At Whitefish Bay Farm, our flock of sheep are all purebred Corriedales. Our flock usually numbers around 125 adults, two thirds of whom are a variety of natural colors and the balance are white.

We concentrate our breeding efforts to produce Corriedales that provide high quality fleeces, of uniform consistency, especially suited for the handspinning market. We emphasize fineness in our fleeces. All of our adult fleeces have been tested by Yocom-McColl. The adult rams that we currently use for breeding test from 24.6 to 32.4 microns. Our adult ewes are generally in the range of 19.9 to 30.6 microns.

To secure a healthier group of sheep and to prevent the importation of diseases currently not present in our flock, we closed the flock in the fall of 1995. Future blood lines are being developed through the use of artificial insemination. Most recently we used two Australian Corriedale rams as our source of semen. We have been testing for Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP) since 1996; since that date the flock has tested negative. Most recently, in September 2001, the entire flock over 6 months of age tested negative for OPP. We will continue to test regularly. The flock is foot rot free. All of our rams have tested negative to Brucella Ovis.

All of our sheep are grazed on pasture spring, summer and fall and are well adapted to a grazing style of management. We breed for a sheep that has a quality fleece suitable for sale in the handspinning market. Our lambs must also be growthy and robust.