Our Flock
At the founding of the University of Maine's Ewe-Maine Icelandic sheep program, 12 registered Icelandic sheep were donated to us by Frelsi Farm in Limerick, ME. Since then, we acquired 2 different rams and have produced just over 100 lambs. We kept a few but most of these lambs have been sold as breeding stock, fiber wethers, pets and meat. We maintain a breeding ewe population around 16 and keep 2 rams to cover. The goal of the program is a combination of teaching and research but somewhere along the way, the sheep worked their way into our hearts. We use terms like sweet, curious and gentle again and again in the description because those words embody our interactions with these lovely animals. We've a growing community of volunteer students and supporters who care for these wonderful animals like they were family.
Our Current Rams
Gordon
Gordon is a long, tall yearling with in an incredibly sweet disposition and a thick, soft fleece. He arrived from Frelsi Farm this fall just in time to help out with this year's breeding. He's not registered yet but will be soon!
Gordon is a long, tall yearling with in an incredibly sweet disposition and a thick, soft fleece. He arrived from Frelsi Farm this fall just in time to help out with this year's breeding. He's not registered yet but will be soon!
Kyle
Kyle is a promising 2019 lamb donated from Frelsi farm. He has proven to be a bit of a challenge to keep in his pen as he is quite tall and athletic and not quite used to life at Witter. We are hoping as he settles in, he'll make a good companion for Gordon.
Kyle is a promising 2019 lamb donated from Frelsi farm. He has proven to be a bit of a challenge to keep in his pen as he is quite tall and athletic and not quite used to life at Witter. We are hoping as he settles in, he'll make a good companion for Gordon.
Our past rams (2017-2018)
Norbert (WPW B3SP 74D [CAN]723818-P)
Norbert is a spotted Badgerface with a soft silky fleece. Also new here in September 2017, Norbert is a little more shy than Morrison and he has displayed a gentle, non aggressive nature. We were thrilled with his first group of lambs sporting both badgerface and spotted badgerface coloring. His offspring have fantastic conformation with broad chests and stout lags with and fast growing, soft and silky fleeces. |
Our Past Rams (2104-2016)
Our Current Ewes
When the foundation of our flock was was donated in September, 2014, there were a total of 10 ewes making up 7 distinct genetic lines. The first year, we kept daughters from each of these lines and began to notice interesting and unique traits that appear to follow these family lines. Some of the original ewes have passed on but we continue to see their personalities and other traits live on in their offspring.
Dimon's Girls' Clan-Long soft white fleeces and lots and lots of white twin lambs
Dimon's Girl (Frelsi AI ewe 01P-748Y-[CAN]672552-P) - Our sweet, solidly built, white ewe is not the friendliest of ewes but she has been consistently producing twins for the past 4 years. Every single lamb she's had has been white but there is a distinct possibility that she carries the gene to produce black coloring. She has had easy births and is an excellent, protective mother who continues to watch over her daughters long after they are grown and having lambs of their own.
Sire: Dimon-01932 Dam: Frelsi ewe 01P-633U |
Fleur - (UMAINE EWE 01P 16C [CAN]741185-P)
Dimon's first daughter, Fleur, is a lot like her mother with a reserved, shy personality, a long, soft abundant white fleece and strong mothering instincts. We were suprised last year to discover she carries both moorit and black genetics under that lovely white wool coat. Sire: Little Jo (Frelsi ram M5SP-846A) Dam: Dimon's Girl (Frelsi AI ewe 01P-748Y) |
Ruby (UMAINE EWE 01P 70E-[CAN]741190-P)
This is Ruby's first spring that she's be lambing. She is like her sisters in that she does not seek out attention, but as long as Jade is near, she is both curious and fearless and has the potential to become quite the trouble maker. Her fleece comes in a close second to Fleur's in both quality and quantity. Sire: Little Jo (Frelsi ram M5SP-846A) Dam: Dimon's Girl (Frelsi AI ewe 01P-748Y) |
Jade (UMAINE EWE 01P 69E-[CAN]741189-P)
It's probably just on her posture but since the day she was born, Jade has always had a regal air befitting of the Dimon line. This will also be Jade's first year lambing and we are looking forward to seeing how she fairs. Sire: Little Jo (Frelsi ram M5SP-846A) Dam: Dimon's Girl (Frelsi AI ewe 01P-748Y) Midnight
One of our first ewe lambs out of the Dimon line that doesn't have a white pattern. She is a black spotted badgerface with a pheomelanin topcoat. Sire: Norbert (WPW B3SP 74D) Dam: Fleur (UMAINE EWE 01P 16C) |
Cinnabelle's Clan: Rich moorit coloring, quiet poise and strength.
