional meat producing breed and are known for their fast growth rate and ability to produce high quality carcasses. Dorper meat is known for its mild flavor and tenderness. We adore our Dorper sheep flock and think they are fabulous!