Posts by fourfarmdogs

USD 19094 "Boone"

USD 19094 “Boone”

Posted on by fourfarmdogs

Reference Ram 

“Boone” is borrowed from the USDA Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center in Booneville, Arkansas. Dr. Joan Burke heads up a research flock of Katahdins there, and was kind to loan him to us on the West coast; so we could benefit from his stellar EBVs as well as gain more “connectedness” to the Midwest NSIP flock cluster. Boone bred ewes at Caleb Pirc’s farm in Idaho, then Karen Kenagy’s farm in Oregon, before making a stop here in WA. He’ll head back to Caleb’s in summer 2021.

Boone is a white ram with some light tan freckling. He has a very good hair coat and nice conformation. He is typical of many high-scoring  maternal EBV rams in that he doesn’t have a tremendously masculine appearance. But his EBVs are spectacular, very strong in growth, prolificacy, survival and milk; and has reasonably good EBVs for Fecal Egg Count (FEC) as well (not shown below). His temperament is calm and he is somewhat curious and friendly, yet gentle and easy to handle. You can review his current EBVs on NSIP’s searchable database here. Photo taken November 2020. EBVs cited below from fall 2020 snapshot that includes data from Caleb’s lamb crop, so far.

BWT WWT PWWT NLB NLW MBWT MWWT MAT$ HAIR
0.588 3.152 6.239 15% 18% — 1.301 — 110.34
USD 19094 “Boone”
Twin birth
DOB: 2/3/19
RR at codon 171		 BC E 836-33  FAH 12-118 WSK 4298
FAH 11-013
BC Z 087-32 BC X 301
BC T 77-22
USD 17008 WRI 6028 BC D 749-33
WRI 2037
USD 14344 USD 3154
USD 3207

 

BC H 974 "Chong"

BC H 974 “Chong”

Posted on by fourfarmdogs

Reference Ram 

I purchased “Cheech” and “Chong” from David Coplen (Birch Cove Farm in Missouri) in spring of 2019. I had the rams shipped via air cargo, which was an expensive, but fast and low-stress process. I really like using David’s genetics because he has been in NSIP a long time; and runs a grass-fed operation with very low inputs, so his animals pass on a lot of vigor, hardiness and good maternal instincts. Plus, he is well-connected to the Midwest Katahdin genetics, which helps us with “connectedness” in NSIP (we have been a bit of an island out in the PNW and are trying to improve that).

David has been bringing in some Texel genetics, then upgrading back to purebred Katahdin. These rams are a product of that venture. The positives are that we can benefit from some heterosis (hybrid vigor) and also the myostatin or “double muscling” gene that’s common in Texels (that’s what gives Texels that “pig ham” back end). The drawbacks are some setbacks in hair coats; but this is minor considering the bigger strides we’ll make in meat production. Chong is a B coat thus far, as he retained some unshed wool on his backline as a yearling. He otherwise has a really coarse hair coat, and I expect he may shed fully in his second year. His sire was an upgrade, so Chong is fully registered, as can be all of his offspring.

Chong has good EBVs across the board, including Fecal Egg count (FEC) EBVs, which are not shown below. He is a substantial ram, both muscled and tall. He is a solid dark chocolate coloration. His temperament is calm and reserved. You can review his current EBVs on NSIP’s searchable database here. Photo taken November 2020. EBVs from 2020 lamb crop PWWT data.

BWT WWT PWWT NLB NLW MBWT MWWT MAT$ HAIR
0.161 1.466 3.343 10% 14% -.104 0.058 120.85 105.98
BC H 974 “Chong” 
Single birth
DOB: 1/27/19
RR at codon 171		 BC E 856-32  FAH 15-007 NWT 489
FAH 13-044
BC W 74-22 (75%) CK 02-208
TCF 97012 (50%)
BC Z 095-13 BC Z X301 CMG 7029
BC S 163
CMG 10005 TMD 8-106
CMG 182

 

BC H 973 "Cheech"

BC H 973 “Cheech”

Posted on by fourfarmdogs

Reference Ram 

I purchased “Cheech” and “Chong” from David Coplen (Birch Cove Farm in Missouri) in spring of 2019. I had the rams shipped via air cargo, which was an expensive, but fast and low-stress process. I really like using David’s genetics because he has been in NSIP a long time; and runs a grass-fed operation with very low inputs, so his animals pass on a lot of vigor, hardiness and good maternal instincts. Plus, he is well-connected to the Midwest Katahdin genetics, which helps us with “connectedness” in NSIP (we have been a bit of an island out in the PNW and are trying to improve that).

