The Seasons of Grass-fed Lamb
Tamara Sloviaczek herds the sheep into the line of the camera. Photo by Arlie Sommer, August 2020.
By Arlie Sommer and Tim Sommer, June 2021
In winter and spring at Purple Sage Farms, the sheep congregate in the corral to eat hay and bed down on wood shavings or straw. We often stand at the corral, observing the lambs in the evening as they play king of the hill on dirt piles in the corral, or explore concrete and rock piles put in place to keep them entertained.
Tim describes the scene, “It is fun to watch all the animals jumping and running for joy. The baby lambs, within a week of being born, have a daily ritual of running at full speed around the corrals while their mothers are eating. This is a daily expression of joy from using their new legs and strength to run as fast as they can with their newly born friends.”
Then as summer begins, the sheep go to pasture. Over the years, Tim and Tamara gradually built a fence paddock system at the farm, dividing pasture so that the sheep can be moved daily. This also allows plants to regrow, for around a month before they are grazed again.
Tim moves the sheep on foot and with a four-wheeler, so they regularly enjoy a fresh menu of grasses and forbes, “The sheep will be waiting at the gate to be let into the next paddock, knowing the tasty and succulent dinner that they will find.”
The grass is greener and the fields are lush with a chance to replenish. This process of regrowth, grazing, and then regrowth, mimics the work of natural systems; one that nourishes and raises healthy animals.
