Old Hickory Ranch: Home of Valais Blacknose Sheep and Adorable Maltese Pups

08/03/2024

By FAR... the cutest thing I have seen since our lambs were born! Sophia, the 5 year old, immediately says, "Awww...so cute. We need one!"

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/PAXeeZFKy9FMsqVN/?mibextid=WC7FNe

07/28/2024

No wonder why we chose to have sunflowers in our logo.

Thanks for ALL the L🥰VE and Support!

I used to love sunflowers because I thought they faced towards the sun. This seemed simple and lovely, a reminder to be positive. The truth is even better. According to a article on NPR by Merrit Kennedy, “A young flower faces east at dawn and greets the sun, then slowly turns west as the sun moves across the sky. During the night, it slowly turns back east to begin the cycle again...The researchers found that the plant’s turning is actually a result of different sides of the stem elongating at different times of day.” It is the growth of the stem that turns the flower. When scientists tied up the flowers so they could not move throughout the day, they found they actually had decreased biomass. This is so much more realistic a metaphor and parallel for life. In times of growth, we are strongest if we can embrace both the light and the dark, more powerfully alive if we can move fluidly between all the emotions that make us human. Sometimes it takes great courage to keep moving when faced with the pitch dark of reality in ourselves and the world around us, but the reward is we can more fully appreciate the brilliance of sun on our face when it occurs.
When sunflowers reach maturity, they stop moving and face east where they can collect the most warmth and sun. We all know what times like this feel like, times when we feel centered, calm, in no rush to go anywhere. This is the prize for the work of moving even when growth is tiring. Unlike sunflowers, humans live long lives. Times of stillness and contentment are fleeting. Perhaps the universal draw of the sunflower is not so much about blind positivity as it is about moving to face both the good and the bad with equal grace, so that we are always growing.
Be the sunflower. Soak up the radiant beauty of all emotions. Move between darkness and light each day trusting a time will come when the light will win.

07/26/2024

This makes me so happy! Animals and kids! Just the best!

07/06/2024

HUGE Prayer Request:

28 Years ago today, I said I do to my best friend and love of my life...

He has been admitted to the hospital for 8 times since he woke me on February 2 thinking he was having a heart attack.

He has been in the hospital for 3+ weeks for his 2nd infection in his blood.

I just received the call they are moving him to ICU.

05/17/2024

Update! All are home!

We have the full sibling from last year's litter. I have been to her farm. It is in the middle of nowhere. These babies were stolen.

This breed, Karachachan, is extremely loyal and will not wander.

Please share far and wide!

Thanks!

05/11/2024

Introducing Jewelette!

We have been waiting YEARS for her arrival!

It all started that HOT August, 2021, day when her Grandma, Jewel and sister, NoName, arrived from South Dakota!

The girls and I were S😍 excited to meet the new arrivals at Sissom Ranch.

We immediately fell in love with the Mommas and lambs. Little did we know that we would be blessed with adding them to our ranch.

In the Fall of 2021, Jewel was bred to their pure ram, Bohdan! The 1st pure Valais we had ever seen! He is AMAZING!

In the Spring of 2022, Jewel had a ewe lamb. We were SMITTEN! Later that Spring, both Jewel and Jewelee came on over!

Since we always try to follow best practices for our sheep, we patiently waited to breed Jewelee until she was 18 months!

She is now 2 years old and has blessed us with our beautiful girl, Jewelette!

04/27/2024

Our 2nd 81% Valais is a 2nd BIG BOY!

Update: He weighed in at 11.4 and our 5 year old daughter, Sophia, named him Lovie!

04/27/2024

Katie's baby girl who is now TWO is in labor for the 1st time! Our 2nd 81% F2 should be on the ground! S😍 excited and nervous!

04/27/2024

We accidentally brought a chicken to the dentist in the Fall. Still not sure how she survived the 45+ minute car ride! We thought she had died after we got her home and let her limp body lay on a heating pad set to low, but she got up and has lived 6+ months now!

This week, we returned for our 6 month cleanings and they asked if we brought a chicken this time! 😝😜🤪

When in doubt, blame the chickens.

04/26/2024

Our 1st 81% Valais F2 is a ram lamb from Heidi!

Look at those curls! He has knee pads and has hock marks, too!

