I have read with interest the discussion regarding dual purpose breeds. We have did this through our flock of Natural Colored Montadales.
We raised white Montadales (originated as a dual purpose breed and currently shown and fit as a meat breed) for years. We ended up with a ewe having a black lamb about 5 or 6 years ago. We purchased a black ram lamb that same year. By blind luck, both ended up with great medium spinning fleeces. I have expanded the flock from there using one black Columbia ewe crossed under the black Montadale ram and purchasing a couple other black Montadale ewes to go with my foundation ewe. We have also kept replacements. My neighbor, a hand-spinner and CVM/Romedale producer has helped teach me about wool and fleece preparation. She has been a wonderful mentor. Two of our major shows are now fiber shows. To get back to the point, I have lambs that are marketable as locker lambs (120-140 lbs) in 4 to 5 months, ocasional white lambs that are marketable in two to three months to the Spring ethnic market, and a 3-5 lb. skirted and blanketed fleece I can sell to handspinners for $20-$30. We received a mere $25 for 15 of our black face fleeces sold through our regional wool pool in 2005. The Montadale's fleece drawback is that their fleece tends to fall off a bit higher in the leg, however I can skirt this portion out (it is usually not under the blanket anyway). Depending upon whether it changes grade or just plain turns to belly wool, I can also sell my table skirtings at a reduced price. I also have a few of my black face market lamb producers (wether dams) that produce really pretty fleeces. I am starting to consider blanketing a few of them. What I have found out in a few short years of attending fleece and fiber shows is: 1. People want a wide scale of clean, soft, high quality, blanketed fleeces. 2. People like samples. 3. People like unique fleeces with a lot of character. I have endured skepticism from a few producers over the years. This included being told by a national director/board member of the NCWGA my second year, that "Montadales are not a wool breed". However, I have a deep belief in personal choice. For me the black Montadales optimize all of my niche markets: locker lamb, ethnic market, and the handspinners. Fiber is very addicting. One sheep and fiber show such as the Black Sheep Gathering had me hooked, however my sheep have to make money on both ends of the spectrum to pay their bills. Kris Jones Kristie Montadales To stop mail temporarily mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: set nomail To restore send: set mail
