This evening my dad assisted me in putting the sponges in the 12 ewes that I've decided to use for AI. While most of the ewes I've decided on who to use them on, I still am tossing a few up in the air. On one hand I can improve fleece. On another, depth of color or density of fleece. On yet another I can improve stucture. Some I want their line (pedigree). Others I like the fact that they are poll carriers. Since they are some of the very last straws of these boys and there is no 'green light' yet for future importations this is a serious deal.
I've decided to use at least 6 Heights Orion. The ewes that will go to him are mostly based on histograms (low SD and CV) with some higher AFDs. I'm hoping to improve fleeces with these girls first and foremost:
Justalit'l Black Lambo Aa/Aa Black F3 Holly F3 Timothy
BonoCreek Lavender Brown Aa/Aa fawn F2/F3 Jamie
FirthofFifth Rooibos Aa/Aa fawn 25% UK
RYL Rachildas Awt/Ag white illget F3 Lightning
Underhill Peep Ag/Aa musket F2 Greyling, F2 Jamie
FirthofFifth Evidence of Autumn Aa/Aa fawn F3Holly F3 Jamie
Campaign Timothy for solid (no iset) dark blacks or moorits:
Justalit'l Shasta Ag/Aa horned smirslet flecket F3 Gordon
River Oaks Eliza Awt/Aa White 18% UK
Willocroft Jamie for deep color and structure:
River Oaks Lucy Ab/Aa Grey Katmoget F3 Dillon F3 Holly
FirthofFifth Booto Ab/Aa Fawn Katmoget F1 Timothy
Greenholme Holly for the poll gene:
Justalit'l Chloe Ab/Ab fawn katmoget F2 Minder
Shirehill Minder for possible poll gene:
Underhill Ulla Aa/Aa moorit F2 Jamie
That will leave me with 7 extra straws...1 Orion, 1 Lightning, 1 Jamie, 2 Holly, 2 Timothy for a future AI.
If any of you think that a ewe might be put to a better animal, do let me know. There are other reasons than listed why I'm using a certain ram to a ewe and would welcome any discussion of them privately.
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4 comments:
Yay! Eliza to Timothy! Can't WAIT to see what babies she throws! I think Lucy to Jamie will be a nice cross too. Excited to see what your F1 Minder will look like after seeing mine and her daughter. Looks like a good combo though, there's always next year or the year after. Hopefully the green light will go in importing some more semen in :)
Remember that Holly is also known for depth of color and no iset. My seven-year-old Holly ewe has no iset visible at any distance, and only a few stray white strands when you look very closely. Why would you put an Ag/Aa ewe with Timothy if you want solid, dark color? Wouldn't one of your Aa/Aa ewes be better there?
Have you looked at my blog lately? I'm getting a son of Juli's Octavian, and thus Roban Dillon blood, for use this breeding season! That will give me Orion, Greyling, Holly and Dillon in my tiny flock - not bad for someone who wasn't even looking for UK genetics!
Hey Michelle! I needed to put both my Ag girls to solid rams in hopes of that 50% chance they'd be Aa/Aa. I wouldn't mind an Ag out of timothy or orion either, but again, hoping for Aa/Aa babies from those Ag/Aa ewes. If nothing else, I'd hope they'd carry it under the Ag! I"ll go check your blog out!
Sounds like you are well on your way to your dreams and goals, Garrett! I can hardly wait to see how this progresses...
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