Orchard Valley Farm

Orchard Valley Farm is owned and run by Hoop & Becky Peterson and Karin & Richard Parks and is a product of a lifelong interest in Polled Dorset Sheep. We have a registered flock of 50 ewes and produce purebred replacement lambs, market lambs and freezer lambs. We recently added the flock that we have managed here for 28 years for the Southfield Corporation. Each and every one of the ewes in the combined flock at this time was bred, born and raised here on the farm in Leyden. We have used some of our own rams for breeding and also have purchased genetics from outside the flock. Our current stud rams come from Riverwood Farms of Powell, OH, Maple Hollow Farm of Manns Choice, PA. We recently added a Verhaeghe ram from Argos, IN.
We aim for conservative, modern Dorset sheep with excellent breed type. Approximately one-third of our ewes breed naturally to lamb in the fall of the year. The balance of the flock lambs in the winter. We supply Dorset lambs to other purebred flocks and young people as 4-H projects. Accurate breeding records are kept and are available. We also have a growing trade in custom-cut lamb for private customers. Our ewes graze in our pastures from April to December. During the winter months, they are fed hay grown here as well as a New England-produced commercial feed made for sheep. Our replacement ewe and ram lambs are fed the same feed and hay during the spring, summer and fall and have free access to pasture and exercise. Absolutely no growth promoting antibiotics or hormones are used.
Each year, we raise about 20 lambs on grass with limited grain supplementation to supply our own meat trade. Our lambs are harvested at 120-130 pounds and 4-8 months of age. They are processed at a USDA approved and inspected plant here in Massachusetts. They are available by the whole and half carcass or by the individual cut. Our vacuum packed, frozen lamb is available here at the farm year-round.