David has been bringing in some Texel genetics, then upgrading back to purebred Katahdin. These rams are a product of that venture. The positives are that we can benefit from some heterosis (hybrid vigor) and also the myostatin or “double muscling” gene that’s common in Texels (that’s what gives Texels that “pig ham” back end). The drawbacks are some setbacks in hair coats; but this is minor considering the bigger strides we’ll make in meat production. Cheech is a 87.5% and could be upgraded upon hair coat inspection. But in 2020 at least, he didn’t shed adequately to be classified as a B or A coat. He had a very thick lamb coat, but also has a good hair structure underneath; so I’m hopeful that he’ll shed in 2021. In the meantime, his lambs will still be recorded, and require a hair coat inspection confirming B or A coats, (which I can do if you live in the area) before they can be fully registered.

Cheech has really strong EBVs across the board, including Fecal Egg count (FEC) EBVs, which are not shown below. He is a substantial ram, both muscled and tall. Mostly white, but has some brown freckling and one large mahogany spot on his hip, ala Wiltshire Horn genetics. His temperament is calm and reserved. You can review his current EBVs on NSIP’s searchable database here. Photo taken November 2020. EBVs from 2020 lamb crop PWWT data.

BWT WWT PWWT NLB NLW MBWT MWWT MAT$ HAIR
0.428 3.141 4.967 18% 11% 0.200 1.096 130.65 107.00
BC H 973 “Cheech” (87.5%)
Twin birth
DOB: 1/27/19
QR at codon 171		 BC G 933-22 (75%)  BC F 895-22 (50% Texel) BC 0669 (Texel)
BC C 307-22
BC D 341-22 USD 3234
BC A 170-22
BC D 337-22 FAH 12-118 WSK 4298
FAH 11-013
BC A 146-21 (75%) MOF 1107
BC X 82-12 (50%)

 

KMC 3003

KMC 3003

Posted on by fourfarmdogs

Offered for sale as a registered Katahdin Ewe (Pet) $250

Very sweet middle aged ewe who comes from a very productive family and has tremendous EBVs for prolificacy and survival. But she is weak on growth and milk; and as she’s aged and her udder has sustained wear ‘n tear, she can no longer raise triplets, though she likes to have them! She is priced at cull/pet price. She will be bred in November, so if you purchase her before she lambs, you’ll be on the hook to bottle supplement them. If she lambs here, I’ll likely let her keep one lamb and will orphan any others, and she could go to a new home in April with whatever lamb she has at side.

Her pedigree has Aspen Mountain Farm (Aileen Scott, Montana) and now-retired White Post farm from the East Coast, as well as other local genetics. Lambing record starting as a yearling: 2/2, 2/2, 2/2, 2/2, 2/2, 3/3, 3/1

Photo taken November 2020. EBVs from the 2020 lamb crop PWWT data. This ewe is being bred now in November, to lamb in April 2021.

BWT WWT PWWT NLB NLW MBWT MWWT MAT$ HAIR
-0.041 0.042 0.267 17% 28% -0.481 -1.174 121.94 108.29

 

KMC3003
Single birth
DOB: 3/29/2013		 KMC2034 KMC0900 KRK650
JJK0010
ADS0038 RIT456
ADS0023
KMC2011 SJG494 SWP06-214 CORNERSTONE
SJG78
KMC1029 BLM417
JJK0010

 

KMC 20133

KMC 20133

Posted on by fourfarmdogs

Offered for sale as a purebred record-able Katahdin ram $450

Fawn ram with a clean shedding hair coat. Really nice EBVs across the board, good growth, very high prolificacy, survival and milk. This ram will produce both good replacement ewes and fast-growing butcher lambs.

