Crane Creek Ile de France Sheep

04/30/2026

December 2025 born twin purebred (not fullblood) IDF ram, no grain fed.

04/07/2026

3.5 mo old forage raised PB IDF ram lamb

04/07/2026

3 forage raised purebred IDF ram lambs 3.5 mo old in photo from a few weeks ago.

https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/a5G_SXoZR4mw0MhTmy9INQ.71zVlZWj4eUSUgAfUa_mIA https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/0JwMJfTSQbeFuy6lc9_a0g.2M874vcUufWqbRp_BY4ya5

04/07/2026

Mostly Ile de France crosses in the foreground (plus a Dorper and a couple of White Dorpers). It’s in the low 20s and very windy but there is no snow or rain so that’s an improvement.

03/20/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1089758094214175&set=a.169894189533908&type=3

Earlier, we mentioned we are going to implement a Maternal Behavior Score (MBS) into our ewe flock. Several reasons for this:
1. Ewes that have a better MBS have more lambs survive to weaning and weigh more than lambs from poorer MBS ewes.
2. Studies have shown it’s heritable and repeatable.
3. Lambs born to ewes with a better MBS were quicker to stand and quicker to nurse

One flock in NZ has been using this system for 25 years at the time of publishing. They found that their overall lamb survival was 9% better than industry average of 80%.

I am using the scoring system provided by LAMBPLAN in Australia. Given our ewes are currently in confinement , not in a pasture of range situation, I elected to adjust the distance and reduce it. Instead of 10 meters, we are using 15 feet for a MBS of 2. For a MBS of 3, they need to stay within 30 feet. In a range/extensive operation the distances could stay but for these ewes that are used to seeing us daily plus are in a dry-lot, I believe we would see very few ewes go past 30 meters.

12/28/2025

Ile de France percentage rams available

12/25/2025

High percentage Crane Creek Ile de France ewe.

10/23/2025

75% Ile de France ram enjoying a little sun after a frosty night.

10/22/2025

Ile de France crossbred ewe with new twins.

10/14/2025

Pasture born and raised fall lamb (wish there were 2).