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Tattykeel 80-97

Polled Dorset information

I have raised Polled Dorsets since 1980. I almost got out of the breed completely due to life situations and also not liking where most breeders were taking the breed. Polled Dorsets were noted for being a maternal breed that stil grew well, produced good carcasses and bred out of season. Over the years, the breed was losing much of its maternal qualities due to some questionable genetics having been put ito the breed and due much to selection pressures. When we select for certain things, fortunately and unfortunately there are other traits that tag along. A number of breeders were selecting for the showring and the most important thing was large frames. Unfortunately, most large framed sheep did not carry any more muscle than the smaller framed Dorsets. That chase for extreme frame size has kind of played out but now the next trend has taken hold. Now many breeders are using the latest genetics from Australia and New Zealand. In my opinion, this is hurting the breed as in those countries, Polled Dorsets are now mainly being used as terminal sires, in crossbreeding programs. This is where the issue , for me at least, comes in. Selection pressure has been put on growth and carcass, nothing wrong with that, except in most cases, there has been almost no selection for maternal traits. While these genetics have growth and carcass qualities, in my opinion, they have lost a lot in the maternal aspect, things like mlking ability, early maturity, lambing rate and a major thing, out of season breeding ability. Thus, I have found it difficult to find the genetics I sought, so I infused some good Horned Dorset genetics into my Polled Dorset flock. As well, I went the artificial insemination route for more genetics, but rather than chasing the new genetics, I went back to utilizing older proven genetics. I used  British rams,  Cornella N3 (807 N3){ first used in 1995, I used in 2002], Bennachie Nmrod ( first used in 2011), and Huish Nugget (first used in 2011). I also used a Canadian ram Brucedale Mate's 217T (born in 1985). The other ram recently used is Australian ram Tattykeel 80-97 ( first Canadian offspring born in 2000, well proven, still being used due to his ability to sire well muscled sons and daughters with excellent breed character, as well his daughters have beautiful udders and milk well). I am using sons off the A.I. sires as well as select purchased rams that trace back to genetics that I know have been selected wth maternal traits in mind. The Polled Dorset flock ( as are all of our flocks) is a work in progress. I am trying to improve my Polled Dorsets by selecting with an emphasis on maternal traits and out of season breeding. The ewes are given the opportunity to lamb every 8 months and are bred to produce their  first lambs at 12 months of age.