SVF Foundation

Road Trip

SVF Foundation Herd Staff On A Road Trip 

Road Trip!

Ever wonder where all the animals we work with come from, and how they get from here to there?  The simple answer is—all over the US, and we truck them ourselves.  Locating a wide sampling of animals ensures we protect the most diverse traits, within the breeds we are preserving.

To date, close to seven hundred head of livestock have passed through our program. And Sarah, Marjorie and Nick, our herd-staff, have driven over 80,000 miles, to every corner of the country, picking up and dropping off as few as one animal or an entire herd or flock. 


Middleburg, PA—Tunis Ram Exchange

At one point, we contracted out the hauling to commercial livestock truckers, but ultimately, we realized transporting the animals ourselves is best for everyone, especially the animals.

Most recently, Nick and Marjorie went to Bend in the Creek Farm, operated by Dr. Gary and Sandy Sojka in Middleburg, PA, to make an exchange of Tunis sheep (actually rams).  SVF has been talking with the Sojkas for four years, and this exchange of Tunis rams marks our first collaboration in conservation with the Sojkas. 

Depending on the number of animals, we either haul with a dual-wheel truck and 28’ livestock trailer, or just the truck with a custom designed truck topper, as it’s called. This time, it was just the truck top, which is fitted with a heavy rubber mat and shavings for bedding.

Our team will typically drive nonstop for up to 12-14 hours, stopping only to water the livestock, take pit stops, etc. This trip worked out to 8 hours and by 5 p.m., Nick, the ram, was delivered to Bend in the Creek Farm and placed in the designated quarantine area, where he will spend the next 30 days.  This ram spent 3 years at SVF, where he donated semen and cells and sired several embryos. 

After a warm welcome from the Sojkas, including locally made cheese and crackers, the group set off in golf carts to tour Bend in the Creek’s 100 acres. The family cats, first stalking their carts, jumped on board and joined them for the ride.  Marjorie was really impressed with the farm, noting that the restored barn, built in the early 1800s, was not only functional but exceptionally beautiful.

Besides a flock of one hundred Tunis sheep, Bend in the Creek Farm has Cuckoo Dorking chickens, corn fields, a large creek and two Tennessee Myotonic goats (fainting goats)—that did not faint, but did stiffen when our SVF staff approached.

Our team left with the feeling that Nick, the ram, will be really happy in his new home and noticed that he was already eyeing over several of the Sojkas’ ewes.

The next morning, Nick and Marjorie were back at Bend in the Creek Farm to complete the exchange, and pick up Donnie, a year-old Tunis ram.  Donnie will spend the next year at SVF Foundation, donating semen and siring embryos, before he moves on to his next home, Tamarack Tunis Farm in Vermont. 

Want to see everywhere we’ve been— here's the map. Want to learn about Tunis sheep—click here.

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