Learn more about our livestock, land and hardworking team.

A mother ewe with white wool lies with two young lambs on a green hillside.

Sheep

We raise high-quality hill country sheep. We use Perendales, developed in New Zealand for our type of environment. They are aggressive, non-selective grazers that can really cover the country and utilize a wide range of forages.

We strive for producing good meaty lambs that require minimum handling and that thrive outdoors on grass.

Many sheep raise two lambs, produce a high quality protein, and provide an annual wool clip (fiber product) with minimal inputs.

Cattle

We use Angus cattle. They have been a premier quality meat breed for generations. Angus are renowned for their fine marbling texture and unbeatable eating qualities. The mother cows calve easily and have excellent maternal instincts.

two young lambs playing with their mother in a pasture in the Spring
a tan cow and calf looking at the camera in a field with conifers in the background
cows and their calves in a field with fog over forest land in the background
hundreds of sheep grazing on pasture in the morning sun
a red cow with black calves standing in a pasture with yellow flowers
a side profile of the heads of a white and black sheep
a lamb lazily lounging in the barn doorway
a black cow and calf in a pasture with an old tree branch in the foreground
a calf in a pasture during summer
a young lamb drinking milk from its protective mother
many cows and calves in a green pasture in the late spring
two black and two white sheep in a green pasture
a red cow and black calf looking opposite ways in a pasture
two lambs and their mother in a newly grazed green pasture
three red cows grazing in a pasture in the early summer
two small lambs and their mother laying down in a pasture in the late winter
a black cow in a pasture looking at the camera with a tree in the background
a closeup view of a black sheep's head looking at the camera
a red cow standing in a pasture with clouds above forest land in the background
an older black lamb standing with its mother in a pasture in early summer

Boggy Bottoms Farm

Boggy Bottoms is located just outside the town of Ferndale, California. Its historic use had been a dairy farm. This property is used to grow and fatten all our lamb and beef.

A hand-drawn map of Boggy Bottoms Farm
looking across a pasture at Boggy Bottoms in the morning with the barn in the background
a group of sheep and a sunrise over the fog on a pasture at Boggy Bottoms Farm
cows and sheep grazing together in a green pasture at Boggy Bottoms in the Spring
wild ducks taking flight from a pond at Boggy Bottoms Farm

Howe Creek Ranch

Howe Creek Ranch is located between Ferndale and Rio Dell, CA, just off Blue Slide Road. It is an upland hill farm with mixed meadow grazing and forests. The elevation ranges from 500 ft to 3,000 ft. There are also numerous streams on the property that support runs of Coho and Chinook Salmon. All this makes for a diversified landscape which supports a flourishing array of wildlife. There are many fantastic views of the Eel River Valley.

a view of a red roofed barn with some sheep grazing in the foreground amongst Cottonwood trees
an old rusted wheel in the foreground and a pond in the background
sheep grazing in a pasture in the late winter with fog over Redwood trees in the background
sheep grazing on a green pasture near dusk in the spring time

Team

Our livestock protection dogs (LGD) are a Turkish breed called Akbash (white head). They are large, strong, very independent, dedicated dogs. They are forward in their protection behaviors confronting predators directly. They live with the sheep out in the pastures year round. They are an extremely important part of our farming system, without them we would not be able to raise sheep.

Our sheepdogs are one of the most valued and important tools we have. They save so much time by skillfully moving our herds and flocks. They are amazing, clever, constant companions, as well as expert problem solvers and hard workers.

Ferndale Farms team members pose for a group photo following a sheep shearing.
Three adult black and white sheepdogs face the camera against a partly cloudy sky in a black and white photo.
Three large white livestock protection dogs face the camera (two lying, one sitting) on a brown grassy hillside in the fog.
livestock guardian dogs in a pasture with sheep grazing in the background
three border collies and a red ATV in a pasture
livestock guardian dogs laying down in a pasture watching after the sheep in the afternoon
border collies and livestock guardian dogs in a pasture on a summer evening
livestock guardian dogs and a UTV in a pasture with forest land in the background
a border collie and livestock guardian dog interacting together in a pasture
closeup view of a livestock guardian dog watching sheep
livestock guardian puppies laying by a fence in a pasture in the afternoon shade
a border collie standing in a field at Boggy Bottoms
three livestock guardian dogs standing in a pasture with sheep grazing nearby
livestock guardian dog sitting happily in a pasture with sheep in the background
three border collies sitting on a hay bale, one of them cocking its head
a black and white livestock guardian dog watching a sheep
a livestock guardian dog walking towards the camera with sheep looking on in the background on a foggy day