Momma is in love and did great! Super quick labor for this sweet maiden Momma!

04/24/2024

We have been looking forward to our F1's lambing since we brought them home with their Mommas in the Spring of 2022!

Their Mommas have all delivered twice since their arrival!

Now, it is their turn to become Mommas!

First due is Jewelee, Jewel's singleton.

She was due yesterday and we thought today's storm may stir things up.

Now, we are wondering if the Pink Full Moon will bring a baby girl tonight.

At this point, daylight would be fine with us!

All are scheduled to be sheared on Sunday!

04/22/2024

Meet PomPom, Chloe and Joelle!

They are 62.5 Valais ewe lambs.

Chloe and PomPom are BONDED twins.

When bred to a 100% Valais ram, their babies will be 81% Valais!!!

Contact us for more information!

04/21/2024

We absolutely love raising our lambs to be companion pets! We have several that would be great therapy animals!

04/21/2024

Meet Boormer and Zoomer!

They are BabyDoll-Valais BONDED twins. They have great wool, beautiful markings and are very friendly.

We will have our vet surgically wether to confirm both testicles are removed and to reduce the chance of Urinary Calculi due to wethering at an older age than banded rams.

They are available to a great, loving home together!

They are near St. Louis, MO. We can assist with transportation as needed.

Please contact for more info.

03/29/2024

More info about shearing as we get ready to shear our sheep! Hoping to shear the Show Sheep and remaining Pregnant Mommas a week from today and the rest at the end of April.

With our Midwestern crazy weather, where it is freezing one day and in the 70's the next, I struggle to pick a date months in advance as I worry they will be cold once their wool is gone and before it grows back.

🐑 Attention Sheep Producers!🌱 Post-shearing, it's crucial to boost your flock's nutrient intake! 🌬️ In cold climates, their metabolic needs increase, requiring a strategic adjustment in feeding to maintain optimal health. Inadequate nutrition could lead to weight loss as they rely on fat reserves for energy. 🌾 Moreover, feed quality plays a pivotal role—older hay may impede digestion, necessitating the inclusion of energy-rich feed like corn. 🌽 Ensure your ewes and their offspring thrive by tailoring their diet to weather conditions. 🌦️ Explore our comprehensive guide for insights on optimizing post-shearing nutrition to elevate the well-being and productivity of your flock. 💼🌟

University of Wyoming Extension

03/28/2024

Great info about shearing!

🐑✂️ Shearing Day Essentials ✂️🐑

Planning your shearing day? Here's a quick guide to ensure it goes smoothly:

1️⃣ Schedule during breeding season, ideally a month before lambing.
2️⃣ Prep by penning sheep in clean, ventilated areas the day before.
3️⃣ Consider weather protection for your flock.
4️⃣ Sort sheep by wool type for market value.
5️⃣ Use scourable marking fluids instead of metal tags.
6️⃣ Take care of shearers with meals and support.

Remember, communication is key for a successful shearing day! 🌟 🌿

03/27/2024

We absolutely ADORE black sheep...specifically Valais Spittis!

I’ve seen and heard quite a bit of discussion on natural colored lambs being born to white ewes. So I asked my good friend Dr. Chris Posbergh from Montana State University to share some information on how this happens…here is what he shared.

“How am I ending up with black lambs from all white ewes and rams?

That is a question some producers often ask themselves when the occasional black lamb appears during the lambing season. While they may be useful as a marker sheep or sold to a hand-spinning flock later in life, their commercial wool value and potential contamination of the main wool clip means they are not necessarily the best replacement candidate for a fine wool producing range flock.

The reason for these black lambs is often due to a single gene, the Agouti gene. This gene controls the white pattern our sheep display, with the most dominant allele at this gene being the white allele (Awt) and causing an all-white sheep and most recessive allele resulting in a completely black sheep (Aa). All sheep carry two Agouti alleles and a large majority of our sheep will have two white alleles, but some may carry a black allele that is masked by the dominant white allele. Due to the white allele being dominant and masking the second agouti allele, a black allele can hide in your flock for generations until the pairing of a ewe and ram who each carry a black allele come together and may produce a black sheep.

