NSIP records are a very important tool for Polypay flocks across the United States.  EPDs through National Sheep Improvement Program help discover genetic potential not only within a flock, but between flocks from radically different areas.  A computer in Virginia calculates all the records from across the country.  Flocks with similar genetics can be compared across flock.  This linkage between flocks is important to make the EPDs more accurate.

At the recent National Polypay Sale, two breeders were discussing how to share good genetics to the benefit of both flocks. 

Dale and Lila Schmidt, Grandview Polypay, had purchased one of the top ram lambs at the sale last year.  Jerry and Mary Sorensen, West Cyclone Farm, thought that particular ram was the buy of the sale.  “He was an outstanding ram and my pick of the sale.” Jerry commented.  “I asked them about the lambs out of the ram the Schmidt’s now call “Hulk”. They told me the Hulk lambs were doing very well compared to lambs from their other sires.”

“We told Jerry about the top Hulk ram lamb we nicknamed 'Grand Canyon', that we’re keeping back to use.  This ram weighed 142 lbs. at 100 days(Rate of Gain was 1.53).  We are really excited about seeing what his EPDs look like.” said Dale.  The discussion turned to getting Hulk genetics in other flocks to increase his accuracy.

“This swap is going to add to the accuracy of 8 NSIP flocks and make their numbers more meaningful"

“I grabbed the numbers on our new Hardman ram that we call 'Delta Force'.” Jerry said “His individual EPDs look great and there will be lambs from both Hardman’s and Sorensen’s on the Oct NSIP run.”  The Sorensens wanted to see Delta Force numbers in a third flock and the Schmidts realized the need to get Hulk genetics in a second flock.  The breeding times worked out and an agreement was made.  Grandview will use Delta Force in late July and West Cyclone will use the big Hulk son, Grand Canyon, in October.

This genetic swap will permanently tie the two flocks together, but it does not stop there.  “This will affect flocks from Ohio to Colorado.” Lila said.  In the east it starts with the Cargo ram originally used by Dr. John Anderson in his NSIP flock.  In his flock HKF 1039 moved to the top sire on the Sire Summary in Milk and Milk& Growth.  HKF 1039 left his mark at Andersons.  Anderson sold a top son of HKF 1039 to Chuck Ripley in MN two years ago.  The HKF 1039 son, “Big John”, is siring some great lambs for the Ripleys.  The Schlegel’s Pine Brook Farm, also in Ohio, then purchased HKF 1039 from Dr. Anderson.  One of the first lambs Pine Brook sold out of HKF 1039 was “Hulk” that Grandview purchased at the sale in 2003.  With Grandview’s purchase of “Hulk”, HKF 1039 is now genetically tied to Grandview, Anderson, Pine Brook, and Ripley.

Meanwhile way out west, Billy Hardman acquired a great ram, 210107, from the Tisdales.  210107 moved to the top of sire summary in Weaning weight and 120 Day weight with the first lamb crop reported.  Billy mated him to his top ewes, which ranked second in milk in the country.  The ram lamb from this mating, “Delta Force”, immediately caught Jerry’s attention on a NSIP data sheet.   Hardman and West Cyclone now jointly own “Delta Force”.  Another NSIP flock will soon be tied to the Delta Force line.  Larry Bremer’s Elm Creek Polypay in MN has purchased all of the West Cyclone Delta Force daughters born spring of 04.  Through Delta Force, 210107 is now tied to the Tisdale, Hardman, Sorensen and Bremer flocks.

Two rams, Grand Canyon and Delta Force, will tie flocks from Ohio to Colorado.  “This swap is going to add to the accuracy of 8 NSIP flocks and make their numbers more meaningful,” commented Dale.

“Working together to make the breed better.” added Jerry.