ASTRA FARMING COMPANY

JANET BEALE

Born and raised in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)on 3000 acres with pedigree Brahman cattle and race horses She was first introduced to sheep in 1987 via her first Border Collie "Buzz" in Natal, South Africa. After spending many years out of the farming comunity, Janet together with Buzz, went back into farming as an assistant farm manager on a farm breeding pedigree Ile de France sheep.

In 1992 Janet moved to set up a commercial flock on Larkhill Estates in Zimbabwe, where she introduced commercial Dorpers which were bred up to pure status, She had her own small flock of pedigree Dorpers, these sheep were sold to finance the move to the UK. During this time Janet passed the basic Dorper Judging course.

Her dream was to again breed Dorper sheep, but Dorpers were not available when she was finally able to farm for herself, after taking on the tenancy of Dunnichen Home Farm in 2001, so Janet started with Shetland cast ewes crossing them with Beltex/Charolais cross rams. The hardy shetlands thrived on the farm where the mule or straight texel cast ewes could not.

In 2005 Janet heard of a flock of pure Dorpers imported into the UK by Bernadette Dowling of Viridian Flock. Unable to afford the purchase of embryos -local or imported- Janet purchased a Dorper Ram (Bartlehill Dorper flock) and a White Dorper ram from the (Cromar White Dorper Flock) on the barter system. These two rams were put to the existing broken mouthed shetland ewes and some specificaally purchased texel type and pure blackface ewes.

In 2006 Janet had an oppotunity to purchase the following

• pedigree ewes and one Dorper ram from Viridian flock
• first cross North Country Mule/Dorper ewe lambs
• some first cross Wiltshire horn/Dorper ewes
• some second cross (base Wiltshire horn)ewe lambs

This together with the first home bred crosses now makes up 200 dorper and dorper type ewes with many second crosses being born in 2007 and 2008.

The Dorpers have lived up to expectations and are thriving well on Dunnichen Hill.

JEAN BEALE

Born and schooled in UK as a "Townee". In 1955 went to join her parents in Rhodesia, married a farmer and raised 4 daughters, 3 of whom were involved in farming in Zimbabwe until the situation there collapsed in 2001 and who are still now, involved within Agriculture in South Africa, New Zealand and of course, Janet in Scotland. Jean ceased active farming in 1983 but remained within the livestock world working with the leading livestock auctioneers in Zimbabwe, she was involved right at the start of the traceability scheme for cattle in Zimbabwe during the late 80's early 90's. In 2001 Jean joined Janet in Scotland and has been involved in both the farm and sheepdog enterprises as the Jill of all trades!

DUNNICHEN HOME FARM

Is a rented property of approx 65 acres with an additional 25 acres rented during the summer and 100 acres rented for winter grazing. The farm is moderatly poor ground, with only 20 acres of ground that can take a tractor. It is situated at approx 300 meters and is wind swept in the winter. Rainfall is around 25 inches per year with the majority in the autumn and winter months. We can get snow and summer droughts.

ASTRA SHEEPDOG CENTRE

The Beale's also breed quality I.S.D.S (International Sheepdog Society) registered Border Collies, DNA tested for CEA (collie eye anomalie), Hip scored from proven working dogs and bitches. Trained Dogs sometimes available.