A Tribute to Dr. Charles Parker, Mentor and Friend

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Dr. Charles Parker (1935-2024) was a sheep specialist, researcher, industry leader and experienced advisor to many of us in the Katahdin breed. As an early supporter of the breed, Charles felt that Katahdins could and should be the Complete Meat Sheep, genetically balanced for reproductive and growth efficiency and easily adapted to diverse production systems. Following his death in July 2024 we decided to compile some of his advice and guidance over the…

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Using genotypes to reduce susceptibility to Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP)

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Sheep GEMS News Brief 5 – late-August 2024 In the U.S., the disease Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP) causes extensive welfare and financial losses due to decreased ewe productivity of about 20% and eventual culling or death of breeding stock. Surveys of U.S. sheep have shown that 36% of sheep operations have infected animals and 24% of all animals tested were seropositive. Once infected, sheep remain infected for life, and there is no effective…

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Preparations for Breeding

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The joining of ewes and rams at breeding time seems like a relatively simple task, but there are a lot of important steps that need to be taken several weeks before breeding that can affect both the quality and quantity of next year’s lamb crop. Breeding ewes that are in poor condition can result in fewer eggs fertilized, embryonic abortion, poor fetal development and weak newborns. Rams that are in poor condition may…

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Building the foundations for genomic selection in U.S. sheep

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Sheep GEMS News Brief 4 – mid-August 2024 The Sheep GEMS project, together with NSIP members and other sheep industry organizations, have been working to create the building blocks for the implementation of genomic selection in the U.S. sheep industry. In this second article of the Sheep GEMS update related to genomic predictions, we describe the practical aspects for application of genomic selection in our industry. Genomic selection is the process by which…

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Genomic selection: a new era in U.S. sheep breeding

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Sheep GEMS News Brief 3 – July 2024 Genomic information has been used in many livestock breeding programs for four primary applications: 1) parentage identification, 2) identification of carriers of genetic conditions, 3) evaluation of individual and populational genetic diversity, and 4) prediction of the genetic merit of selection candidates to be used for breeding. These applications show that genomic information has multiple uses key to implementing sustainable breeding programs. The U.S. sheep…

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Biosecurity Testing

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Sheep can be affected by infectious diseases that affect the productivity of your flock. Some diseases can only be transmitted by close contact between sheep, as the organisms responsible only survive in the environment for a short time. Other diseases can be spread via people, vehicles, birds, insects and wildlife, as the organisms responsible can survive in the environment for extended periods of time. It is easier to keep diseases that are spread…

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Three Common Genetic Defects to Look for when Buying or Selling Sheep

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As the 4th Annual EAPK sale approaches, we’re expecting some very high quality Katahdins available for purchase in our unique sale format.  This hybrid sale gives eligible consignors the option to either physically bring their animals to the EAPK Symposium & Sale or consign them to the online sale only.  Buyers attending the EAPK Symposium will have an advantage in that they will have the opportunity to talk to the breeder and inspect…

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It is all about the interactions

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Sheep GEMS News Brief 2 – May 2024 As a reminder, GEMS stands for Genetics, Environment, Management and Society. In Sheep GEMS we are interested in the interactions among these elements of a production system. As our starting point, we focused on the first three bits, namely Genetics, Environment and Management. An initial study with Katahdin sheep shows how these elements work together. We based genetics on body weights, fecal egg counts, and…

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What is Sheep GEMS?

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Sheep GEMS News Brief 1 – April 2024 GEMS stands for Genetics, Environment, Management and Society, which are four pillars of our sheep industry. Why so? In the U.S., distinct breed-types are spread across climatically diverse regions and management systems. Breeding robust sheep that perform well under these conditions is therefore critical to the industry’s long-term sustainability. Currently, however, traits indicative of robustness and climatic resilience are largely absent in our genetic evaluation.…

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The “Ram”bunctious Ram: A Discussion on Ram Behaviors

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As sheep producers, we all need two important things to get lambs on the ground: ewes and at least one ram, depending on the size of the ewe flock. The purchase of a quality ram can be quite an investment. Understanding proper management and handling of your ram is vital to keeping the producer and everyone on the farm safe, while ensuring the health and longevity of the ram. Here are some points…

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