Tamarack Sheep Produce More Lambs, Require Less Labor

Tamarack Sheep Produce More Lambs Require Less Labor LIVESTOCK Exotic Animals Janet McNally wanted sheep that required less labor on her part and were more productive on grass alone Over the past 30 years her farm-bred Tamarack sheep have gained a reputation throughout the country for easy lambing good mothering and fast growth “The ewes birth several lambs at one time and produce lots of milk on grass The sheep fatten quickly and flavorfully on pasture ” says McNally She started by introducing the Booroola B gene into her flock of Dorsets The naturally mutated gene originated in an Australian flock of fine-wooled Merinos Ewes with the Booroola B gene had a high ovulation rate and litter size McNally introduced the gene to her Dorsets in 1987 That was followed by decades of backcrossing with Polled Dorsets and Ile de France bloodlines for improved milk growth number of lambs weaned and carcass quality The sheep were selected for maternal weaning weight post-weaning weight loin eye muscle depth and number of lambs born and weaned Not all the sheep “fix” the Booroola B gene Those that do are called Tamarack Prolific Those that don’t are simply called Tamarack “I rigorously culled to produce a sheep requiring less labor with higher lamb survival ” says McNally Starting in 1991 that meant lambing on pasture More recently it has included lambing on the fly where a ewe must lamb mother up and be able to move to new paddocks without losing track of 3 or 4 lambs within 3 days This is all without lambing pens or barns “I select for ewes that will produce a quality market lamb at weights from 30 to 140 lbs ” says McNally “I expect early lamb growth with top individuals gaining a pound a day on good grazing for the first 100 days ” McNally expects her Tamaracks to wean a 160 to 190 percent lamb crop on quality forage They exhibit a long breeding season making accelerated or out-of-season lambing possible Tamarack Prolific ewes have more lambs They will wean from 237 to 320 percent lamb crops on a principally forage-based diet Tamarack Prolific rams are equally productive settling the flock in less than 21 days yet selected to be docile around handlers Her rams are popular as terminal sires as well as maternal sires “Tamarack Prolific rams with 1 or 2 copies of the Booroola B gene are well suited for highly managed grazing programs as well as more intensive lamb production systems ” suggests McNally McNally utilizes LambPlan an Australian genetic evaluation tool It provides a way to calculate estimated breeding values as well as tracking pedigrees In order to qualify as a member of the Tamarack breed it must be enrolled in LambPlan and have as a minimum recorded 60 and 150-day weights as well as birth and pedigree information It also must have valid genetic links to the original Tamarack flock To qualify as Tamarack Prolific it also must have DNA on file with AgResearch NZ confirming at least one copy of the Booroola gene It must be enrolled in LambPlan and be linked to the original Tamarack flock McNally sells breeding stock throughout the country making deliveries as far as the East and West Coasts Tamarack ewes sell for $400 Tamarack Prolific ewes are priced at $600 each Tamarack rams range from $800 to $1 400 Tamarack Prolific rams range from $800 to $2 500 Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Tamarack Lamb and Wool 31077 Co Hwy 61 Hinckley Minn 55037 ph 320-336-9071; janet@tamaracksheep com; www tamaracksheep com

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