Our flock of Navajo – Churro sheep were acquired from John and Linda Hussa of Cedarville, California, in fall of 2006 and more in summer of 2007. Learn more about the Hussa Ranch and the sheep at Hussaranch.com/sheep.htm.
This is the first flock of sheep we have managed. They have pastured on a leased property in Marshall, California where they gave birth to our first lambs, all of which are being marketed over the summer and fall of 2007. The mother ewes have been re-located, in the summer of 2007, to a leased property in Southern Sonoma County. This property is owned by the Sonoma County Land Trust (SCLT), www.sonomalandtrust.org/, and holds a Wetland Conservation Easement.

This is a sensitive habitat that our flock will help manage in partnership with SCLT and The National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). By properly grazing these pastures, our sheep will assist in creating habitat for shorebirds returning to roost at night from their day long feeding on the San Francisco Bay and help restore perennial native grasslands to the pasture habitat.

The Navajo – Churro sheep are hardy animals that have proven to be very resistant to internal parasites and disease. They are excellent grazers and beautiful to see, in their many colors, out within the pastures. These sheep are raised free from synthetic hormones and anti-biotics and are 100% grass-fed. Their flavor is superb, being very mild, sweet, and tender. We are hopeful that the salty low land pastures of the SCLT property will provide the correct circumstances to produce a most distinguished lamb appellation, like in Southern France.

The wool we harvested from our Navajo – Churro ewes will be processed into yarn at the Yolo Wool Mill www.yolowoolmill.com/ and offered to sale in Fall 2007.

The Navajo – Churro breed is highlighted as a Slow Food Presidia by Slow Food International. Please view their fascinating information on the breed at slowfoodusa.org/ark/sheep.html.

We also partner with other local lamb producers to bring their lambs to market. These producers use breeds such as Suffolk, Romney, Cheviot, Dorper, Dorsett, and Scottish Black Face. We strive to assist lamb producers in our area to find more local markets that can better appreciate the fine products they produce.

Our lambs are for sale most of the year beginning in April/May and extending through Jan/Feb. As demand continues to grow, we will be growing our flock and partnering with more local lamb producers.

Supply Chain

The MSF lamb flock is currently on a leased property in Petaluma, Sonoma County and may be moved to additional properties in Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties as needed. The lambs are mostly Navajo-Churro, a conservancy breed highlighted as a Slow Food Presidia. These lambs are 100% grass fed and free of synthetic hormones and antibiotics. The lambs are slaughtered at either Superior Farms USDA facility in Dixon or Panizzera USDA facility in Occidental. The carcasses are transported to the F. Uri Meat Company USDA facility in San Francisco and butchered by MSF staff butchers for wholesale sales. Primal cuts destine for retail sale are transported to the MSF butcher shop in Point Reyes Station for further fabrication, cutting and packaging. MSF lambs are also raised in partnership with other local producers to fill in seasonal gaps in production and create a consistent supply.