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%. He did not shed adequately as a yearling, but did as a two-year-old, so that’s when I finally upgraded him. Subsequently, his lambs can be fully registered. He does throw a few shaggy lambs, but most of his progeny shed sufficiently.
Cheech has really strong EBVs across the board, he is a really special ram. He is a substantial animal, 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 September 2021. EBVs below from 2021 lamb crop PWWT data. He is genotyped.
| BWT | WWT | PWWT | NLB | NLW | MBWT | MWWT | MAT$ | HAIR |
| 0.234 | 3.088 | 4.886 | 24% | 20% | 0.343 | 1.488 | 139.03 | N/R |
| BC H 973 “Cheech” (upgraded) Twin birth DOB: 1/27/19 QR at codon 171 Myostatin gene: Pending PP horn genes (polled) CC OPP gene (susceptible) |
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%) |