Cinnabelle's Girl (Frelsi ewe M5P-830A [CAN]690786-P)- We are still working hard to gain the trust of this solid moorit ewe with the frosted tog. She has been following her mother's cues for so many years when it comes to interacting with the humans in the flock, it's been hard to penetrate her suspicion. She has been a wonderful mom and easy lamber making her a valuable asset to our flock.
Sire: Frelsi AI ram M5P784Z Dam: Cinnabelle Frelsi ewe M5P-690W |
Angel's clan: sweet, gentle souls in long, tall bodies
Adventurine (UMAINE EWE B5P 56E [CAN]743105-P)
This solid black ewe surprised us all when she went from the most shy lamb of 2017 to the most friendly ewe in our flock. As a lamb, she was nearly impossible to photo because she was either hiding under feeders or running away. Now, she is nearly impossible to photo because she is almost always 6 inches away patiently waiting for attention. Sweet and affectionate without being demanding or pushy, she is the living embodiment of her grandmother, Angel. Sire: Little Jo (Frelsi ram M5SP-846A) Dam: Lily (UMAINE EWE B5P 14C) |
Earthbound (UMAINE EWE B5SP 96F[CAN]743118-P)
The only 2018 lamb we decided to keep. She is already a large, well built ewe with an incredible fleece. Like her sister and mother, she doesn't hesitate to approach anyone for love and attention. Sire: Norbert (WPW B3SP 74D) Dam: Lily (UMAINE EWE B5P 14C) Jet
A new edition to the flock in 2019, Jet already shares her dam's height and her Sire's fleece with an insane tog length and softness. Sire: Norbert (WPW B3SP 74D) Dam: Lily (UMAINE EWE B5P 14C) |
Hawaii's Family: Interesting color patterns and good moms
Hawaii (Frelsi AI ewe 01P-650W [CAN]646625-P)
Our favorite solid white matriarch with red legs and a carrot top, she is known to be the first to greet anyone new to the group. Like a good grandmother, Hawaii teaches both student and sheep alike how to behave in a flock. After a long and noble career, She will be retiring in the spring of 2019.
Sire: Falur-03980
Dam: Frelsi AI ewe 01P-491S
Our favorite solid white matriarch with red legs and a carrot top, she is known to be the first to greet anyone new to the group. Like a good grandmother, Hawaii teaches both student and sheep alike how to behave in a flock. After a long and noble career, She will be retiring in the spring of 2019.
Sire: Falur-03980
Dam: Frelsi AI ewe 01P-491S
Crazy Girl's Clan: Fat and friendly!
Granite (UMAINE EWE 01P69E [CAN]741189-P)
Granite is our solid white Crazy clone. She'll be having her first lambs this spring. We are looking forward to see what patterns and colors she carries under that white. Sire: Little Jo Frelsi ram M5SP-846A Dam: Crazy's Girl Frelsi ewe 01P-686W Bluebell , a moorit mouflan who joined our flock in the spring of 2019.
Sire: Morrison (Frelsi Ram M5P 885C) Dam: Petunia (UMAINE EWE B4SP) |
Moki's clan: Lovely black and moorit greys with triplet potential
Elanor (UMAINE EWE M2P 19C [CAN]741186-P) Our moorit grey ewe has a wonderfully silly personality that is adored by all. Sire: Little Jo Frelsi ram M5SP-846A Dam: Moki Frelsi AI ewe B2P-710X Periwinkle
Elanor's moorit grey ewe lamb who joined our flock in the spring of 2019. Sire: Morrison (Frelsi Ram M5P 885C) Dam: Elanor (UMAINE EWE M2P 19C) |
Wasserbebe's Clan: Our cuddly athletes
Wasserbebe (Frelsi ewe B5SP-838A [CAN]699513-P)
Our spunky spotted black ewe. She could win the gold medal for high jump when she is excited. She also has been witnessed climbing fences like a goat! Despite the feats of athleticism, she is a calm and nurturing mother who transforms into a big softy around any lambs. Sire: Frelsi ram 01P-785Z Dam: Frelsi ewe B5SP-809Z |