[Jacob-list] Gray areas.

[Kathryn Shirley]

The early graying trait passed on to about 25% of the offspring if the
mother is an early greyer.  Have not used an early greying ram.  When
using non early greying rams, the trait seems to be easily diluted with
only about 15% of the great grand lambs having the early greying trait
if their dam was not an early greyer, but their grand dam was.
Personally, I do not cull against early greyers, but prefer not to use
an early greying ram so that I don't end up with everybody greying
early.  With an average flock age of 6 it is important to me to have the
early greyers as a minority.  I do love the resulting "greyed" fleeces
for roving.  Gives me yet a third color (black, white, and salt and
pepper).

Kate Shirley
Humbug Farm

dave & katrina wrote:

>  That was interesting info, Kate.  I especially liked the hearing
> about the different types you see.  Have you followed the trait much
> though generations?  I have always considered the trait to be fairly
> easily passed to offspring...but like most traits, not always.  Is
> that your experience?  Katrina
>
>      ----- Original Message -----
>      From: Kathryn Shirley
>      Cc: jacob-list
>      Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 5:47 PM
>      Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Gray areas.
>       I consider it early greying if they start turning grey
>      before age 4.  From 4 to 6 is kind of a who knows? zone.
>
>      My young early greyers went from black to salt and pepper in
>      one year (one shearing to the next).  Each year after that
>      the grey was stronger.
>
>      My older girls will sometimes start greying around four, but
>      most of mine don't grey until 7 or eight with some 9 and ten
>      year olds still retaining their original color.
>
>      I have noticed two patterns to greying:  one is a "donut"
>      greying.  This is where the grey starts at the edge of the
>      spot and works its way towards the middle.  The other is a
>      diffuse greying with grey/silver showing up throughout the
>      spot.
>
>      My early grayers tended to have the diffuse greying.  Not
>      all spots are affected in the same year.  Their spots on
>      their sides tended to grey first.
>
>      My older greyers tended to have the donut type of greying.
>      Each year saw fatter donuts in the spots.  They tended to
>      grey all over but not necessarily all spots were greyed.
>
>      Please note that I am not talking about lilac.  My lilac ram
>      lamb was a very dark grey on all of his spots, including the
>      eye patches.  No silver and black mixed.
>
>      Kate Shirley
>      Humbug Farm
>
>
>
>      dave & katrina wrote:
>
>     > Love the mental image of your workaholic ram, Joan W.
>     > Quite the sight even in my imagination. Here's a question
>     > I am sure has been discussed before on the list...early
>     > graying.  What it the average age for a sheep to gray?
>     > Maybe that is a question for Mary Ellen.  I am sure most
>     > people would agree that gray by age one and two would fall
>     > into that category.  What about age 3?  or what about age
>     > 4 going from a dark brown to light gray at shearing time?
>     > Any opinions or are these just gray areas...no pun
>     > intended.  I have a few sheep here I am watching for
>     > graying who are still coal black at age 2 while a few ewes
>     > I was not thinking about as possible early greyers have
>     > gray creeping in around their cape at the same age.  Do
>     > most people think of early graying as a change that
>     > happens fast rather than one that takes a few years?  Just
>     > a few thoughts....Katrina Lefever, Chicory Lane
>
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