HIGH HILL GOTLANDS

About High Hill Gotlands

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High Hill Gotlands is dedicated to raising, showing and selling high quality registered Gotland sheep and fleeces. High Hill Gotlands is located in Chandlersville, Ohio and shepherded by Michele Potts. While I have raised and shown registered sheep most of my life I started my Gotland flock in 2015. High Hill Gotlands currently consists of 20 adult ewes which are bred naturally each year without the use of any hormones. I also keep a few ewe lambs each year that move into the brood ewe flock after their yearling year. High Hill Gotland ewes are very prolific and have had a 200%+ lambing percentage for the last several years. My ewe flock has been closed since 2016 which means I do not purchase ewes but choose my replacement ewes from the ewe lambs born on my farm each year. Breeding rams are both raised and purchased.

In my Gotland flock I have been concentrating on improving the overall conformation, structure and carcass traits of the Gotland breed while also maintaining and improving fleece quality. I am working towards breeding Gotlands that have strong, wide, level tops with good muscle that extends into their rump and lower leg all underneath the soft, silky, shiny and curly fleece that Gotlands are known for. My Gotland ewes are prolific, lamb easily, milk like crazy, are great mothers, have very few health issues and virtually no hoof problems. My Gotland lambs should be vigorous at birth, fast growing, good topped, good muscled and correct with beautiful fleeces. My Gotlands have a wide range of fleece colors from very light almost white through all the shades of medium gray to almost black. My fleece customers love the range of colors.

High Hill Gotland lambs are usually born in April and weaned by the end of June. Lambs are generally ready to head to their new homes in July. Any lambs not kept or sold as breeding stock are sold as freezer lambs or market lambs from September through the first week of October. They are marketed between 5 and 6 months of age and generally weigh 100 to 115 pounds. Hanging carcass weights at this time have been averaging 55 to 57 pounds. All freezer lambs or market lambs are shorn before selling.

I believe that Gotland sheep can and should be profitable and can be a true dual or even triple purpose breed with the ability to produce meat, fiber and/or pelts in a timely and efficient manner. In order to be profitable Gotlands need to not only grow those beautiful soft, shiny, curly fleeces but they also need to have a good structured body with some muscling underneath their fleece. They should reach marketable weights in a reasonable amount of time. That is the kind of Gotlands I am working towards developing. I am happy with the improvements I have made in my flock in the last 8 years and am excited about future improvements and the future of the Gotland breed!

Tage as a young lamb.

In the Show Ring

2320 Tait at the NYSWF

New York Sheep and Wool Festival October 2023

High Hill Gotlands did very well at the 2023 New York Sheep and Wool Festival. All six of my Gotlands and all groups placed in the top four or higher in their classes. HHH 2320 Tait was named Reserve Champion Ram and Best Fleece in the Natural Color Long Wool Class.

HHH 2220 Tage

Muskingum County Fair August 2023

High Hill Gotlands had a great week at the Muskingum County Fair in August 2023. I exhibited seven Gotlands in the Natural Color Classes. They all placed very high in their respective classes. HHH 2220 Tage was Champion Natural Color ram and was named Supreme Champion Ram Overall breeds. HHH 2320 Tait was Reserve Champion Ram. HHH 2209 Britta was also Champion Natural Color Ewe.

Muskingum County Fair 2022

High Hill Gotlands did well at the Muskingum County fair in August 2022. I exhibited 6 Gotlands and they all placed high in their classes. Yearling ewe HHH 2104 Emma was named Grand Champion Natural Color Ewe and Reserve Supreme Champion Ewe over all breeds.

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival 2022

High Hill Gotlands did great at the 2022 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I showed two yearling ewes and they placed 1st and 3rd in the Natural Color Long Wool yearling ewe class and 1st in the pairs class. HHH 2104 Emma was named Grand Champion Natural Color Long Wool Ewe and Best Fleece.