[Jacob-list] breeding

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

Marcia is right on with inbreeding...the best and the "wurst".

We have noticed that there is a higher incidence of structural and genetic 
problems as inbreeding coefficients increase.  For example: 
(1) we bought a pretty yearling ewe about three years ago, coefficient was 
about 25% (we idn't check the pedigree closely!).  Barren after three years.
(2) loose ram produced Twinkle Toes, coefficient 22%.  No hoof walls, xray 
showed missing digits in feet.
(3) in general we have observed coefficients over 15% tend to result in 
"shorter, smaller" Jacobs; offspring also tend to be small

An inbred ram should help to "fix" traits but it takes many generations to 
"fix" a trait and see true repeatability; homozygous at virtually all alleles.

Others that have actual experiences such as these might shed some light on 
successful inbreeding for several generations.  One "good" inbreeding does 
not stand on its own.  Breeding two with high coefficients with a lower 
cofficient offspring would be preferred to increasing inbreeding.  "A 
Conservation Breeding Handbook" may be helpful.   Fred Horak