Sheep on the Bremer place was not something that came naturally.  Larry was raised on a dairy\hog farm, and Annette was a town-girl. 

The first sheep purchase was supposed to be a few grass-eaters.  Larry went to a place to purchase 5 or 6 ewes--he came home with 32.  Annette just shook her head. 

The Bremer flock tried different genetics in their commercial flock.  They experimented with the Suffulks, Columbias, Targhees, and Rambioullets.  They were never happy with the number of lambs born and with how much the ewes ate.  Plus, they were never satisfied with the mothering ability of their ewes or the vigor of their lambs--which was important since both worked off the farm. 

A Polypay ram was purchased from Grandview Polypays.  Larry was extremely pleased with the mothering ability of the Polypay cross ewes, the increased lambing percentages, and the vigor of the lambs.  The commercial flock grew to 112 ewes.  Many commercial ewe lambs and ram lambs were sold to other sheep producers. 

As the flock grew, so did the Bremer family with the addition of three daughters.  The daughters became more and more involved in activities, leaving less and less time to handle 100+ ewes.  So the decision was made to reduce the flock size and begin raising registered sheep. 

The decision to raise registered Polypays was a simple one.  Their size, multiple births, growth rates, and especially their mothering ability made them an easy choice.  However, it was also at this time when Larry learned about NSIP.  Being able to make management decision based upon raw flock data, and across flock data, made NSIP Polypays the only choice. 

The first registered Polypays were purchased in 2001--the beginning of “Elm Creek Polypay.”  Everything was so exciting at the time!  We were so excited to start raising top quality registered breeding stock.  A dream had come true. 

Unfortunately, Johnes disease was diagnosed in the Bremer flock shortly after the registered sheep were purchased--a devastating blow to any seedstock producer.  It looked like the flock was going to return to a commercial flock--with some very expensive registered ewes in it--and no breeding stock would ever be sold again. 

Then, along came the good Dr. Suelee Robb-Austerman.  Suelee was working for the National Animal Disease Control Center--a branch of USDA.  Suelee was working with a skin test for identifying sheep exposed to Johnes.  Larry contacted the Good Doctor, and a plan was put into place. 

All sheep over 6 months of age were tested with the skin test, blood tests, and fecal tests.  The ones that tested clean were moved to a neighbor’s place--a place that had never had sheep.  All of the sheep that tested clean the first time were retested after 6 months.  Those that still tested clean were moved to another location that had never had sheep.  Another test was completed six months later, and those that still tested clean (all except one) were moved to clean location, and ewe lambs were retained that spring.  Six months later, all of the sheep tested clean. 

Our home site sat empty for the required 1½ years, including two summers.  Six inches of fill was removed from the sheep barn, all of the walls were disinfected, and 12 inches of clean fill as added.  The clean sheep were then brought back home, and confined to the clean environment for an additional 8 months for added safety. 

The saying about every cloud having a silver lining was so true.  As bad as everything seemed the day we learned the flock had the disease, we ended up with a Johnes-free flock.  Plus, it gave me the privilege of meeting Suelee, who is truly the smartest person I have ever known. 

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