Eastern Iowa Farmer Spring 2021

woolly endeavor
“Every year I come
across a situation
that I’ve never
seen or dealt with
before.”
— Rob Goedken
capital.
Goedken raises Hampshire-Suffolk cross,
a sheep that is white with some black areas,
mostly around their legs and face.
“We want the structure from the Hampshire,
which are more heavy-boned and wooly. But,
we want more muscle and better docility, which
is what we get from the Suffolk,” Goedken
said.
Goedken raises sheep for stock showing and
not the traditional end use of meat or wool.
He noted that wool has very little value, often
not covering the fee for the shearer. His family
also raises cattle, which he said are less labor
intensive than sheep.
As the snow and a cold snap descended upon
Iowa in January and February, Goedken was in
the midst of lambing. Sheep breed best August
through September, meaning some cold winter
delivery days after a 145-day gestation.
Adding to the excitement is the fact that most
ewes will have twins, and there are always a
few that have triplets or just one baby.
Before lambing starts, Goedken follows a
schedule to make sure his ewes are prepared
and that he’s ready for the upcoming births.
One month out from the expected deliveries,
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42 Eastern Iowa Farmer | Spring 2021 eifarmer.com