The End of a Love Affair

G'day BM,we are acquiring all the breeds we can ,so far we have male/female line all un-related of W H Dorper,B H Dorper,Wiltipolls. We have a male line of Australian Whites and Van Rooys. We will acquire (when it rains) a female line of Van Rooys and we are also going to invest in a male/female line of Persians (the speckled var not the B H type).When the opportunity comes up I also want some more Wiltipoll ewes .From this base we should be able to breed (over time) an animal totally suited to "our environment"....T.O.R.

And that is how a new breed is formed. I think you are on the right track, you should be able to breed a sheep that is hardy and can thrive in your environment.

Baymule said:

I pray that you never spend your days in a nursing home. I have instructed my kids, if I get in such shape that I cannot care for myself, to take me on a family camping trip-in bear country. Pitch my tent away from the main camp, rub me down with bacon and don't come looking for me when I wander off. LOL LOL LOL

What breeds are you using to make your new composite breed? Is anyone else working along similar lines so that you can swap breeding stock?

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Nursing home are terrible. Most of them anyway. If they don't abuse the elderly, they keep them doped up.

A Nursing Home?.......never No, No, NO.

Good Luck TOR with the new breed.

Sheepshape said:

A Nursing Home?.......never No, No, NO.

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I concur!

Baymule said:

And that is how a new breed is formed. I think you are on the right track, you should be able to breed a sheep that is hardy and can thrive in your environment.

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It's how a composite or hybrid breed is created anyway.
Completely 'new' breeds are a little more complicated and out of necessity, will take place (as TOR stated) 'over time' or quite a few generations.

Seems I WILL have some lambs.......Ewes moved from one field to another and two wouldn't leave. Dexter, my ram, was next door and clearly, he held charms that the new field did not (He has grown a 'bib', is smelling STRONG, and has a mean chat -up line, low grumbling, pawing 'til he's worn out the grass, and licking. After much persuasion, one of the girls joins her chums. The other comes a few yards, stops, and goes back to Dexter......repeat, repeat, repeat. Instead of leaving her alone, I open the gate. For the next day, they are constant companions. Then ewe starts to call to her chums. So....do I let her join her chums? Well, no, I let some of her chums join her.

So....weak of will, by default, I will have some lambs.

You will get your lamb fix after all.

Baymule said:

You will get your lamb fix after all.

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Lambing.....tiring, worrying, sleep-depriving, cold, mucky, happy/sad, heart-wrenching........yet somehow addictive. What was I thinking?