I only have about 140 if I count the lambs. However, since the market will not allow me to receive what they are worth, and I did not get the research grant for rotational grazing to improve pastures, then I will have to thin out the flock. What will stay will be the ones that remain healthy and require no assistance. Unless I can market them through a website that I am trying to get set up. If I can market them as pets and 4 legged lawnmowers, then the situation may change.
Barb: I really appreciate the efforts you have made and the amount of time you have committed to testing the various changes you have made. Personally I rely too much on memory. I worked in a paper intensive agency for 30 years and just am burned out on that paperwork stuff. Cecil The Wintermutes wrote: > Barb, > > I for one like the research you do. Although it doe not always apply for > our environment, it is of interest so we know not to go that route. We have > considered planting one field in turnips since the sheep some to love them > so much. But it is cost prohibitive. Lately it seems that the "ax" has been > swung towards Mark and I so much, we are tired and basically are trying to > stay out of it. Sometimes I just can't seem to do that. > > We have over 500 sheep so I know exactly what you are going through. > > Sharon > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Barb Lee > Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 1:54 PM > To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info > Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] The Beet Pulp Experiment > > Sharon, > > If my current thinking continues to reel out on this same track, I > visualize either going to a breed where the groundwork is already done > (what's the fun in that), or hm..what other word is there...hybridizing? > > My greatest disappointment at this point is that I feel I am talking to > a mud fence. There is neither reinforcement, nor opposition. I've put > my neck on the proverbial chopping block with all this stuff I'm talking > about. I've handed a lot of people the axe. Why isn't anybody at least > taking a swing? What's the point if nobody is willing to contribute? > For all my talk, I know full well that without the genetic input from > other well founded breeding programs, my own feeble attempt at breed > improvement is doomed. > > Barb > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "The Wintermutes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info> > Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 11:17 AM > Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] The Beet Pulp Experiment > > >> Barb, >> >> You stated" >> >> My problem is, I am too stubborn to give >> up the notion that I can adapt my registered flock to meet my >> expectation (I have a few that never disappoint me). It's getting to >> be >> an expensive hobby though. I love the lamb so much, I do not want to >> risk outcrossing. I have even been thinking about infusing some polled >> blood into the flock (these would never be registered as AB), to see >> if >> I could improve reproductive performance without going outside the >> blackbelly. Actually my best performing lamb this year is a ram lamb >> with tiny little horn buds - he's almost smooth headed. Where did >> that >> come from in a flock with very good horns!! What's the connection? >> The >> ewe, a registered AB, milked like a cow and has a pedigree of horns. >> >> My dilemma is now, whether several more years of selection for a >> higher >> plane of performance within my AB flock will be repaid in value added >> to >> the sale of proven breeding stock, or if I should just stick to meat >> production. There is little point in continuing to register animals >> if >> the goal isn't to improve them. It's a big problem, because I would >> like to some day make exceptional quality breeding stock available to >> other producers, but not for $45 a lamb...more like $450 a lamb. If I >> give up on that, I lose half my interest in my work." >> >> Don't feel like you are the only breeder with these questions. >> >> One thing I would like to point out is that genetic diversity produces >> better animals. One thing I do remember from my genetics classes at >> the >> university is one amazing statement the professor made. "Without 30 >> different base lines it is impossible to keep a blood line pure." >> This is a >> common theme among geneticists all though the number of base lines >> vary. >> Nearly all of the current AB and BB lines are from only 2 different >> base >> lines. Without some out-crossing, it is nearly impossible to keep the >> breed >> alive. We are using BB and AB together to produce better quality and >> size. >> Even within these two lines, there have been out-crossing before we >> started >> with them. >> >> The influence of previous breeders with Rambouillet and Mouflon is >> quite >> prevalent in all the flocks we have visited over the years. The >> pictures we >> have of "Caribbean" BB, although similar, have more color variations >> that >> what is prevalent here in the United States. >> >> Sharon Wintermute >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list >> Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info > > > _______________________________________________ > This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info > _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
