Breeding Groups Decided

After weeks of scribbling out various breeding group combinations on paper, I finally came upon an exercise that helped me make up my mind: On lined paper I wrote a ewe's name. Under her name I listed her qualities in six different traits. The traits I quantified were polled genetics, fleece character, pattern, size/build, hind quarters, and color genetics. Across the line from the ewe's name I put the three rams I intend to use. Then, in spreadsheet style, I listed the lamb attributes resulting from each pairing. In the end, I had three potential lambs from each ewe to compare. I picked the lamb I would like best and that is the ram I went with.

This is the first year I let the polled gene be my main priority. Thankfully I have good conformation, tails and fleece in the flock. Quality in those areas should not suffer-at least I hope not too much-by favoring polled pairings this fall. I gave the hornless girls to the polled rams. I let Arvada have my polled girls. Hopefully I will get some good polled-potential keeper lambs next spring and I can move out my known horned sheep. It will be sad to part with these good ewes. But if I get the lambs I'm wishing for, these ewes will have left their mark on my flock and they can go on to other flocks that value good horns. The ewes in this list are Sian, Rachel, and Silvy (Silvy may or may not have a polled gene.)

Here are the breeding groups for each of the following rams:

Arvada:

AnnaBelle

Lyneth

Nhu

Ash:

Sian

Courante:

Rachel

Silverthorne