| Author |
Barnyard Buddies:  Line Breeding Sheep?  |
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 19 2012 : 09:32:16 AM
|
I really don't know anything about this, other than I think it's breeding within the same family?
So I have 3 ram lambs I have kept intact in hopes of using them to breed my ewes. Of course I have all 3 mothers too. I have thought about separating all 3 rams with different ewes. But then I'd have to have 3 places to keep all of them plus another to keep the 2 ewes that are too young to breed right now.
So what would happen if I just put them all in together? What are the chances that each ram would breed their own mother? And if so, what will happen? Will they have 5 legged lambs or brain damaged lambs. Or even still born lambs? I am just imagining all kinds of horrible things that could go wrong. Has anyone done this with your own sheep? And should I not do this at all? I had even thought about buying one ram from somewhere else to use on all the sheep.
Help!
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
|
|
oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2012 : 11:32:55 AM
|
line breeding is an option for only the very experienced breeder, there is a very fine line between line-breeding and in-breeding, there is no difference between animals and humans as far as this goes, all genetic and confirmation problems will double up, and the lambs will be smaller, weaker and have a higher chance of death...putting all of your rams and ewes together will only have bad results, animals know no differance as far as sons/mothers, and daughters/fathers, it is all instinct...your best bet is to find a good ram that will benefit all of your ewes, strengthen their weaknesses, and have no close ties...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
 |
|
|
SandraM
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
Sandra
Coldwater
Michigan
USA
295 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2012 : 6:42:31 PM
|
I agree with what Tina says.
Line breeding could be taking a Ram and breeding him back to his daughters. Something that I wouldn't do.
I have not heard of using a Ram Lamb and breeding his Dam.
We have two Rams. One that I use with most of my ewes. And one that I use with that Rams daughters.
If the Ram Lambs are related to the Ewes at all I would Probably sell them as breeding stock and buying an unrelated Ram.
If they are not related to any of the ewes keep two. Use the Rams on the unrelated ewes.
Good Luck!
Sandra
www.mittenstatesheepandwool.com |
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2012 : 7:16:33 PM
|
I don't know much about this so just thought I'd ask. I'll probably just butcher these 3 and buy a new ram. Much easier that way. Thanks for the info.
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
Posted - Sep 20 2012 : 02:44:06 AM
|
Hi Kris,
It depends on who you talk with about line breeding. I do not do it as I have three rams, and am keeping a fourth this year. I breed my older ram with my older ewes. Their off spring will be bred with the second ram. And last year I cross bred my Shetland ram with a few of my Cheviot ewes. Bringing in a new set of genes. Now, I am thinking about breeding those ewes back to the older Cheviot ram next year. But for the most part, I don't keep any rams that are born here, most go for meat or breeding stock out of state. I will be getting out of the breeding end of sheep within the next couple of years and go just to fiber ewes.
Teri
"There are black sheep in every flock"
White Sheep Farm
www.whitesheepfarm.com |
Edited by - kysheeplady on Sep 20 2012 02:47:14 AM |
|
|
|
crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2012 : 7:13:46 PM
|
Father to daughter or mother to son is not as risky as brother to sister. If things turn out well it is called linebreeding and if things turn out bad it's called inbreeding. Many people use linebreeding because it can give the best of the best, but can also give the worst of the worst. People that linebreed just cull and butcher the ones that turn out bad. It doesnt take any special experience any more than breeding unrelated animals.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
|
|
|
crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2012 : 7:16:35 PM
|
The risk for monstrosities is a little higher, which can be hard for the mothers to deliver. For instance a two headed lamb.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2012 : 7:46:01 PM
|
No, I don't think I could handle a 2 headed little lamb. I remember when I had sheep about 4 years ago, I have a 5 month old ewe that her father somehow got out and bred her. 5 months later, she had triplets. 2 rams and a ewe. One ram had both parts. That was the only strange thing that happened to that lambing. And they were all really big lambs. There was nothing wrong with that meat though. Really good. I think I am going to just separate and use the 2 hair rams now. Then I'd like to keep the Finn ram to breed the 2 youngest Finn ewes when they are big enough to breed next year. He's too handsome too. He has the softest prettiest bard brown wool ever. So the 2 hair rams will go to butcher later. This way I don't have to spend any more money. Yet.
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2012 : 07:44:02 AM
|
Years ago I had a really nice saanen dairy goat that was bred back to her sire. She had a baby that was really large and stillborn. It had hair that was in short bristly tufts and had things attached to its sides that looked like little livers or kidneys hanging off of it. About 4 on each side. I dont think it ever was really alive just sort of like a nutrient sucking thing inside the mom. It took me about an hour of hard labor for both me and mom to pull it out of her. There was a second kid that was behind it but it was very small and weak and died also. It was horrible. I have never bred or even owned sheep but I do know that crooked faces commonly happens from inbreeding in goats. Yeah better not to do it.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
|
|
|
Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Melina
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2012 : 08:45:28 AM
|
Not terribly well-educated on livestock breeding, but line breeding is very common in dog breeds. The best breeding, if everything is perfect, is to breed a male who's father is the grandfather of the female. Of course, this is only if everyone involved is bringing very positive traits to the breeding, and nothing negative. It's fairly safe, and accentuates the attributes of both animals. I would never do this kind of breeding unless it is certain to improve the offspring. In other words, never do this just because the animals are available and in close proximity.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2012 : 10:48:17 AM
|
Laura, I do remember my doe Sadie Mae who accidentally was bred by her own son. This was several years back. But the kid was upside down and backwards in the birth canal. I had to push him back in and twist and turn. He finally came out. I had to hang him upside down to get all the mucus out of his mouth and airways. He lived and was the absolute gentlest, sweetest buck ever. He reminded me of a child with Down Syndrome. He had that kind of feel to him. He loved everybody. I hated to get rid of him. I did castrate him of course. But I just loved him.
Melina, I will leave all that to the experts. You're right.
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2012 : 9:10:25 PM
|
Line breeding can only be considered if your have extensive paperwork on the genetics of the lines. I am talking at least 6 generations to start with and only then if you have details on all the offspring and health records. This is not for the reason of not wanting to get a new ram or to just toss them all together. Also you have to know exactly if your genetic pool has greater strength the weakness and certain flaws should never be in the mix. When I line breed with was with the aid of three well informed genetic experts and 14 years of breeding, health and birth records. There are great books out there also assisting in making determinations and also on how to first start with the best of the best before breeding.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
|
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2012 : 7:02:20 PM
|
Thank you, Grace. Sounds very intensive and precise and very involved. So I will leave that to the experts! I am not into science at all.
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
|
|
| |
Barnyard Buddies: Line Breeding Sheep? |
|
Line Breeding Sheep?
