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Mad Sheep: The True Story Behind the USDA's War on a Family Farm

By Linda Faillace

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In 1990, Linda and Larry Faillace and their three young children moved to England from the United States after Larry completed his PhD in animal physiology. Larry took a position at the University of Nottingham School of Agriculture and Linda began working at the university as secretary to Professor Lamming, a well-known researcher in the field of Mad Cow disease. There, she would learn a great deal about the disease and would continue researching it upon their return to America.

After Larry's contract ended, the family moved to Vermont. While working on a business plan for a financially viable agricultural business that would involve the whole family, the Faillaces learned that in 1992, more than forty-eight million pounds of sheep's milk cheese was imported into the U.S. from Europe. Yet the annual total of U.S. sheep's milk production was 300,000 pounds, which resulted in only 60,000 pounds of sheep's milk cheese. What was lacking were dairy breeds of sheep -- only meat and wool breeds of sheep had been imported into the United States. After extensive research the Faillaces discovered the best dairy sheep breed for their climate is the East Friesian and the most profitable aspect of their business would be in selling dairy sheep breeding stock. They estimated that their business could grow to a value of more than $10 million within 10 years.

After receiving a grant for travel to Europe to research sources for dairy sheep genetics, they discovered the lovable Beltex sheep, which look like pigs with wool and are very gregarious. Crossing a Beltex ram with a ewe of any breed will produce much meatier lambs, which is a trait that Larry knew could have enormous value in the American lamb industry.

Back in the United States, Linda and Larry sat down with the children and described the jobs which would be involved in running the farm. Nine-year-old Francis decided to be pasture manager (and have a dog); seven-year-old Heather would milk the sheep and care for the guardian llama; while the youngest, six-year-old Jackie was insistent she would become the cheesemaker. Linda and Larry named the farm -- Three Shepherds of the Mad River Valley -- in honor of their three children.

The Faillaces worked closely with the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) for three years and their first importation consisted of fifty-two East Friesian lambs -- priced at $5,000 each -- for a gentleman named Mr. Freeman. The sheep spent two months in a Belgian quarantine and one month in a USDA facility in Newburgh, New York. By Aug. 2, 1996, the animals had successfully completed the USDA quarantine, tests and health inspections, and they were given a certificate of inspection that stated the animals were "free of evidence of communicable disease or exposure thereto." Upon this certification, the sheep were transferred to their new home in Greensboro, Vermont. The Faillaces had additional importations of sheep over the next two years.

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Mad Sheep: The True Story Behind the USDA's War on a Family Farm

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