{"id":580,"date":"2021-10-06T16:51:23","date_gmt":"2021-10-06T21:51:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agrilife.org\/sheepandgoat\/?p=580"},"modified":"2026-02-18T10:45:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T16:45:57","slug":"reids-ram-blings-october-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agrilife.org\/sheepandgoat\/2021\/10\/06\/reids-ram-blings-october-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Reid\u2019s Ram-blings: October 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

Superior vs Optimal<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is the saying \u201cEverything is Bigger in Texas.\u201d\u00a0 Texans are proud to have the largest populations of sheep and goats of any state in the union.\u00a0 While the size of our sheep have been getting larger and larger over time, by no stretch of the imagination do we raise the biggest sheep in the US.\u00a0 Sheep in the Midwest and Intermountain West tend to be much bigger.<\/p>\n

The mild weather and diverse native rangelands of Texas makes this a great place to raise sheep and goats.\u00a0 However, these range conditions tend to better support smaller-framed animals, but this puts us at odds with our general tendency to want bigger and better things.\u00a0 I too am drawn towards selecting replacement rams and ewe lambs that standout in the crowd. But this strategy can have unintended consequences.<\/p>\n

For years, we have used the term, \u201csuperior\u201d, to define animals that we believe to be the best.\u00a0 But as time progresses, I find the term, \u201coptimal\u201d, to better represent what ranchers see the most value in.\u00a0 \u201cSuperior\u201d makes the assumption that merit is defined by one universal set of rules; whereas, \u201coptimal\u201d suggests a balance of many traits that have been carefully curated for a particular environment or management style.<\/p>\n

Texas sheep and goat operations are all unique.\u00a0 They have different resources, strive to produce varying products, and construct different goals to measure success.\u00a0\u00a0 These differences outline the production traits that are optimal for each operation.<\/p>\n

The performance of sheep and goats are a combination of genetic potential and management.\u00a0 If an animal has the genetic potential to grow faster, grow more muscle, raise more offspring, or better fight off parasites, it still requires proper management to reach its potential.\u00a0 There are no free lunches!<\/p>\n

\"Field

Field Day at HF4 Ranch: Advancing Genetics Technology in the Texas Sheep Industry<\/p><\/div>\n

Moreover, many of these genetic attributes work against each other, especially when feed resources are limited.\u00a0 For instance, an animal that grows faster and has a larger mature size may be less likely to raise multiple offspring or fight off internal parasites.\u00a0 Can sheep and goats be genetically selected to do \u201call of the above\u201d?\u00a0 Maybe, but it takes a strategic approach fitted with the appropriate management.<\/p>\n

If you are a long-time reader, you know that I am a strong proponent of estimated breeding values (EBVs).\u00a0 These values provide a reliable prediction of many of the economically important traits to find the \u201coptimal\u201d genetics for each operation.\u00a0 EBVs are a powerful tool to ensure data-driven selection and enable you as a producer to identify and select for your \u201coptimal\u201d \u00a0traits. Feel free to contact us to find out how to source animals with EBVs<\/a> tailored to your operation.<\/p>\n

An often-overlooked strategy to optimize sheep and goat productivity is crossbreeding. A common example of a successful crossbreeding strategy is to maintain a ewe flock of maternal, moderate framed females who are well adapted to the environment and range conditions, and then breeding these ewes to a ram that supplies the growth and muscle that we often get paid for at the sale. Not to mention, when the ewes and rams are different breeds, the resulting hybrid vigor is particularly advantageous regarding lamb survival and size. Using crossbreeding to outcompete purebred stock is as close to a \u201cfree lunch\u201d as can be found in livestock production.\u00a0 Historically, the use of black-face rams, typically Suffolk or Hampshire, on finewool ewes is the best example of this in Texas.\u00a0 The cross-bred, smut or speckle faced, lambs would generally wean 10 to 15 lbs heavier and all lambs were sold.\u00a0 Straight finewool rams were used on roughly half the ewes to generate replacement females.<\/p>\n

Today, this practice is still somewhat common in finewool sheep but the use of terminal sires is not a common practice in the hair sheep industry. It is a viable strategy and needs to be considered more often.<\/p>\n

Continuously breeding for animals that are always a little bit superior for a particular trait, without regard to the negative impacts this may be having in other areas has been an epidemic in livestock breeding since the beginning of time.<\/p>\n

In summary, sheep flock or goat herd productivity can be optimized by selection of animals that have the desired traits fit for the environment they are raised in. EBVs are a great tool to source the right genetics; however, it is still best to source genetics produced in a similar production system.\u00a0 Even greater levels of productivity can be realized if ranchers\u2019 source maternal-oriented sires to raise replacements and terminal-oriented sires to produce offspring destined for harvest. Always remember, at the end of the day, optimal animals are those that work best for you and, your profit depends on your ability to identify your own \u201coptimal\u201d traits.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To provide feedback on this article or request topics for future articles, contact me at reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu or 325-657-7324. \u00a0For general questions about sheep and goats, contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office.\u00a0 If they can\u2019t answer your question, they have access to someone who can. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Superior vs Optimal There is the saying \u201cEverything is Bigger in Texas.\u201d\u00a0 Texans are proud to have the largest populations of sheep and goats of any state in the union.\u00a0… Read More →<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1232,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-580","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-uncategorized","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nReid\u2019s Ram-blings: October 2021 - Sheep And Goats<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/agrilife.org\/sheepandgoat\/2021\/10\/06\/reids-ram-blings-october-2021\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Reid\u2019s Ram-blings: October 2021 - Sheep And Goats\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Superior vs Optimal There is the saying \u201cEverything is Bigger in Texas.\u201d\u00a0 Texans are proud to have the largest populations of sheep and goats of any state in the union.\u00a0... 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