PASTUREproduction

Choosing the right breeds of sheep has been part luck and part trial and error on our farm. Texels are what we have stuck with since 2002. These are the easy-keeping, easy fleshing breed on grass, just as you may have heard. They adapt well to the changing nutritional value of pasture through the year.

Crossbreeding with Coopworth/Border Leicester and Southdown breeds has added to the size of our lambs without adding to the feed bill. We get one cutting of hay a year which feeds the sheep through the cold months and graze these pastures the rest of the year. It's about the most sustainable (and most inexpensive) way we've found to raise a farm flock.

Rotational grazing is the second part of the equation. We manage the pastures by not over-grazing, fertilizing, watering when available and resting them at the proper time.

TEXELsires

cooke Creek philosophy has been to raise a dual purpose animal with #1 priority being carcass quality of our lambs.  We knew Texels had the "eye appeal" and carcass measurements to demonstrate their muscling, but soon we had scientific evidence when the myostatin gene (muscling gene) was

identified in only the Texel breed, and of course, is passed on through breeding. A Texel ram can add this gene to even crossbred lambs! That's why Texel rams are so useful as terminal sires.  Additionally, Texel rams are gentle to handle, never require grain to stay in condition and are vigorous breeders. We have built up a nice flock of high quality Texels with imported bloodlines from the UK and the Netherlands through Portland Prairie Texels and their AI program and other quality breeders throughout the US. See what we have for sale here or drop us an email to ask questions of how a Texel terminal sire can fit into your breeding program.

QUALITYwool

soft and luscious describes the wool from our sheep. We take care to assure our wool is as clean as possible and it is high quality. Healthy sheep grow a healthy fleece, a new one each and every year. Ewes are gently sheared during late pregnancy enabling lambs to find that important first meal easier.                              

Coopworth and Border Leicesters are longwool breeds with crimp, structure, sheen and durability - a favorite among handspinners! Sock knitters adore the attributes of BL yarns and rightly so. They wear well and are cushy and soft on tired feet. Texel wool has insulating properties that are hard to beat while being a lightweight airy, lofty wool. We are now experimenting with the Southdown wool. It's got spring and memory we're told.

Visit our CCS Wool Store page to see what is currently listed for sale but signing up for our newsletter assures you are informed of the latest inventory. You can do that below.