Creating Balance
Managing a large lambing operation takes commitment from the whole family
by Clare Illingworth

When the Noyes family moved to New Liskeard, some people may have considered the northern community a drastic change from their southern Ontario roots. But for Brad Noyes, this was a natural step to becoming a large-scale sheep producer.

Brad, along with wife Jodie, brother Trevor and parents Ted and Hope, moved onto their 2,300-acre property in November of 2000. Here, they’ve built an operation boasting 325 breeding ewes and 65 cow-calf pairs. And during this process the Noyes’ have learned what it takes to balance the farm, work and family to keep things running smoothly.

“There has been some learning along the way,” says Brad. “I’ve had to balance my time with family and day-to-day farm work.”

This group are no strangers to farming. Ted operated a family-run pasture farm and his sons later attended the University of Guelph. Here, Brad earned a diploma in agriculture business, and degree in agriculture economics, while Trevor secured a degree in management economics. It’s at Guelph where Brad met Jodie – an animal biology major. The two went on to work for Purina and Jodie later pursued a career in education. She’s now a kindergarten teacher at a local elementary school.

Brad then became a tax consultant, which could put him on the road three days a week. This ended only last year, when he decided to focus on the farm full-time. But he continues to look after the operation’s record keeping.

Another important event last year that keeps him close to home was the January birth of his daughter, Laura.

In his time off – which has been limited since moving to the farm – Brad socializes with farmers in the area and occasionally goes back to southern Ontario visiting friends and family.

But its not just family that keeps Brad busy. This balancing act can be found in all aspects of the farming operation as well.
Since their arrival, the Noyes’ have been busy building fences and converting un-groomed land into pasture. They’re dividing up the 1,600 acres of grazing to make full use of pasture and hay possibilities.

On the land Brad grazes his sheep and cattle along with 250 cow-calf pairs belonging to two local farmers. By alternating the land between sheep- and cattle grazing each year he hopes to control brush and parasites. The goal is to balance cattle, sheep and custom pasturing to maintain high quality forage on the land. He feels diversification of enterprises will provide the best possible return.

“For now we’re spending our time upgrading the facilities that will continue to improve production in our livestock,” says Brad.
While these improvements are being made, the Noyes’ must keep livestock handling as low-maintenance as possible. Brad chose the Cheviot breed for its hardiness in both winter and summer conditions, and ease of lambing. He’s able to pasture the flock year-round using only the shelter provided by natural brush and a straw pack in the colder months.

Hay and barley are fed on the snow in winter to keep manure on the field and minimize barnyard cleanup.

Brad and Trevor originally brought 200 commercial ewes from their home farm to the north. They are purchasing Cheviot rams from breeders using similar production systems. By retaining the top females, Brad expects to continue growing his flock at a modest rate.

This expansion has been variable because pregnancy success fluctuates yearly, says Brad. The cold Ontario winters have made it difficult for some ewe lambs to retain their pregnancy. To improve this, he’s looking at his winter feeding program and is selecting for the hardier ewes, more accustomed to harsh northern weather.

It’s this variable weather that makes the Cheviot breed, with its strong lambs, a good choice for this production setting. They’re able to rise and nurse quickly, which can be important in northern Ontario. Here, predation by black bears, wolves and lynx is a problem. As an extra precaution Brad uses Great Pyrenees guard dogs to protect his sheep.

“The dogs live with the flock all year round,” he says. “We wouldn’t have the sheep without them.”

These dogs work their hardest during mid-May’s lambing on pasture. Brad walks the fields every day to meet the new arrivals, using elastics to dock tails and castrate. But as the flock grows he hopes to find a more time effective method for managing these routine tasks.

Lambs remain on pasture until weaned in October. From here the males are fed for a December market date, while the top females are flecked off and bred the following winter. Brad hopes to continue building this farming enterprise to include a flock of 500 ewes, weaning off 1.5 lambs per ewe.

The calving enterprise hasn’t been as hard hit by the colder winters. The Noyes’ custom pasture Charolais and Angus cows, along with their own herd of which are bred to a Red Angus bull. This totals more than 300 cow-calf pairs on the land.

“We’re diversifying the farm with complementing animals,” says Brad. “It’s a way to best utilize the land.”

The Noyes’, originally from Binbrook, south of Hamilton, operated a cow-calf and backgrounding farm. But the spreading urban population didn’t make this location appealing for the long term commitment Brad wanted to make. So when advertisements about farm land quality in New Liskeard reached him, the decision was easy. Brad and his family made the move to the rural community of Belle Vallée and haven’t looked back.

“There are a lot of producers in the area,” he says. “It’s a good opportunity to bounce ideas off your neighbours and learn from their systems.”

As part of his commitment to the new home and community, Brad has become his area’s Chair for the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency (OSMA), where he meets with producers.

One problem he’s run into is the shear geographical size of the area – District 11. This ranges from Sudbury to Thunder Bay to Sault Ste. Marie, making it difficult for all producers to gather in one place. But still a good number can join the meetings, he says.

At these gatherings Brad brings in speakers to share insight into production and different operation procedures. This helps producers make decisions on where the future for marketing lies and how Ontario sits in the national scene.

“Its good that OSMA is trying to hear from all producers,” says Brad “We can pass on our influence and thoughts to the provincial level.”

In the future Brad sees the New Liskeard area as a growing place for larger commercial producers, which should allow Canada to better fill its domestic market.