Since every sheep carries two alleles and passes one at random to their offspring, with the other allele coming from the other parent, it takes two sheep each carrying a black allele to potentially produce a black lamb. Even in the case of two carriers mating, on average, only about 25% of the lambs may appear black. The remaining 75% of lambs produced would be all white. Given the history of white wool production selecting against black wool, needing the correct allele pairings of ewe and dam, and the lower chance from that mating of producing a black lamb, the occasional black lamb is rare but not completely impossible to produce.”

Fun and interesting discussion. What are your thoughts?

03/15/2024

Thanks again for all the love and comments! We read all the comments and replied to the questions.

I wanted to share that humor has returned and give an update on Motley and our next due to lamb Momma.

For the short version, scroll to the final two paragraphs...lol...

About 5pm, while awaiting a return call from the vet about Motley's fever and continued straining, I had to call the Vet again! I started with... I can't make this up...

After being home for less than four hours, Katie, my 12 year old vet in training notice that our next Momma due to lamb had a va**nal prolapse!

I honestly couldn't believe it! Ruby is our wildest sheep! She was born on the same South Dakota Ranch as Motley and spent at least one year roaming many acres before coming to Missouri.

It didn't take too long to get her into a corral with grain, then corner her and get a harness on her. Ruby walked to the van much easier than Motley did the day before. Since I still hadn't heard back from the vet, I decided to bring Motley along so the vet could do her own assessment.

About 20 minutes into our hour journey to the vet, Ruby pulled her prolapse back inside. I knew it would most likely pop back out so I wanted to get it checked and addressed by the vet to ensure we were doing everything to keep her and her babies safe. I also wanted her to have antibiotics since it was quite dirty from laying on the ground before Katie discovered it.

We were met at the vet by two vets and three techs. It was quite impressive! We got Ruby out of the van first. She had a "prolapse spoon" inserted and tied to her wool. The vet explained how to do it so we could do it if needed in the future. She also gave Ruby a shot of antibiotics.

We loaded Ruby back in and got Motley out. She was still really warm. The vets decided to add a second antibiotic and add Meloxicam for 10 days. The vet brought out 3 filled syringes and needles. She gave Motley the 1st shot on the muscle in her neck. Motley immediately jumped back and dropped to the ground. She wasn't my 1st sheep to appear to drop dead after a shot, so I wasn't worried.

They were getting ready to put Motley back in the van. I asked if they were going to give Motley the other two shots. They said they were for me to give the next two days.

That's when I got worried! You see, Katie's sheep Helena was the 1st sheep that I saw jump, then appear to drop dead. That happened almost 3 years ago and I still have PTSD from it because I gave the shot and Katie looked at me like I had killed her sheep!

That's when the vets said...let Katie do it! Katie is well known at our vet office for being a Vet in Training. They allow her to assist and observe with our animals when appropriate. She helped wether our sheep last year.

So...ever since leaving last night, Katie has been looking forward to giving the IM shot in Motley's neck. I am so releaved because I didn't want to do it! I did have the vet shave the spot so we made sure she got it in the correct spot!

The humor part came when we were giving Motley her meds and realized Ruby's prolapse spoon came out. After a brief discussion and Katie reminding me that I would feel awful if we didn't put it back in and something happened I would feel awful. Sometimes, I think she just wants to do certain vet things!

So, we had Sarah get the Clorox wipes to clean the spoon. Katie gave the spoon a good cleaning with the wipe (see photo). She handed the wipe to Sarah, who is 14 and does not want to be a vet. Sarah takes the wipe then realizes what it had been used for...she asks Katie if the spoon had been up Ruby's rear. Katie proudly shares that no, it was in her va**na. Sarah says that is even worse and throws the wipe at Katie. We immediately laugh! Then worked together to reinsert our 1st prolapse spoon! So many lessons learned, laughs shared and memories made!

03/14/2024

Thank you S😍 much for the love and support! We truly appreciate it! We promise to read and respond to comments as soon as possible!

We wanted to give an update as our hearts continue to grieve!

After posting the photo on Tuesday night of the 1st lamb, I drove home completely over the moon that she was alive. Both the vet and I were sure the lamb(s) had not survived given the situation. Much to everyone's surprise, a second lamb was born about 30 minutes into our 60 minute ride home. Once I had her dried off and breathing, I was over the moon excited and giddy! I surprised the girls with the 2nd lamb.

