The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: robate55 on April 16, 2012, 07:35:22 pm

Title: Horn genetics
Post by: robate55 on April 16, 2012, 07:35:22 pm

One of my topknoted Hebridean ewes (with scurrs) has produced a ram lamb with no horn buds that I can feel. Her mother was polled & topknotted, her  father is a normal two horned tup. Due to gate smashing problems she was mated by her father or 4 horned half brother.  Is the lamb likely to be polled with or without a topknot?
Rose

Title: Re: Horn genetics
Post by: colliewoman on April 16, 2012, 07:46:02 pm

FLEECEWIFE!!!!
Just one moment robate55, help will be along shortly ;D

Title: Re: Horn genetics
Post by: Fleecewife on April 16, 2012, 07:47:46 pm

Topknots in tups are as plentiful as in ewes (ie not very but if you have the genes they do occur) but a polled tup sounds very interesting. He could alternatively be scurred, which is nearly as interesting.  Only time will tell, Rose.  Is he registerable?  He and my two polled ewes might like to get together  ;D  :wave:

Colliewoman - I was typing as you called  ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Horn genetics
Post by: colliewoman on April 16, 2012, 07:56:26 pm

Thank goodness its you Fleecewife, you will save us!  Pictures of you in a super hero cape now permanently in my head :D :D

Title: Re: Horn genetics
Post by: robate55 on April 16, 2012, 08:07:32 pm

Unfortunately his mother is not registered and due to Dougal barging & breaking a newish metal gate I am not sure who his father is. He was only born this morning so is not yet banded but I was intending to do him later this week.
Rose

Title: Re: Horn genetics
Post by: robate55 on April 16, 2012, 08:34:08 pm

A picture of the mother as a hogg. Unfortunatly she manages to mangle her ears & lose her tags
Rose

Title: Re: Horn genetics
Post by: Fleecewife on April 16, 2012, 11:43:03 pm

It's a shame he has to be banded but unregistered means he really has to be.   As a wether he might not grow scurs which an entire tup would, so we won't know for sure if he is truly polled or scurred.  I didn't explain that very well  ::)  Let us know in a year, or before he goes off to the abattoir, if he ever grew horns.  So far 'the word' is that you don't get polled Hebridean tups.........

We have a 4 day old we are trying to catch to get a band on him - he can run like the wind  :sheep:

Title: Re: Horn genetics
Post by: robate55 on April 17, 2012, 04:59:45 pm

Thanks for that. The next problem is as yet - 3 days old no testicles palpable so may not be able to band him
Rose

Title: Re: Horn genetics
Post by: Fleecewife on April 17, 2012, 06:41:08 pm

You've got til 7 days.  We haven't been able to catch our one so have given up  :sheep:

Title: Re: Horn genetics
Post by: robate55 on April 26, 2012, 07:03:28 pm

Can now feel small horn buds but still no testicles so may have to stay entire until slaughter
Rose

Title: Re: Horn genetics
Post by: Brucklay on May 08, 2012, 11:33:12 am

Not Hebridean but I thought was interesting. I had 2 registered castlemilk moorits and 2 shetlands with the reg. castlemilk moorit ram. As expected the castlemilks all have horns, the 3 lambs from the shetlands - look like castlemilk moorits really can't tell any extra shetland in there but the ram has horns ie genetics of both breeds and the ewe lambs are polled ie shetland !!