gift
Willie Smits: Village Based Permaculture Approaches in Indonesia (video)
will be released to subscribers in: soon!
  • Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Nancy Reading
  • Carla Burke
  • John F Dean
  • Timothy Norton
  • r ransom
  • Jay Angler
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • Devaka Cooray
  • Leigh Tate
  • paul wheaton
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • M Ljin
  • thomas rubino
  • Megan Palmer

Do Registered Sheep Breeders ever swap rams for genetic diversity?

 
Posts: 19
Location: Tennessee
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I am new to sheep and recently got some registered Katahdin sheep:  a ram, ewe, and their offspring from  this year a boy and a girl.
I know I can't line breed registered stock but I don't really have a budget to buy another registered ram.  

Do breeders ever swap young stock to ensure genetic diversity.  I'd like to trade my young lamb for another farms young registered lamb.
Of course I know about biosecurity and would be more than willing to get mine tested for disease.
 
Posts: 115
Location: A NorCal clay & rock valley
8
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Id check out whatever/ whoever in your area with 4H kids. They might be the most likely to swap, but that would depend on their own breeding program. Just mentioning it because since you're new is the sheep family show worthy? Just because they're registered didn't mean you got "good ones."

Also being new to sheep, it might be good to just see how the 4 you have go. The little male easily becomes your first meat whether and the little female is going to take a year and half (maybe?) to be body condition for breeding.

That's another breeding of the mature ewe before her daughter is ready. And it might be easier to rent a stud for the daughter. Heck maybe your stud is good enough to be rented out as well.

NOT trying to rain on your parade! Just being new to a "production" animal generally turns into learning experiences.  I'd hate to see the update and they've died of worms 6mo later.

All that said good luck and I'm jealous! Or if you wanna swap for the bear terrorizing my backyard?
 
Don't sweat petty things, or pet sweaty things. But cuddle this tiny ad:
Free Heat Movies! Get 'em while it's Cold!
https://www.stoves2.com/Wood-Burning-Stoves
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic