[Jacob-list] Lambs and beyond...

[Neal and Louise Grose]

I am not so sure that if we could find the perfect ram, that it would be all that good of an idea to use him as I have seen people do in the past. The traditional method seems to be to find a great ram, and use him until he croaks. Odds are, we don't know what the genetic value of a ram is until we see his offspring...lots of offspring. The genetic difference between an average ram and a good one is not as great as you might think. Then too, remember that the most important reservoir of genes is in our ewes. We all know the old saw about the ram being half of the flock, but the way some are used, they become more than half of the flock. This narrows the genetic pool, and increases the chances that we spread an odd-ball defect. 

What makes a ram good is that he produces good offspring. Many moons ago, I participated in a population genetics experiment in bull selection. In small populations, the best bet is to use the best bull or ram available one year, eat him; then next year, pick out his best son and use him. This seems counter-intuitive, but it is the best way to increase the genetic input of the good ewes. Oddly enough, this method decreases inbreeding as well, since sibblingly crosses have lower inbreeding than father-daughter crosses. If we include a mix of some ram swapping, then all that much to the better. 

Remember that in the wild, the winning ram seldom survives the winter. He spends so much time breeding and guarding his harem, he doesn't eat enough to maintain weight in harsh climates.

Neal Grose

"Invention does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos" Mary Shelly
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Melody Hale 
  To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
  Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 7:40 PM
  Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Lambs and beyond...


  >>>> 
  Anyone know of a good four-horned, blue-eyed Jacobs Ram that may be available next fall?
  Thanks,
  -Chris

  <ahem--clearing throat>  la la la.......beautiful dreeeaamer........LOL
  The eternal search for the perfect ram--the one thing that all Jacob breeders have in common.   Believe me--the perfect ram is permanently ensconced in someone else's pasture.  And if you find one, and manage to purchase him, he will immediately become vicious, break off both lateral horns at odd levels, and sire nothing but ram lambs. (do you hear the voice of frustration speaking?)

   I'm awaiting the first offspring of a new ram this spring--he has very nice wool, a gentle personality, horns not bad, and hopefully he will at least sire a couple of nice ewe lambs as replacements.   He is no exception to the above rule, though--about 3 months ago he jumped a fence in amorous pursuit of a goat in heat, encountered a large and equally amorous buck goat, and got one lateral broken right at the skull.  It didn't break off, has regrown solid, but now hangs straight down along his jaw. (What is it with rams and female goats, anyway?  Every ram I have had has tried to go after my does, even when running with a nice harem of ewes. My buck goats, being much more sensible about romance, at least stick to their own species.)
  Good luck in the search! 
  Melody
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Christopher Brantley 
    To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
    Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 4:18 PM
    Subject: [Jacob-list] Lambs and beyond...


    Up in the mountians we, like most folks around the country are looking forward to see what the spring brings us in the way of lambs.

    Yet, I don't seem quite capable of resting in the moment knowing that another breeding season will quickly follow. With that in mind I've been looking over the girls and thinking what sort of ram I want to bring in next year.

    Anyone know of a good four-horned, blue-eyed Jacobs Ram that may be available next fall?

    Thanks,
    -Chris


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