I finally decided on my breeding groups for the Shetlands.
Because I still have a couple of horn-genetic ewes in the flock, I put the emphasis on polled pairings. If I'm lucky, I might get some ewe lambs to retain and then I can move out the horn girls. It is hard to think of turnover like that. But it is the only way I'm going to move forward toward a full-polled flock.
I favored conformation, medium size, and fleece as well. With these priorities, I had to disregard color and pattern. I'm ok with this tactic, and I think I will still get a nice variety of color in the lambs.
LittleRedOak Ash will get the following ewes:
Boston Lake Sian: solid black, horn-genetics
River Oaks Lana: black gulmoget, poll-carrier
Boston Lake Vianne: white poll-carrier
Boston Lake Leil: gray, possible poll carrier
S'more Courante will get the following ewes:
sorry for the bad photo
River Oaks Hannah: moorit, polled
LittleRedOak January: moorit katmoget, polled
Boston Lake Nhu: black katmoget, poll carrier
Boston Lake Lyneth: white, poll carrier
This will be, potentially, my biggest lamb crop ever. I'm a little nervous about it, but I am excited to see what these rams can do. Breeding groups will be put together after Thanksgiving.
My two ewe lambs, Esyllt and Carys, will sit out the breeding season together in the girl's pen.
5 comments:
I am looking forward to adding a few Boston Lake sheep to my flock some day Sabrina. I've still got horned and polled groups, and know that some day I will have to make a choice, but I just can't seem to make the leap yet. Still love the look of a horned ram.
It IS tough to make those decisions; I let go my first Shetland love this year to make room for polled genetics. Still have a horned-genetics ewe that will need to go back to Lois, and hope the two yearlings show me next spring whether or not they are poll-carriers. I'm hoping to get one really nice keeper katmoget ewe out of my lamb crop, and will cross my fingers that she inherits a poll gene or two!
Hope the breeding season goes well for you, I may start a few weeks after that. I look forward to seeing your lambs after such carefully thought out groupings. Best wishes!
Sabrina I'd be interested in a white polled ram lamb next year. Please whisper that in your ewes' ears. I need some white in my flock!
Thank you, ladies. I wish you all the best with your lambings too. I hope we all get a lamb or two that fulfills our wishes.
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