Mon ChouChou Kerry Hill & Valais Sheep

06/07/2024

With all the excitement over the birth of this beautifully marked and stunning ewe lamb, I did not properly acknowledge Chris Adamson and his Whitfield Flock of Kerry Hill Sheep and Animal Breeding Europe for their efforts in exporting Kerry Hill sheep embryos to the USA for the very first time.
Animal Breeding Europe who now owns the sire “Marlbrook UK0315021 02495” and Chris Adamson who owns “Whitfield Galway Girl 20791”, the damn.
Having communicated countless times with Chris over the last few years, I am thrilled to have some genetics from the Whitfield Flock of Kerry Hill Sheep!
Thank you and to all involved making my dream a reality!

03/07/2024

🥰🐑🐼❤️❤️❤️

Mon ChouChou Lady Liberty a purebred 100% Kerry Hill.
7/3/2024 11.56lbs. 😯
First imported embryo to be reported born to American Kerry Hill Association.

03/07/2024

Today is a day full of excitement and first’s.
Mon ChouChou presents the FIRST pure bred born ewe lamb on the Ranch, from a Kerry Hill imported embryo.
American Kerry Hill Association’s First member to report an imported Kerry Hill embryo birth. The first pure bred Kerry Hill born in Michigan.
Thank you Andrew Fisher for making this possible!
Photo bombing coming soon!

26/06/2024

I have posted the photo before without saying something, now I feel I can.
As most of you know I had tragically lost “Keep-N-Faith” last year. This is her stunning twin ewe, “she has grown into her own.” Breathtaking I think! 🤭💖😍😊
She will continue Faith’s lineage and her name “Stand-N-Faith.”
Photo taken by Tracy Bloom, to whom I will be forever grateful for. She talked me out of “selling out”. Tracy and her husband stepped up like “farmers” in the “old days” without being asked to. They allowed me the time I needed to decide what to do and how I was going to accomplish it all.
The photo is a reminder to me, to have Faith-Strength-Hope and trust Jesus has a plan. No matter what is happening, let the world fall apart around and when you’re ready he’ll put the pieces back better than before.
A flock of sheep are not JUST sheep to the shepherd/shepherdess.
You can bet there is a story behind them worth listening to and that the shepherd holds them near to the heart.
If you read this far, thanks for reading and give Tracy and Brandon a 🙌🏻💛

Mon ChouChou’s Stand-N-Faith

21/06/2024

At Mon Chouchou it’s not what you wear it’s the motivation to get the job done that does.🤣 🫶💖

16/06/2024

What a beautiful sight, half of my hay field is cut.

24/01/2024

Yep…

24/01/2024

03/09/2023

One of the breeders, that purchased one of my purebred rams, from imported embryos. This is his offspring 😊😊❤️🤭 I’m so proud!

25/08/2023

Look who came in for a close up💞 Dusty Road’s Ellie Rose 🥰 she has a beautiful panda face…

24/07/2023

Having some fun today, time I got back in the barn and tend to what matters, yeah I changed my mind not given them up!
Yes! I think I got her to smile!😁🐏🐏❤️

01/06/2023

Another beautiful day and a surprise in the barn🥰
In this dark time, I believe God sends nuggets of hope, that in each new day you can choose to look forward to change regardless of the pain and work through it or you choose to stay in the past where pain remains. Don’t let those who remind you of your past (a past you had no control of) define who you are today!

31/05/2023

This journey has been bittersweet especially having the results I had this year. I went on a hunch with this cross and at 75% it produced what I was looking for. It’s also bitter sweet to know that I will be walking away from this for the things that are more important in life, we ask for prayers in our situation and thank you all for your support the last several years.

01/05/2023

Sometimes you just have to ponder awhile. 😊

12/04/2023

Perfect 💙 Perfect 🔵

29/03/2023

Something’s are just gonna take time… patience… talking quietly 😔

Not traditional so what, I can control them better than the bulky hand shears and I don’t dare touch our electric ones, they’re wicked looking. 🫣😱

27/03/2023

What does this shepherdess do after shearing you ask…
The day after…
After the chores are done, I sit on the barn floor quietly and evaluate. Did I do right, for the last year? Did the lambs thrive after birth? Did the ewes keep or loose condition after lambing etc. What do I need to do differently?
I can say with confidence, I’m very pleased with how the ewes look. To date all the lambs were on their feet feeding with in a few minutes. But my feeding system needs some tweaking. Being in a new place it’s gonna change till it works. Not to mention address a few muddy places around the barn area. Hmmm…

