[Jacob-list] Lamb size

[Ralene Mitschler]

Neal
Oh I am so sorry to hear about your barns being shredded!!  As
somebody who grew up in one of the 'tornado' alleys of Northern KS and
Southern NE-----that is an especially bad image!!!!

Your point about genetics is exactly right!!!  As a college biology
professor, I am continually trying to convince undergraduates that
individuals are NOT identical genetically!   Variation is exactly one
of the most important concepts in biology and thus the source of
'resources' for survival.  If everybody has different genes (or more
accurately alleles or 'flavors' of same genes) then one bad disease
can't wipe them/us all out!!!

Of course trying to predict due dates given how variable ewes'
fertility cycles are is as you say very chaotic!!  : )  I am
fascinated how those of you that breed earlier get lambs.  So far the
ewes that were bred in September are not coming due even though I saw
them covered!  Clearly their cycles were not in the egg releasing
state at that point in time.  But the predictability once I put rams
in in middle of October is much much better.

Of course it has been SO windy here that I am starting to think the
ewes are going to have to lamb more than once!  tee hee
Ralene

On 2/24/07, Neal and Louise Grose <nlgrose at yadtel.net> wrote:

>

>

>

> Every statement about genetics is preceded by an unsaid "All things being

> equal...". Biology is the epitome of a chaotic system.

>

> When a tornado struck my farm 18 months ago, 3 cows (none of whom were due)

> had calves with the barns being shredded around them. Everybody came through

> without immediate signs of injury.

>

> Neal

>

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: Hobsickle at aol.com

>

> To: nlgrose at yadtel.net ; jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

> Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 3:06 PM

> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Lamb size

>

>

> Turns out that these big babies are being born to the same crosses that have

> given me normal babies at normal gestations.

>

> -Dan

>

>

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-- 
Ralene Mitschler
Chicory Lane Farm Jacob sheep
www.blueflowerflock.com
687 Oxford Ave
Hanover PA  17331
rmitschler at gmail.com
717.630.2988
717.817.3794 cell