They immediately took turns living on each one, checking their amazing Valais markings and wool, named them, decided which Shepardess got to show each one and when training would start, helped with ambilical cords, weighing and attempting to get them to nurse.

We are so grateful for the 3 hours of extreme excitement over the Blessings of TWIN EWE lambs that were beautifully marked and full of curls!

Please know that we gave these lambs the very best chance at survival. There was no time, expense or medical option spared.

I am not sure if there is an interest in the details or not. I would share in hopes of saving a future lamb of mine or that of someone else if there is interest.

After a lengthy discussion with our vet, I am where I need to be as a Shepardess...Confident that I did every single thing possible for each lsmb given to information we had at the time.

To confirm that nothing is missed that could prevent this from happening for the same, unknown reason with our flock, we are having a nercropsy preformed on the 1st lamb.

Please enjoy these photos of Momma and daughters in my minivan right after baby #2 was born.

03/13/2024

We need a miracle! As long as she fights, so will we! Please pray!

03/13/2024

I wrote a really long update that was deleted when I tried to attach a photo. That was at 2 am this morning.

We are back at the vet trying to keep the baby alive. Prayers are appreciated!

Will update more as I am able.

03/13/2024

She is ALIVE! Doing great so far!

03/12/2024

4:30 pm Update: I just got off the phone with the Vet. The drugs are working! They usually take 12-24 hours and were started @ 1pm.

The vet can now reach in far enough to feel a head but not enough to grab and pull. We want the steroid to mature the 139 day lungs...but there are concerns that there are yet to be determined issues with the placenta due to part of it coming out this morning and blood clots seen by the vet.

Motley is alert and still has the spark in her eyes. The vet says she seems a lot less concerned about what is going on than we do.

Since the vet will do her final check of the night unless there are emergencies at 8, we agreed that Motley would stay at the clinic until 8 for a final check, then come home where I can monitor her all night.

This gives the lamb(s) the best opportunity at surviving although given the placental issues and prematurity of 139 days, they may not survive.

C Section was discussed earlier but decided against since it is extremely difficult on the Momma and these lambs may have already passed away or are too early to survive. Also, Motley is doing great, so her health at the moment is not a concern.

For those of you that remember, our Susan had an emergency c section, at a different vet, almost 3 years ago. At that point, it was life or death for Susan in spite of bringing her to the vet 3 days prior and being in daily contact with updates. Susan survived with complications to this day and her ewe lamb died. I continue to regret taking her to that clinic but didn't know better.

1:30 pm:
Not the way that we wanted to start lambing with our Valais crosses...we knew we were 6 days out from our first due date based on our ram wearing a breeding harness.

The girls were doing hay and water, then came running in saying Motley was in labor. Two water bubbles and part of the placenta was hanging out. I went in to feel for a baby and couldn't get past my fingertips (ring womb), then called our Vet.

I don't think Motley even knew she was in labor. She was still eating grain and not having contractions.

Motley is at the Vet. They are giving her steroids to try and develop the lamb's lungs and a hormone to soften her cervix. They are manually displaying her cervix.

Odds are not good that the lamb(s) will survive, but we are praying for a miracle!

03/09/2024

Please pray for the Texas Panhandle!

03/08/2024

Get ready for the best-looking lawn on the county! Visit Old Hickory Ranch for adorable and friendly lawn mowing, and fertilizing-
sheep.

03/08/2024

We adore our time @ Sissom Valais Blacknose Sheep and appreciate all the help, support and beautiful sheep they have blessed us with over the years!

S😍 excited to see the lambs that the lambs in this video will be having in a few weeks!

02/14/2024

We really want to add Dairy Sheep to our flock and have been looking into it during the past year😍

Sheep milk has nearly twice the fat as cow or goat milk. However, the fats in sheep milk are primarily monounsaturated and polyunsaturated which have virtually no effect on cholesterol.

Plus the fat in sheep milk is made up of short and medium chain fatty acids, making them easier for the human body to digest and eliminate. People who are lactose intolerant can usually enjoy sheep milk products even if they have trouble with cow or goat milk products.

Sheep milk has more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) than the milk from goats, cattle, and humans. CLA is a cancer-fighting, fat-reducing fat.

You can get sheep milk cheese from Maid-N-Meadow Farms, https://www.maidnmeadows.com/

Maid-N-Meadows