Canadian Arcott ewe lamb

Canadian Arcott Sheep

In the late ‘90s when I decided I wanted to raise sheep, I did a lot of research into the various breeds available, and had a handful of different breeds in mind when I began my search for breeding stock. When I found Canadian Arcotts not far from where I was living at the time, I checked them out because they had made my short list. This was how I met Thresa Schreiner of Barthel, SK, a breeder who had been raising Canadian Arcotts since they were originally released to producers from the Animal Research Centre in Ottawa. She was a tremendous source of knowledge, help, and advice, and my commercial flock of Arcotts that I have right now is entirely descended from the 15 ewe lambs I bought from her in 1999.

There are several traits of this breed that have made me stick with them through the years, and while they are considered a terminal sire breed there is much to be said for a Canadian Arcott ewe: she is a relatively easy lamber, an excellent mother, a good milker, and if you spend time with her, a friendly, easy-going animal that is easy to handle. The lambs are hardy and vigorous; they grow fast and well. In good years with quality grass, I have raised excellent meat lambs that finished at the butcher with a carcass over 50 pounds having had no special feeding.

With Patric’s encouragement I have decided to start a flock of registered Canadian Arcotts. In 2012 an early 2013 we purchased a few registered ewes. We specifically looked for sheep whose pedigrees trace back to the Schreiner flock and the Come and Go flock. These animals have worked well for me commercially and I would like to carry on those lines. With our two flock sires and some excellent females from the Germanie flock in Quebec as the foundation, we have added some western Canadian ewes and are now on the way to  building a nice Canadian Arcott flock.

History and breed facts: 

“The Canadian Arcott is one of the three Arcott breeds developed at the federal government research station in Ottawa between 1970 and 1985 and released to Canadian farms in the late 1980's. Canadian Arcotts were the result of a crossbreeding program that included Ile de France and Suffolk, producing a new breed with strong meat characteristics. It is a medium sized sheep, short and thick. The lambs are fast growing, meaty animals that finish well for either the light or heavy lamb market. They produce an excellent carcass with good meat to bone ratio. The ewes are easy lambers and require low to medium maintenance. They adapt well to either pasture or confinement management. The rams make excellent terminal sires to improve meat characteristics on many other breeds.”

Breeding stock available. Our sale barn will be updated often with available animals. Watch for a ram lamb and a ewe lamb at the 2013 All Canada Classic in Barriere, BC!

Yearling ewe with her ewe lamb born out on the pasture.

Something interesting going on.....

Gimme some room!

Young ewe with her twins.

Mickey, born March 17, 2000.

Check out those ears!