We have lived in Wilton, California for 50 + years. E & B Ranch (Evan and Bobbie Winn) raise registered Columbia Sheep, the true American Breed. A new American Breed that began in Idaho and Wyoming in the early 1900's that were breed as a dual purpose sheep, a fine quality wool and top meat production. Our bloodlines trace back and maintain the genetics of the original Bradford Columbia breeding that Bobbie's father brought to California in the mid 1950's. We run between 20 to 30 ewes and keep our own replacement ewe stock. One requirement for registration of purebred Columbia sheep is to have a wool fiber diameter between 23 and 30 microns. The majority of our flock maintains a wool fiber diameter of 20 to 26 microns.
Our sheep are pastured on irrigated clover pasture that is mowed after each irrigation. Mowing keeps the grasses from heading out and releasing seeds into the wool. This also keeps the clover growing low and spreading. Good pasture management practices provide us with a natural method of producing clean natural fiber. Clover takes Nitrogen from the air, brings it into the soil for plants to use, therefore, fertilizing the soil naturally. Clover also competes with weeds, allowing sheep to graze on clean weed free natural grasses.
We naturally produce clean natural wool without blanketing the sheep.
Our ewes are tagged for fall lambing and are sheared around the udder and in the rear. We also shear their heads in the winter while the ewes are milking as we are feeding alfalfa. This protects the wool from the alfalfa stems and leaves that would penetrate the wool.
