“Cracker” Sheep Making A Comeback
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The Florida Cracker Sheep breed, close to extinct in the late 1900’s, is once again growing in numbers across that state. Carol Postley, owner of Fairmeadows Farm in Ocala, Fla., has about 200 ewes and actively supports the breed through membership in the Florida Cracker Sheep Association.
Postley says “Crackers are extremely easy to raise because you don’t need lambing pens. They can be raised without doctoring and they’re resistant to parasites, which hamper most other breeds in our warm climate. There’s a lot of interest in Crackers by organic farmers and people who want to live off the land on a small acreage and raise their own food and animals.”
Postley says she hasn’t assisted a single one of her Cracker ewes with lambing. “The ewes go off alone to have their babies and bond with their lambs. The mommas will be grazing with the lambs nearby and when one makes a sound, her lamb or lambs come running. It’s amazing to see.”
Mature Cracker sheep are extremely tough, withstanding heat, humidity and even hurricanes. “When Hurricane Irma came through our area in the fall of 2017, I left my flock out in the pasture and the 100 mph wind and 15 in. of rain didn’t bother them a bit,” says Postley. “They found a place to bed down and just weathered it out.”
Crackers are descendants of animals that were brought to St. Augustine by the Spanish in 1565, then abandoned 20 years later when the settlers were forced off their land. Those remaining animals and their offspring adapted to Florida’s heat, humidity, hurricanes, wildfires and tropical storms for nearly 300 years, enduring predators such as alligators, bobcats, feral pigs, panthers and black buzzards. In the late 1800’s a Florida ranch family established a flock of Cracker sheep, and other ranch families gradually joined in. A small breed lineage was eventually established and is now documented by the Florida Cracker Sheep Association.
“I’ve had Katahdin, Wiltshire and Native Cracker sheep for nearly 30 years and the Crackers are by far the easiest to raise,” Postley says. Although their coarse wool isn’t very valuable, the breed has excellent meat qualities to go along with its parasite resistance and easy demeanor. “We’re making progress selecting for growth and carcass conformation. They’re a breed that can thrive without medication even with year-around parasite challenges,” Postley adds.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Fairmeadows Farm, 9250 West 60th Ave., Ocala, Fla. 34482 (ph 352 216-4571; www.fairmeadowssheepfarm.com; julayne@mfi.net).
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“Cracker” Sheep Making A Comeback LIVESTOCK Sheep/Goats The Florida Cracker Sheep breed close to extinct in the late 1900’s is once again growing in numbers across that state Carol Postley owner of Fairmeadows Farm in Ocala Fla has about 200 ewes and actively supports the breed through membership in the Florida Cracker Sheep Association Postley says “Crackers are extremely easy to raise because you don’t need lambing pens They can be raised without doctoring and they’re resistant to parasites which hamper most other breeds in our warm climate There’s a lot of interest in Crackers by organic farmers and people who want to live off the land on a small acreage and raise their own food and animals ” Postley says she hasn’t assisted a single one of her Cracker ewes with lambing “The ewes go off alone to have their babies and bond with their lambs The mommas will be grazing with the lambs nearby and when one makes a sound her lamb or lambs come running It’s amazing to see ” Mature Cracker sheep are extremely tough withstanding heat humidity and even hurricanes “When Hurricane Irma came through our area in the fall of 2017 I left my flock out in the pasture and the 100 mph wind and 15 in of rain didn’t bother them a bit ” says Postley “They found a place to bed down and just weathered it out ” Crackers are descendants of animals that were brought to St Augustine by the Spanish in 1565 then abandoned 20 years later when the settlers were forced off their land Those remaining animals and their offspring adapted to Florida’s heat humidity hurricanes wildfires and tropical storms for nearly 300 years enduring predators such as alligators bobcats feral pigs panthers and black buzzards In the late 1800’s a Florida ranch family established a flock of Cracker sheep and other ranch families gradually joined in A small breed lineage was eventually established and is now documented by the Florida Cracker Sheep Association “I’ve had Katahdin Wiltshire and Native Cracker sheep for nearly 30 years and the Crackers are by far the easiest to raise ” Postley says Although their coarse wool isn’t very valuable the breed has excellent meat qualities to go along with its parasite resistance and easy demeanor “We’re making progress selecting for growth and carcass conformation They’re a breed that can thrive without medication even with year-around parasite challenges ” Postley adds Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Fairmeadows Farm 9250 West 60th Ave Ocala Fla 34482 ph 352 216-4571; www fairmeadowssheepfarm com; julayne@mfi net
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