Buying Breeding Stock
When browsing the sites of many breeders, I'm often more interested in what they are not saying, than the contents of their site.  Very few people are publishing their flock performance data - why not?  Any site that only lists 'generic' information about a breed doesn't get too much interest from me. 

I have mixed feelings about the NSIP flocks as well.  I do think that NSIP is a good idea, in general.  However, I know all about the lengths breeders will go through to get their "numbers up".  Spending $80 to produce a $65 lamb doesn't make sense to the commercial producer, but makes a lot of sense to a breeder trying to get his "numbers up".  My operation is based on commercial viability - I can't stress that enough. 

$5 Corn
I still can't really say what the future of the ethanol industry is, but do think that the price of corn is going to be tied to the price of oil for the foreseeable future. Corn futures for this summer are over $5 as I write this. Of course this is substantial pressure on the bottom line. In addition, we have pressure from the top (lamb prices) in the form of cheap imported lamb. The entire livestock sector is in the same boat. It is pretty likely that a 'shakeout' is going to occur - in other words, the least viable producers will probably go out of business.

More than ever, this means profitability and indeed survival of sheep flocks is going to depend on good management and sheep that can produce. A good ram will help you ride out the storm, a poor ram could well put you out of business.

Romanovs
I probably get the most inquiries about Romanov sheep. As I've indicated throughout this website, there is more to profitable commercial sheep production than birthing rate. I increasingly view Romanov sheep as a tool to saving non-profitable flocks from a trip to the sales barn. If you have a flock that is not profitable because you aren't getting enough lambs, a Romanov / Romanov cross rams is probably a good option.  If you have a pretty good flock already, I would probably recommended that you go with a Polypay or similar cross.

Why the difference? Romanovs make big gains on the first cross.  So, if I had a group of Western ewes that aren't dropping as many lambs as I need, I can use a Romanov cross ram to get some daughters that will be much more productive. Doing so will be a learning experience, to say the least, but in the end, you will have more pounds of lambs to sell.

On the second cross, the Romanov's value becomes less certain.  Size drops, prolificacy increases some, but weaning rates stagnate. The only thing that seems to increase is work. Here, the Polypays and particulalry Polypay x Friesian crosses have the advantage.  On the second, and subsequent, crosses, Polypays and Polypay x Friesian crosses are more balanced.  Size, longevity and wool quality are improved with no sacrifice to prolificacy.  

Friesians
I also get a lot of inquiries for Friesian sheep.  Like Romanov sheep, the value of Friesian sheep to the commercial sheep producer is in improving other breeds.  I can't imagine a sheep operation that cannot use better milking ewes. Unless you like  bottle lambs or your lambs are growing too fast already, you need to give a Friesian cross ram a try.

Polypays
Increasingly, Polypay breeders are turning Polypays into show sheep. Simply put, I don't have any use for show sheep. The focus of my purebred Polypays is making a profit from slaughter lambs. To that end, I think my Polypays are very good. I have extremely prolific ewes with good size. Maternal instincts are excellent. The only weakness I've seen is the inability of some of the purebred Polypays to handle all of their lambs (not enough milk for triplets or quads). To improve this, I select ewe and ram lambs from only those ewes who can give birth naturally and wean their lambs on their own.

Columbias
Like Polypays, the show ring is putting negative pressure on the Columbia breed. All one has to do is look at the advertisements that most breeders use to sell their show sheep - commercial profitability is not mentioned. It is no wonder why commercial sheep producers often overlook Columbia sheep. That's a shame, because Columbia sheep have traits have that can improve your bottom line.

My Columbias are selected for their ability to make a profit from slaughter lambs. Consequently, I only keep and sell Columbias that can consistently produce pounds of lamb over a long period of time. A 220-240 lbs Columbia does not need to have triplets to make a profit. She needs to have lambs every year and twins most years. If they can't do that, they don't stay around.

My Ideal Commercial Ewe
My ideal Commercial Ewe is one that clears at least $50 per year, and doesn't make me jump through hoops to get it. My job is to provide her with what she needs, her job is to raise lambs. I don't want to pull lambs or bottle feed them. I don't want her hanging around in a lambing jug for very long either!

In the past, I strove for specific types and ideals. I have given up on this. However a ewe makes me that profit is fine. Some will do it by being consistent producers over a long time, others will do it by producing large numbers of smaller lambs. At the end of the year, all that matters is that the bills are paid and I have something for my time and investment.

My Ideal Commercial Ram
I feel that the ewe has the most to do with a flock's success, so my first priority is a ram that can sire quality replacement daughters. I have not used a terminal ram for some time, other than Columbias, which are also a maternal breed.

However, when I do look for a terminal ram, I'm careful to avoid 'showy' sheep. These rams are tall, slender and have small stomachs -- they do not have the ability to put on weight as fast as thicker sheep. I am always in the market for a medium sized ram (250 - 300 lbs) that sires moderate sized lambs with good fleshing ability. Something like the 'old style' Suffolks used to be.

Ram Lambs
I always buy rams as lambs a year before I need them.  I might give a ram lamb a dozen or so ewes, but usually follow up with a mature clean-up ram.  I buy ram lambs because they have the longest useful life, present fewer health risks and allow me to choose the 'cream of the crop'.

Ewe Lambs
It is well known that a great deal of flock health problems are introduced to a clean flock via the introduction of mature ewes from another flock.   It is also true that mature ewes have a more difficult time adjusting to a new flock's social hierarchy. I don't buy mature ewes.

Tails
I dock my lamb tails fairly long for the simple reason that it saves me time and money.  Short or missing tails predispose lambs to rectal prolapses, without doubt!  Consequently, I am certain we are going to see laws governing tail lengths in the not so distant future. 

In the last four years I have fed a lot of other people's lambs.  I am very disappointed at the length of some of these tails, so much so that I will not even bid on lambs with very short tails at the sales barns or buy them direct for that matter. Nothing frustrates me more than going into my feedlot and seeing a lamb walking around with a prolapse. Not only do these lambs cost me a lot of time and money, but they are suffering needlessly.

To properly dock a tail, make sure that the stump covers the rectum and vagina.  If you are unsure, only dock the tail where it is fully wooled, do not dock on the pink skin!  If you sell feeder lambs, I guarantee you that your lambs will bring a higher price for this simple consideration that costs you nothing!  If you feed lambs and have problems with prolapses, start with the tails, you won't be disappointed.