Our Flock of Sheep

Our flock is currently composed of 5 adult Rambouillet ewes, 2 ewe lambs and a wether (a neutered male) lamb.  Rambouillet is pronounced ram-boo-'lay.  To hear it pronounced go to the Merriam-Webster On-Line Dictionary and type in the word and click the speaker symbol.

Rambouillets are a large hardy sheep that have been breed to thrive in our Western climate.  Rambouillets have played a large role in the sheep industry in Texas since its inception and still do today.  The American Rambouillet Breeder Association is located in Texas.

 Rambouillets are primarily wool sheep producing a heavy fine wool fleece.  The breed was developed from Spanish Merinos and French stock in the late 1700s.  While researching historic sheep breeds for our new flock we found a notice from the July 31, 1858 Dallas Herald stating that a herd of French Merinos, another term for Rambouillets; had just been brought into the Dallas area.

The Dallas Herald July 31, 1858
�Dr. Scott of this county, has a drove of 1800 select blooded ewes in route
from Missouri and Illinois.  Sheep breeding is proving to be a most
remunerative business.  Texas is peculiarly and happily adapted to it�.
For sale by Roy Scott � 1800 select ewes, 300 pure French Merinos,
mixed Cotswold, Southdown, Merino and Yorkshires.�

Full grown the ewes can weigh from 150 � 175 lbs. Their fleeces can weigh from 8 �18 lbs with 35 � 55% yield.  That is how much wool is produced after the fleece is washed and carded.  The Kennedy family will be well supplied with wool.