4 yr. old Clun Forest Ram - 1 yr. old Dorper Ram 
  
  

  
Year 2000 some of the lamb crop at 6 wks. of age
  
 

  
We are located in the Beautiful Bitterroot Valley of Western Montana.  Our home sits on top of a 
big hill, from which we have had problems with various breeds of sheep being run down due to the
hill. We are currently breeding into a hill breed of sheep that will thrive in the hills and on
pasture. Clun Forest sheep is the breed we have had the best luck with. We aim towards a Clun
Forest cross-bred, to compete with the type of market in our area.


 



  
SHEEP THAT ARE BRED TO THRIVE ON GRASS ALONE



  

  

Meat Sheep:
  
  Meat is leaner, not raised on an excess amount of grain, but on grass alone.  The future is 
heading toward a leaner sheep, Clun Forest crosses will deliver this.

  
  
Clun Forest Cross bred:
  
We currently raise Clun Forest commercial cross breeds.  With the small heads of the lambs,
there is less problems at birth.  The lambs are quick to get to their feet to get that first
colostrum.  Once started, the lambs are very hardy and can make market weight with very little
help from the producer.  Clun Forest cross-bred ewes are first class mothers, with plenty of
milk to feed her lambs to a quick market weight. Our Clun cross lambs gain an average of .78 lbs.
per day. We creep fed alfalfa grass hay, not grain, and only until grass comes in the spring.

  The lambs produce a nice carcass of lean meat.


  
  
Feeding:
We have changed the way we feed our flock this year, 1999.  We used to buy the square bales of
hay and would feed them down our driveway.  Now, we have put four gates together and put a round
bale in.  With grass hay,the ewes were allowed to stay with the feed all the time.
Since we have put in a round bale of alfalfa grass, they are allowed in at two hour intervals,
until they become accustomed to the feed change.
See the picture below for a recent feeding frenzy.

  
  
  

  
  
As you can probably tell, we have some Suffolk, Fresian, Dorset, Columbian and NC Cheviots
for a base flock of ewes.We breed these ewes to a Clun Forest ram for prime mothers of
exceptional maternal instincts. We then breed our crosses to a Clun Forest cross ram
for market lambs.  These lambs have high growth rates.In the future, we will phase out
the, Fresian, Columbian, and NC Cheviot ewes.  The cross between the Clun Forest,
Suffolk and Dorset have a leaner, bigger carcass.
We are going to try a Dorper ram on the Clun crosses this year '2000.
Dorper lambs are known for their exceptional growth rates. Check back later to see how
the Dorper lambs grew.

30 day old Dorper/Dorset Lambs


  
  

  
Kevin's Toy:

  
Kevin has his own toy when it comes to moving sheep around.  We change pastures, as we have
about 18 acres fenced off into four different pastures.  So, Kevin works with Jay, our Border
 Collie to move the sheep.  Having a working dog is really great!!It saves a lot
 of chasing and running in circles trying to bring the sheep in.  Here is a picture of Jay.

  
  
  



  
Click here to go to page2 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Contact Information:



  
  
Feel free to contact us for any kind of information on the breeds of 
sheep.  We sell fleeces, ram lambs and commerical breeding stock.
 Our address is:


  
  
  
Dunranch
  Kevin and April Dunham
  587 Bass Lane
  Corvallis, MT  59828
  (406) 961-3499

  
  -OR- e-mail us at

  
  
dunranch@cybernet1.com
  
  
  
  View the  Ravalli County Search & Rescue Home Page
  
  See my Wisdom and Wilson Genealogy

View the Bitterroot Valley Good Nations Pow Wow Page