Breeding work in sheep breeding

Sheep breeding in Russia today is reaching a new level. Now, not only state farms are engaged in breeding new breeds, but also private farms. A striking example of a selection farm is the Katumy farm, which breeds the Katum sheep breed.

Breeding is a very complex and lengthy process. Breeding works are carried out for eight to ten generations until the purity of the breed is achieved.

Preparation for selection

At the initial stage of breeding, the farmer must choose two or three existing breeds for crossing and, based on the external data and characteristics of these sheep, draw up a description of the new breed.

Private farms have four independent genetic lines. This approach to breeding allows farmers to avoid unexpected mutations.

Breeders select two sheep from each genetic line. These sheep are called queens. They must be strong and healthy. One-year-old sheep are usually used as queens. They bring offspring for four years, which allows you to get a new breed in one parental generation.

Selection of lambs

After the first generation of lambs was born, a strict selection of offspring is carried out, focusing on the previously compiled description of the breed. For example, at the initial stage of the selection of Katum sheep, 60% of the lambs were black.

In the fifth generation, the number of black-haired lambs already amounted to 5%. There are several other qualities of the offspring that matter:

• the presence of horns in rams;
• the physique of lambs;
• the rate of weight gain or growth of the coat.

If the breed is positioned as homologous, then sheep and rams should not have horns. Particular attention is paid to the constitution of the sheep. In one breed, it must necessarily be the same.

Depending on the type of breed, the two best genetic lines of the species are crossed at the final stage of selection.

If you plan to breed a beef sheep, the best representatives of the breed are those sheep that have gained the greatest mass.

If they plan to breed woolly sheep, the best representatives of the breed are those individuals who have the highest wool growth rate. The texture of the wool is also important.

The breed is brought to the all-Russian market after about five years of pedigree work, which is considered a short period in selective sheep breeding.