He is out of my newly-purchased white ram from Birch Cove Farm in Missouri (David Coplen); which is a grass-based, minimal input system with a long history of NSIP data. Note that ram has some Texel in his background, and is an 87.5% recorded ram. He has not shed adequately this year, so I will not be upgrading him (yet). Thus his lambs will also be record-able and eligible for upgrade upon hair coat inspection (which I can do) next summer. This lamb’s already shed as a lamb, so I have no question he will shed again next spring and can be upgraded. For me, this ram’s productivity scores outweigh the shedding drawback in the pedigree, but I have discounted his lambs accordingly. On the maternal side, this lamb captures some really nice genetics from Thistle Grove Farm (John Bare, DVM, Iowa) which is another grass-based flock that’s long been active in NSIP; and also Misty River Farm (Mary Bakko, Moses Lake, now retired).

Photo taken November 2020.  EBVs from 2020 lamb crop PWWT data. This ram is ready to go to a new home and start breeding ewes right away.

BWT WWT PWWT NLB NLW MBWT MWWT MAT$ HAIR
0.567 2.742 3.604 18% 13% 0.108 0.936 125.20 107.21
KMC 20133
Twin birth
DOB: 4/23/20
QR or RR at codon 171 (by parentage)		 BC H 973 (87.5%) BC G 933-22 (75%) BC F 985-22 (50%) (half Texel)
BC D 341-22
BC D 337-22 (87.5%) FAH12-118
BC A 146-21 (75%) (quarter Texel)
KMC19017 KMC7018 JRB14007
KMC3044
KMC3004 KMC0024
KMC1029
KMC 20032

KMC 20032

Posted on by fourfarmdogs

Offered for sale as a purebred Katahdin ewelamb $275

Feminine white ewelamb. Modest growth, good prolificacy and survival, and a phenomenal milk score. Pedigree has Aspen Mountain (Aileen Scott, Montana) ewe and Misty River Farm (Mary Bakko, Moses Lake, retired), as well as KRK genetics (Karen Kenagy, Oregon).

Photo taken November 2020.  EBVs from 2020 lamb crop PWWT data. This ewe is open and ready to breed this fall to lamb as a two-year-old.

BWT WWT PWWT NLB NLW MBWT MWWT MAT$ HAIR
0.250 0.282 0.011 11% 9% 0.236 1.451 111.05 106.50
KMC 20032
Triplet birth
DOB: 3/23/20
RR at codon 171 (by parentage)		 KMC19098 KMC7045 KMC5071
MRL358
KMC2033 KMC0900
ADS0038
MRL315 KRK2123RR KRK0845
VJ8086
KRK936 KRK725
KRK614
KMC 20020

KMC 20020

Posted on by fourfarmdogs

Offered for sale as a purebred Katahdin ewelamb $275, exposed

Standard white ewelamb. Her growth and milk scores are rather modest, but her prolificacy and survival scores are extremely high, which renders her a pretty good index. She will likely have at least a few triplets in her lifetime, if not a lot of them, and they will be vigorous; but not your fastest growers. Pedigree is mostly my stock, tracing back to Misty River Farm (Mary Bakko, Moses Lake, retired), and On the Lamb Farm (Sara Jo Gahm, Arlington).

Photo taken November 2020.  EBVs from 2020 lamb crop PWWT data. This ewe has been exposed to a ram starting 11/8. Rams are wearing marking harnesses, so I will know her breed date. Note that for me, ewelambs have about a 50/50 chance of conceiving in their yearling year, so no guarantees; but plan on feeding her well in case she is bred.

BWT WWT PWWT NLB NLW MBWT MWWT MAT$ HAIR
0.028 0.410 0.795 11% 21% -0.333 -0.260 118.95 107.50
KMC 20020
Triplet birth
DOB: 3/20/20
QR or RR at codon 171 (by parentage)		 KMC19098 KMC7045 KMC5071
MRL358
KMC2033 KMC0900
ADS0038
KMC3003 KMC2034 KMC0900
ADS0038
KMC2011 SJG494
KMC1029
KMC 3004

