2011 Sires

Sires for most of our 2010 lambs are shown below. Click on the photo to see a larger image.

SUFFOLK MGR 7004 (RR/NN) is the fifth generation of top scanned rams. He topped the 2007 ram lamb crop with a scan of 4.90 in² loineye at 145 days of age and weighing 163 lbs (4.62 in² adj. to 135 lbs). His Sire is MGR 1172 (Grand Chops) (4.44 @ 135 lbs). His Dam MGR 5090 (3.38 @ 135 lbs) is by Big Chops (4.55 @ 135 lbs) and Kimm 4196. MGR 7004 is a very correct ram with thickness throughout. Pedigree

SUFFOLK MGR 7006 (RR/NN). This sire goes back to many years of genetic development here at Mint Gold Ranch. 7006's sire is MGR 4001 (Big Chops) listed in the Flock Sire History page with loineyes being his outstanding trait. 7006's dam is MGR 1199. She was simply the thickest ewe we had ever raised. 7006's twin was 7005 who was sold to West Virginia. Sons and daughters are a standout for thickness and are proving it in several ram test stations. We are pleased to bring back this ram and see how his offspring perform. 7006 scanned 3.76 in² @ 135 lbs. His picture here shows him at just over 4 months of age. Pedigree

MSU 7104 (RR/NN) This ram is owned by Ed Dittbrenner and was made available for our use. He is a son of the long time growth trait leader in NSIP (5BR155). MSU 7104 is now the new growth trait leader at +6.3 lbs at weaning and + 12.3 lbs at 120 days. That means on an average his lambs will weigh 12.3 lbs more than the average Suffolk ram. Data is based on 200+ rams. His lambs truly have their growth spurt up through 120 days. He is our "growth first, muscle mass second" leader. The flock owners of 7104's sons make pleasing comments. "Best ram I have owned." "He pays for himself in extra pounds of lamb he produces." At Mint Gold Ranch lambs by MSU 7104 were +16 lbs over the pen mates of other rams. Although he has less muscle than other rams at Mint Gold Ranch, he still is +11 in² loineye over the average Suffolk ram. (No Photo Available) Pedigree

KIMM 9068 (RR/NN) is by the Owens 613 ram. A ram with large rear end. The dam is Kimm 99108. she is a granddaughter of the great Hickman W-43. He was reknowned for adding huge rear ends. In this lamb crop the 9068 lambs are standouts at 2 weeks of age on up. The hips are wide and the leg muscles are deep. Tops are straight carrying level through the dock. Although I don't expect the loineyes to be as large as offspring of some of the other rams (Kimm 9068 scanned 3.30) the lambs will have the look for the market lamb classes. Our only difficulty with the lambs was allowing the width of the lamb's rear end fit through the creep panels without letting the ewes squeeze through. Pedigree

DORSET RAM MSU 619 RR

This ram is the start of a new program. Actually a reinstated program. At one time we started breeding Dorsets but couldn’t find the type of rams that were bred for grass. Heavy set girthy type sheep. Yes, there were tall tubular types that were used in the show ring; but they physically couldn’t support lambs on grass. At the NSIP Center Of The Nation Sale we found that MSU had the genetics that were from the Mississippi State Dorset flock. This flock was developed on the basis of resistance to internal parasites. Sheep were culled that needed worming. They found that susceptible sheep to internal parasites were related. Therefore after culling some families worming of the flock was no longer required. To confirm the results from MS, Michigan State Vet class went into the Dorset pens to gather fecal samples and to find parasite eggs. They thought they were doing the evaluation incorrectly because they couldn’t find any eggs. The flock shepherd didn’t share what he knew of the genetics and told them to try samples from another pen of another breed. They were happy to find that they were doing the project correctly all along. The Dorset pen were either siblings or offspring of the MSU 619 ram. This ram comes to us with excellent NSIP numbers: +1.8 weaning weight EPD; +4.2 Post Weaning Weight EPD; -.01 Milk EPD. We were happy to bring this ram home and find five very old registered Dorset ewes still in our flock. Most had lost most or all of their teeth. But for their lifetime they were big producers. We expect him to sire some great grass-based Dorset rams. Pedigree

DORSET RAM MGR 9025 is by MSU 619 (listed above) and the dam is Karstens 422. K422 is a very thick ewe. She is of Walnut Lake and Thistledown breeding. 9025 had a loineye scan of 3.45 in² @ 135 lbs. We kept him because he was a standout in thickness in the Dorsets. His offspring will add substance to your lambs as well. (No Photo Available)