How do I breed my own wool shedders?

[NZDan]

I thought 5 families were needed to avoid inbreeding?

I only run 4 in my Finns and used to run 3 in my Rare breed sheep

 

[Tim W]

I thought 5 families were needed to avoid inbreeding?

Depends on what level of inbreeding you are happy with & if you source outside genetics occasionally

 

[Guleesh]

What's the definition of inbreeding in sheep? how closely related?

 

[clod hopper]

What's the definition of inbreeding in sheep? how closely related?

How long is a piece of string! It seems to be different for everyone. For me brother/sister and mother/ son father/daughter is inbreeding. I'm okay with grandparents/grandchildren.

 

[Woolless]

I thought 5 families were needed to avoid inbreeding?

It all depends on what you're comfortable with I suppose but in this case I've used approximately 40% homebred/60% brought in tups over the last few years, which obviously helps as @Tim W says. I think I might buy in a couple of real high-index tups next year and then minimise use of outside genetics after that for a while and see how we get on.

 

[Johngee]

It all depends on what you're comfortable with I suppose but in this case I've used approximately 40% homebred/60% brought in tups over the last few years, which obviously helps as @Tim W says. I think I might buy in a couple of real high-index tups next year and then minimise use of outside genetics after that for a while and see how we get on.

Of course it’s not the index itself that’s important, but the individual Ebv’s and how they match what you’ve got in your own flock. Also finding a high ebv tup who’s also physically pleasing is another story!

 

[NZDan]

Depends on what level of inbreeding you are happy with & if you source outside genetics occasionally

I've a ram hogget this year with an in breeding co-efficent of over 50%........

 

[Tim W]

A bit of shopping today. An Autumn born Aussie White ram lamb. View attachment 917107

Be interesting to finally see some comparative data ---the yanks think they add a fair amount of terminal traits to their Katahdins

 

[NZDan]

Be interesting to finally see some comparative data ---the yanks think they add a fair amount of terminal traits to their Katahdins

Compared to the Dorpers on the same farm, the owner thought they were taller, had more lambs, better feet, better shedding, same growth and less carcass shape, tails were noticeable shorter.

 

[Guleesh]

I've a ram hogget this year with an in breeding co-efficent of over 50%........

Quite impressive, providing it hasn't got 5 legs or anything. When inbreeding to that extent are there many disastrous results? Am I right in thinking an otherwise unrelated parent/offspring or sibling mating would have an in-breeding coefficient of 25% ?

 

[NZDan]

Quite impressive, providing it hasn't got 5 legs or anything. When inbreeding to that extent are there many disastrous results? Am I right in thinking an otherwise unrelated parent/offspring or sibling mating would have an in-breeding coefficient of 25% ?

He is a father daughter mating, but the daughter was father daughter as well, same ram. And the rams sire was present else where. It wasn't planned that way.