[Jacob-list] need advice on breeding groups

[Neal Grose]

With genetics, everything is relative. Stature is the most highly heritable trait. The offspring will be close to the average of the parents in height at the wethers.

Fleece is more variable. Given enough matings, the offspring will look like the average of the parents, but especially with Jacob’s where there has not been rigorous selection for fleece, there can be considerable variation in a group of offspring. In contrast, Merinos that have been selected for a narrow standard of fleece character should respond much more to the influence of a ram. Fleece in Merinos may be much more heritable than Jacob’s Sheep.

Just to complicate things, there are a number of different characteristics of fleece. Fiber diameter(median diameter), length, density and variation within the fleece (range, standard deviation)...all of which are necessary to describe what we handspinners call “hand”.

Pick what you want in the ram (look at his mom if possible) and stick with it.

Neal


From: Linda 
Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2012 8:45 PM
To: Lynette Frick 
Cc: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] need advice on breeding groups

A ram with a dense coarse fleece would have to have something special to add before I'd want to use him on my ewes. Fleece quality is highly heritable. I tend to select my rams for fleece quality (with an emphasis on horn quality in their maternal lines). 
Linda . 

On 11/3/2012 8:08 PM, Lynette Frick wrote:

  It should be said that the easiest trait to "change" is fleece... it could go either way. Ideally you would use a ram with the fleece you want to improve a whole group of ewes, then use another ram with the fleece you want on those offspring, etc.. instead of relying on the ewes directly for the change. Also, careful culling is the only way to make lasting changes in a group.  

  good luck

  Lynette Frick
  Baraubar Merinos &
  Four Points Shearing Services





    This will be our first year of breeding our sheep and we had a question
    about fleeces.  We have heard that the easiest thing to improve is fleece.
    So does that mean that you could (or should) put a ram with a dense coarser
    fleece with ewe with really nice fine fleece and get a nicer fleece in the
    lambs?  Does the fleece always improve or does it go backwards sometimes?
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