As in selecting the sheep themselves, Andy extends his discriminating sensibilities to all areas of their care, from breeding to feeding. The Genopalette flock rotationally grazes a variety of highly nutritious native and planted grasses for as much of the year as possible. This puts nutrients right back into our already fertile Missouri River soils and creates healthier sheep and cleaner wool. Our balanced system actually sustains and enhances the luminous, undyed tones of our natural colored flock: the minerals native to our soil and feed contribute heavily to the various colors of the sheep.
The American Midwest is a challenging environment for animals who make their living "out in the elements". Although in the USA, fine-wooled sheep are normally raised in and suited to much drier climates, Andy's years of thoughtful selection for the types of Merino sheep common to other high rainfall environments — Tasmania, the Tablelands of AU and several moist Merino producing areas in NZ — has paid off. The proof is Genopalette’s abundant, beautiful wool and rapid flock expansion under our pasture-based production system in Missouri.