Certified flock in SFCP |
K Bar K Farm |
Lambplan EBVs |
| Registered Polled Dorset Sheep | ||
| Ken and Kathy Soder | ||
| Contact Us | ||
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K Bar K Farm is a breeder of registered, production oriented Polled Dorset sheep (also often referred to as traditional, foundation, or old style) that strives to produce high-quality Dorset rams and ewes that maintain the breed characteristics of the true Dorset. Our emphases include out of season breeding, acceleration, mothering and milking ability, prolificacy, and carcass/muscling traits (we ultrasound for loin eye depth and back fat). We raise our flock in a low input, forage-based system. We utilize estimated breeding values (EBV) through Lambplan. Contact us for your production-oriented Dorset breeding stock needs.
Update: Feb 20, 2011
Keep up to date with our new blog http://kbarkfarm.wordpress.com/
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Update: Dec 28, 2010
Preg Check Complete
Today we preg checked the 111 ewes that were AI'd with imported UK genetics. 83 of the ewes were confirmed pregnant (75% conception rate!), so we hope to have a nice lamb crop hitting the ground in mid-March.
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Update: Nov 22, 2010
We are sold out of breeding stock for the year.
We will have yearling rams available in spring 2011. Contact me to be put on a notification list. I will also have UK-sired stock available later in 2011. Contact me to be put on that list. I may have some adult ewes available in 2011, a rarity for us as I don't often sell mature ewes. If we have good conception on the AI, I will be moving some mature ewes out of the flock to make room for the new genetics.
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Update: Oct 19, 2010
AI with imported UK Genetics Completed Oct. 19, 2010
Today we AI'd 111 ewes with the imported UK genetics, including one ram we used previously, and new unrelated ram from the same UK flock. If all goes well, we should have lambs on the ground in mid-March.
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Update: March 2010
Imported UK Genetics Rate Top Signet Rankings
We are excited to be able to import these genetics!
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Update: November 2009
Additional UK Genetics to be Imported
We are currently importing semen from another outstanding sire in the Blackdown flock of England. We intend to use this semen, as well as the remaining semen we still have, in Fall 2010. If all goes well, we should have some of these F1 crosses available in 2011. Contact us for more information.
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Update: May 2009
Recipient of the 2008 CDC Polled Dorset Excellence Award
K Bar K is pleased and honored to be the recipient of the first CDC Polled Dorset Excellence Award. Click HERE for the article in the Dorset Connection.
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Update: January 2009
We obtained Certified status in the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification program.
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Update: December 2008
First to import Dorset semen from England in 50 years!
K Bar K Farm imported Dorset semen from England from the Blackdown Flock (Great Garlandhayes Farm, UK). We are excited to bring these genetics into our flock. The Blackdown Flock is one of the top indexing flocks in the Centurion Sire Reference Scheme (the UK genetic evaluation program) and is also one of the most genetically linked flocks in the country. Kathy visited this flock and was impressed with the quality of animals and the breeding program. The first lamb crop (F1) was born March 2008. These genetics are showing outstanding maternal qualities.
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The farm is owned by Ken, Kathy and Nathan Soder. We are located in picturesque southcentral Pennsylvania, approximately 20 miles southwest of State College (home of Penn State). Please take a virtual tour of our farm, and feel free to contact us with any questions, requests for purebred stock, freezer lambs, or just to 'talk Dorset'!
Fall lambs on pasture