[Jacob-list] Lambs and beyond...

[Linda]

I didn't notice that Chris was looking for the "perfect" ram - just a "good" ram.  

Around here, I judge a ram as "good" if he crosses well with my ewes. The ewes are the heart of the flock and I'd say that with the practice of using a ram only one or two years, but keeping daughters from my favorite ewes most years, some of my ewes have contributed more genetically than any ram.  All judgments on the value of a ram are made on the basis of what he (hopefully) will produce for me with my flock.  The decision is based on alot more than just looks and takes into consideration the background of the ram and the ewes.  I hope Jacobs breeders will never agree on what makes the "perfect" Jacob.  The phenotypical diversity is what makes these guys so interesting!

Here's an interesting article from Sheep Magazine - "making new bloodlines with the ram you have"
http://www.sheepmagazine.com/issues/01_02_03.html#article1

Linda

 
www.patchworkfibers.com
Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn

On Fri, 6 Jan 2006 05:37:55 -0500, Neal and Louise Grose wrote:
> 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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>>
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