1. Linebreeding is not the ONLY way to achieve optimum uniformity- you can breed like to like ( in other words there are animals that are very similar in phenotype and perform similar without being related),
I'll give you that you can breed like to like... but tell me honestly, how often does that yield something like the parents? Very few, IMO-- unless both parents come from genetic lines which have BEEN LINEBRED for similar traits. Seriously, how many great physically heifers, turn into flopped cows?
2. Depends what endpoint is desired?
Not really-- you establish a line of animals that are where you want them, and prosper forward. It doesn't matter if you're wanting show heifers, commercial cattle, or elephants
3.Yes linebreeding helps bring up genetic faults but if you weren't linebreeding the chances of you getting these hidden faults would be very low.
getting these faults, or exposing these faults? Look at TH- the originator of it, was born what 30 years prior to people knowing about it? It was a massive problem that nobody knew about-- if no one linebred-- that problem would still be a time bomb.
4. Linebreeding has it's place, some do it very well, but IMO it is not something for a breed to do with the majority of it's numbers. [/b] Skilled people, who use their brains are needed to linebreed. The most important part of line breeding, is understanding what you have for a foundation. Like AJ said, if you have junk, you don’t want to linebreed around it. You need to know of potential problems for many generations back (usually by trial/ error, or talking to the old timers). [/b]
5. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket. ;D [/b] Actually I prefer to have all of mine in one basket- my sheep operation thrives on consistency. If they’re not consistent, they’re not worth a nickel- consistent good, consistent bad- doesn’t matter.. The bad gets culled obviously. Personally, I’d rather make 19 good ones, and one sale barner, than 1 great one and 19 sale barners (opposite of most people shooting for the jackpot) [/b]
6. Yes there is defects in unrelated matings. [/b] The defects are present, but most defects are mutations that stem from one particular animal- and if you don’t linebreed, those defects don’t work together. The only defect I can think of off the top of my head that will not follow this thought, is the Improver and Outcast TH. [/b]
7. Have a ?, what is the point of linebreeding, before I get a very simple answer think about it. Is there a possibility to get a perfect animal that will transmit perfection to his or her offspring without defects, etc., consistently. How many linebred programs start out with breeding around a line that they like and then 10 generations down the road, their program looks nothing like that first ideal animal?
[/b] The point of my linebreeding in the sheep flock is to establish a genetic line that is predictable, prepotent, and outcross to the rest of the breed. By doing this, I am essentially creating my own breed, within the breed—with hopes that very few other producers have anything genetically similar. By doing this, those potential and customers who purchase from us will experience a hybrid vigor effect—basically like crossbreeding to improve upon whatever it is they are wanting to improve. I do this to make my stuff look superior to the playing field. This will work based off the principles of homozygous genes, and the fact that in resulting offspring will be hetero.. again, the same as crossbreeding… [/b]
8. These aren't necessarily questions that I have, but I'm sure alot of people on here do have.
9. Jody, AJ this will keep you busy answering for a couple minutes ( the Canadians need more time to get more pics! ;D) p.s. I am unrelated to them.... I think.
[/b] I appreciate it. [/b]
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I can go on and on about linebreeding, and my theories on it… but plain and simple.. IT”S lunch time.