KMC 3004

Posted on by fourfarmdogs

Offered for sale as a registered 7 year old old ewe, $375, exposed

This is a steady, middle-aged ewe, solid chocolate, good shedder, calm and gentle. She will likely produce a good lamb crop well into her teens. She has been a good producer here, though she is a very quiet/ non-vocal sheep. So if her lambs get separated and start hollering, she won’t necessarily get hysterical and holler back or run to them; she’ll just calmly wait for them to find her. This doesn’t pose a problem on a small acreage with few ewes and lambs, or in a shed-lambing operation. But in big fields with several hundred sheep in a pasture-lambing setting, it can be a recipe for lost lambs. So I’ve had to keep a little bit of an eye on her lambs when they are young, or jug her for a few days in the field to give them a good start. I chose to orphan-rear one of her triplets in 2019 because it was also non-assertive and was not keeping up with her.

This girl has solid and balanced EBVs across the board, I’m only selling her because her index is starting to dip into my lower quartile, and because it’s a little extra work for me to keep an eye on her during lambing. She will be a great foundation ewe for someone starting a small flock. Line-bred on an old Bert Martineau ram, with Just Plain Sheep and a North Dakota State U ram, and some KRK (Oregon) genetics in her pedigree.

Photo taken November 2020. EBVs from 2020 lamb crop 120 day weight data. Lambing records starting as a yearling: 1/1, 2/2, 2/2, 2/2, 3/1 (2 stillborn), 3/2 (1 orphan-reared), 1/1
This ewe has been exposed to a ram starting 11/8. Rams are wearing marking harnesses, so I will know her breed date.

BWT WWT PWWT NLB NLW MBWT MWWT MAT$ HAIR
0.458 1.908 2.603 11% 6% 0.124 0.915 114.67 104.57
KMC3004
Twin born
DOB: 3/30/13
QR at codon 171		 KMC0024 BLM417 BRM1AA
BLM0479
JPS60224 NDS06-728
JPS0048
KMC1029 BLM417 BRM1AA
BLM0479
JJK0010 KRK640
KRK4141

 

KMC 18068

KMC 18068

Posted on by fourfarmdogs

Offered for sale as a purebred, registered Katahdin ewe, $300

Pretty, light-framed fawn ewe with white socks, tail, spots and wide blaze. Positive growth and prolificacy, good survival, and a little weak on milk. This girl has stayed lean in my system and I think would thrive better at a small farm where there is less competition and more generous feeding. Pedigree combines genetics from Thistle Grove Farm (John Bare) in Iowa, Misty Oaks Farm (Kathy Bielek, Ohio), White Post Farm (East Coast, now retired), On the Lamb Farm (Sara-Jo Gahm, Arlington), and other local genetics.

Photo taken August 2020. EBVs from 2020 lamb crop PWWT data. This ewe’s lambs are weaned and she’s ready to go to a new home and breed this fall!

BWT WWT PWWT NLB NLW MBWT MWWT MAT$ HAIR
0.116 1.443 1.890 9% 12% -0.391 -0.463 112.53 103.79
KMC18068
Twin birth
DOB: 4/9/18
QR or RR at codon 171 (by parentage)		 KMC7018 JRB14007 MOF1107
JRB1232
KMC3044 SJG494
KMC2013
KMC6027 KMC5051 MRL246
KMC3002
KMC3033 SJG494
KMC1030

 

KMC 18134

KMC 18134

Posted on by fourfarmdogs

Offered for sale as a purebred, registered Katahdin ewe $300

Beautiful dark chocolate ewe with a brockle face. Good growth, prolificacy and milk scores. But hurting on survival score, which sources from her sire, so a lot of his daughters are dropping off my keeper list over time. Her dam’s side is stronger. Lambing record starting as a two-year-old: 2/2.

Photo taken August 2020. EBVs from 2020 lamb crop PWWT data. Her lambs are weaned and she is ready to go to a new home today!

BWT WWT PWWT NLB NLW MBWT MWWT MAT$ HAIR
0.235 1.779 3.767 18% 0% 0.105 0.498 09.53 100.80
KMC18134
Triplet birth
DOB: 4/18/18
RR at codon 171 (by parentage)		 KMC5088 WRN006 KRK0618
BME006
BC C 298 CMG10019
BC T 14-33
MRL271 KRK2123RR KRK0845
VJ8086
MRL205 KRK921
JPS0046