It does my heart good to see my favorite Kerry Hill ewe the only one left of my original flock, come lay at my feet with her ram lamb (she was a wild thing when she caught my eye😍). What a surprising reward for me today!
With her daughters in the background from 2years ago, (are products of AI for Valais Blacknose breed up). They are going to have F2 Valais BN anytime.
Keep’N the “Faith” is on the left and Uptown Brinkley is on the right. (See photos)
This shepherdess is content❣️😌
🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑

But as I sit and reflect on the last year. I can’t help be reminded of some of the disgusting antics of a VBN registry owner… banning breeders who bought Valais BN embryos from a certain individual (we’ve never made it publicly known till now yes, we purchased from that individual also). That individual provided someone else an embryo that had the first born Valais Blacknose in the US! Then out for blood the registry schemed extortion, those members were to pay outrageous fees for DNA matching, of those embryos! Then banned the rest of those embryos, whose breeders that wouldn’t cave for the sake of their breeding program. I guess they calculated their losses and those breeders were gonna pay for it! It’s a one way street with them… obviously!
I’m also reminded of a woman that told me, I needed to sell ALL my Valais and buy Kerry Hill… to that woman, I say stick it where the sun doesn’t shine!!! 🫢🫣🤠
You don’t run this ranch!
I’ll keep purebred Valais’ and have my purebred Kerry Hill too!
If you have read this far, I believe in truth and being real and fair.
I have the upmost respect for those who have been real with me, speak truth and also those that are willing to share their years of experience without monetary gain. We need more of you around!
And thanks to the breeders who sent messages of warning. 😉
This shepherdess’s goal has always been about the sheep and the best place to know your sheep is on the barn floor! 😜🥰

27/03/2023

What a day we had…
✔️Feed the lambs
✔️Give bum scratches
✔️Shear the sheep
✔️Give some lambs lovin
✔️Watch a sheep give birth
✔️Educate young eyes
✔️Weigh new lambs
✔️Dock the new lamb’s tails
✔️Explain what a water bag is and why it’s red
✔️Explain what “the red thing was hanging from the lamb” (umbilical cord )
✔️Give Shots
✔️Trim hoofs
✔️Serve lunch
✔️Answer 1001 questions from inquisitive minds
✔️Feed sheep again!
✔️Scratch bums again!
What a beautiful day we had to share it all with family. ❤️🐑🐑

25/03/2023

The wait is over we finally have some lambs from one of our girls, “purebred miniature Cheviot.” Yesterday Coyote gave birth for the first time, 2 cutest wee ewe lambs. 6.18 lbs & 5.51 lbs
Just in time shearing day is tomorrow!

25/03/2023

Don’t you agree? 🥰

16/03/2023

On Tuesday afternoon

Fancy’s look says…
“ I followed you into the barn like a puppy dog and you give me grain, you know I can’t eat right now.”🫢

Me texting:
I saw Fancy in the shelter and the rest of the flock was out grazing. I fed the lambs before checking on her, when I finished she was waiting at the fence for me. I opened the gate, she followed me into the barn! 😃🤓

Hubby/Daughter: she’s probably faking you out 🤣

Me: we’ll see what happens come morning 😝

Wednesday…
Fancy delivered the goods 8:05am Wednesday 😂😂😜 that’s my girl! This shepherdess knows her sheep
1 big ram 13.88 lbs!❤️
Will be available in 8-12weeks

11/03/2023

The use of heat lamps for newborn livestock increases the risk of fire, but proper safety precautions can reduce the risk.

06/03/2023

These little guys have been tucked away in the corner of the barn, for the last week with momma while she recouped from an unusual labor. She delivered these 2 little guys like a pro first timer with no assistance. It was the third that made it difficult to lamb, as it was not fully developed. Momma has recovered fully and has always taken care of her babies. When weaned they will be available as wethers. They would make a great addition to a fiber flock or as pets.
Their fleece is white as snow. Will post more photos as time allows.
Their breeding is
50%Valais BN x 25% Finnsheep x 18.75% Kerry HILLx 6.25% Cheviot.

26/02/2023

I’m impressed with the vigor of these, nice strong lambs.
Clun Forest x Kerry Hill

26/02/2023

Thelma, her first time lambing, is one tough ewe!

24/02/2023

Glory @ 9mos. Ellie @ 11mos.
🤩😍🤩😍🤩🐑🐑 Looking so sophisticated don’t you think 🐼🐼

24/02/2023

🫣oh no not another one🙄

24/02/2023

The first lambs of the season, they are the most beautiful black, look how the white just pops.
Tails will be docked and both will be wethers. They would make a nice pair to pull a cart with. PM for details. Will not respond to wanting as rams
50% Valais BN x 50% Katahdin

23/02/2023

https://www.sheepandgoat.com/_files/ugd/aded98_04d25d36050f447d8168b9624d16958d.pdf

https://www.sheepandgoat.com/infographics

23/02/2023

Lambs just having fun.
They are 2 weeks already!