Oksana Neighbors holds a young Texas Blackbelly lamb. Neighbors and her husband, Brent, also raise Painted Desert Sheep and pygmy goats. The Tejas Barbado Ranch is located in Wood County, near Yantis. The couple hopes to expand their operation in the next few years to include more of the sheep and goats.
--Staff photo Mikula
Work and play: Couple made sheep and goat hobby profitable
By MINDI MIKULA, Country World Staff Writer
March 27, 2008 - The Tejas Barbado Ranch sits peacefully among the East Texas pine trees in Wood County. There, Brent and Oksana Neighbors raise American Blackbelly (or Texas Blackbelly Trophy sheep), Painted Desert sheep and pygmy goats.
What started as a hobby for the Neighbors has turned into a well-tuned operation.
Neighbors, 51, began with his sheep in 2005, starting with a herd of 35.
“I started with a herd of 35, which became 75 quickly and then 150,” said Neighbors.
Neighbors tries to keep an equal mix of the Blackbelly and Painted Desert sheep, and said the two breeds are cousins, the only difference being one is bred for color, the other is not. Neighbors said he chose the breeds initially due to their status as fairly new breeds to the industry and the uniqueness of the Painted Desert breed.
“There are not many in Texas,” added Neighbors, “And they all have their own character traits, much like people. From one of the spectrum to the other.”
The Painted Desert breed is set apart from other breeds by their colorful markings and tri-colored or quad-colored coats. The breed is primarily known for the ram’s ability to grow a trophy class set of horns. The breed is cross-bred from Merino, Rambouillet, Jacob and Navajo Churro. With a double-coat that casts its wool in spring, it doesn’t need to be shorn.
The American Blackbelly is a cross between three breeds: the Barbados Blackbelly, the Mouflon (which has a distinct deer-like appearance) and the Rambouillet. This cross-breeding produces different shades of tans, browns and reds in the coat, which does not require shearing. This breeding choice also developed a different variety of horn types, which makes them a prize among sportsman.
The breeds are disease-resistant, and lamb easily, usually twice a year.
“You’ll see a sheep eating and then there’s a baby below and she’s still eating,” Neighbors said. “And the babies are up and running and jumping in hours.”
Neighbors and his wife were both raised on farms. Neighbors was raised in nearby Pickton around dairy farms.
“Pickton is not real diverse,” said Neighbors. “It was the only work around. You either hauled hay or worked on a cattle farm.”
His experience with the dairy farms and his granddad’s cattle farm shows in his herd by the specialized care he gives each lamb.
Oksana, who hailed from Russia, also grew up on a family farm though she said her experience was different in Russia where they raised sheep, chickens, pigs and vegetables and fruit primarily to feed the family.
Neighbors worked part-time for FEMA and in telecommunications construction while Oksana was a neurosurgeon in her native country. When her credentials didn’t transfer to America, she and Neighbors looked to their hobby interest in sheep as a business opportunity.
Tejas Barbado Ranch, which was named after one of the original sheep breeds used to influence the Desert Paint sheep and from the Native American Caddo word “taysha,” meaning friend or ally, began raising sheep for their “weed eating and lawn mowing” benefits. Neighbors felt other small ranches would be interested in purchasing his sheep and goats for pasture control.
While Neighbors doesn’t divulge his feed routine as he considers it a “trade secret,” he feels their feeding and care is what sets them apart from other sheep ranchers. The sheeps’ diet is carefully monitored for maximum horn growth.
“Horns is what it is all about with sheep,” explained Neighbors.
Neighbors spoke with several nutritionists and feed companies in establishing a feeding routine. They feed the herd with grain once a day and let them graze freely on hay. They also supplement minerals and vitamins 24 hours a day, but have rejected any use of hormones with their sheep.
“No hormones,” Neighbors stated adamantly. “I’m not going to change their characteristics. We think, from talking to other breeds and seeing other breeder’s farms, that we have the happiest, healthiest sheep around.”
Tejas Barbado Ranch works hard to create a top quality outlet for the best American Blackbelly sheep as well as strive for the strongest genetic pool possible. The sires are chosen for size, markings and the impressive horns that are needed for prize trophy camps.
While many commercial ranchers maintain their herds with a hands-off approach, the Neighbors think of their herd as their kids.
“We keep a close eye on them and they are in our backyard,” said Neighbors. “I see a lot of owners pitch them out in their pasture and they have to fend for themselves.”
Neighbors and his wife socialize the kids and lambs early. They keep a playpen on the wide covered deck and bring in the kids and lambs during bad weather or extremely cold weather.
“We play with them, touch them, and scratch them early on,” Neighbors added. He believes this is why he receives calls from customers praising his herd and their quality and highly social interaction.
The Neighbors sell their sheep and goats primarily for pasture control, and some sport hunting though they prefer those customers looking for pets or animals to graze. Neighbors explained that the herd is very social and he always sells at least two animals, though he has received requests for 10 or 20 sheep before. He boasts calls from customers nationwide, from Missouri to Kansas and Florida and even New Jersey. He does not, however, feel comfortable shipping the animals.
The Tejas Barbado Ranch herd is now approximately 20 head, down from the 150 head they had last year. The Neighbors network with other area ranches that raise other breeds to meet customers needs but feel they do not currently have enough land to maintain such a large herd.
“Not a piece of grass out there last summer,” Neighbors said of his pasture last summer when he still had 150 head.
While they would like to grow the operation to include 200 acres and 500 head, the Neighbors are now concentrating on their growing herd comprised of their favorites from the larger herd and their offspring. They practice very strict veterinary care, a tight worming schedule and often have several new arrivals on the premises. Neighbors also supplements his sheep and goat business by building custom sheep and goat animal hauling cages.
To contact Tejas Barbados ranch on the web or request more information, visit http://tejasbarbadoranch.tripod.com .
