Frequently Asked Questions

While glad for the opportunity to discuss the idea of selecting a stud buck, it is probably too complex and too important an issue to be dealt with in a couple of paragraphs, so what I will try to do here is to suggest a short cut to spending months studying pedigrees, heritability percentages, EPD’s, etc.

If your flock is in a static place requiring a buck with a lot of bang, then what I have to offer is not what to look for, but how to look for it. And how to look for a stud requires mainly paying attention.

A decade or so ago, for example, I had a yearling buck at a sale who was Reserve Champion and who had been leased as a lamb to a fellow consignor. The consignor showed a ram lamb and a ewe lamb sired by the yearling. They ended up Junior Champion Ram and Reserve Champion Ewe, respectively. While pleased with the success of the two lambs, the consignor was concerned because their quality might inflate the price of the sire beyond his reach. While advising that he should have brought bottle lambs to show if his intent in coming was to bring the sire back home, I added that it likely wouldn’t matter since no one seemed to be paying attention to really see what a buck was worth.

So by ignoring this telling piece of evidence, buyers enabled the buck to be a relative bargain and to go back to the flock he serviced as a lamb. Over the next 5 or 6 years this buck generated foundation females of a quality to allow the breeder to begin the climb to the national prominence he enjoys today.

Paying attention to progeny is not only the best, but it may be the only way to reliably evaluate a stud ram’s potential in your flock. If your sheep are stuck in a place you don’t want them to be and you want to reduce the risks inherent in introducing a new buck, then you need to take the trouble to visit breeders who can show you offspring from the stud you are considering. Looking at his sire and dam and twin brother would not be a waste of time either.

George Buckham, the son, not the father, I haven’t been around long enough to achieve that level of wisdom. We still maintain a flock of over 100 registered Suffolk ewes in addition to the Shropshires, wether ewes and 600 commercial ewes. I had the honor of judging the National Show in Louisville in 1993.

Without a doubt, selecting a stud ram is the most important decision any sheep producer will make. Today’s decision might well impact the next 5-6 years. Every flock has different goals, and there are a number of different directions to go; the strengths and weaknesses in a ewe flock will all determine where the most emphasis will be put.

We can talk about soundness, growth, muscle, breed character etc. These are all important, and everyone wants these traits. The key is to weigh each of them and balance them to meet your immediate and future needs.

The most important traits a ram carries can’t be determined by looking at him. Will he be an aggressive breeder, will the lambs be born vigorous, ready, willing and able to get up and nurse on their own? In our eagerness to save every lamb born, we have forgotten the most basic trait necessary; the will to live. The older I get, the less tolerance I have for weak, stupid lambs. It doesn’t matter how good they are if they’re dead. Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest is an idea that might serve us all well.

Modern technology has provided us with many tools; genetic evaluations (EPD), codon testing, and tests for genetic defects are all available. For me, it’s just not worth the trouble to use a ram that isn’t RR. I want to know that every lamb carries an R gene without having to test them all. Anything that is not NN is simply out of the question. The more you learn about EPD’s the more you begin to realize that they reveal more information than just the selected traits. They give some insight into many other related traits as well. Dad gets a livestock journal out of Montana which advertises large bull sales; thousands of bulls and heifers all selling with EPD information. Somebody must think they mean something.

I would like to see a ram slick-sheared before I bought him. This often isn’t possible if the ram is at a sale or being fit. If I can’t see him sheared before, he gets sheared when he gets home. I need to know what he really looks like, not what he’s supposed to look like before I put him with any ewes. If he doesn’t look good enough when he is sheared, be honest with yourself, he’s probably not good enough!

I think that it is important to know as much as possible about a ram, his sire, his mother, and his siblings or offspring. What type of management system was he raised in, did he get lots of individual treatment or was he just another sheep in a big pen? Don’t go to an apple salesman to buy oranges. Going to a sale and picking out a ram because he looks nice is simply setting yourself up for disappointment.

I have come to realize that frame size is not nearly as important as I used to think. We have selected so heavily for one trait that we have overlooked many with far more real significance. Is it really possible to find a Suffolk ram that isn’t big enough? My uncle Fred died over 18 years ago, and those that knew him can hear his words as clearly as if he said them yesterday. Fred would get after us when we were young and did the sort of careless stupid things young boys do. WHY, WHY, WHY? What did you do it for? We would hang our heads, shrug our shoulders, and, believe me, we would think about what happened and make sure we didn’t do it again.

When you think you have finally decided what you want, be sure to ask yourself WHY!?

Mark Chapman

Our family has raised sheep since settling in the current location around 1832. The family has raised purebred Shropshires, Southdowns, Hampshires, and Suffolks over the years. We have had the Suffolks going on 50 years now. I graduated in 1978 from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry. We run 130 ewes and farm 700 acres. I have served on the NSSA board of directors and am a current member of the USSA board.

I agree with the statement that the ram has more than a 50% influence on your flock. Though he contributes only 50% of the genetics to any lamb he sires, his influence is seen for many generations through his daughters and granddaughters.

There are many factors that I consider to be essential in selecting a stud ram. They are:

He must be sound in his skeletal structure. Correct on his feet and legs and move freely off both ends. A good long, level, wide hip.
He should be complete in his total makeup. Straight in his lines, have some substance and body, along with being well balanced. I have never had much luck in using rams that are extreme in their design. I feel that usually a ram that is extreme in some aspect or other, will tend to be more inconsistent in the lambs he sires. I prefer to get a uniform, consistent group of lambs.
I like to see him show some breed character, with that certain stud ram look.
He should have good testicular development. A strong sex drive is preferred, but something that you can’t evaluate till breeding season rolls around.
Last but probably the most important is he should have a good mother. I realize that unless one does some traveling prior to the sales you can’t get a chance to see his mother. I feel this is very important, since as I said earlier, his greatest influence on your flock over the years will be through the females that trace back to him. If it is not possible to see his mother, I like to look at any female sibs if possible. What has sold me on some of the most influential rams that we have used in the past was seeing their dams and the lambs born a year later to that dam.

In conclusion, I look for a sound, complete ram with some breed character, and balance. He should have good depth and width of body, with good bone structure. Throw in a good mother and you have the makings of a stud ram.

Warren Kuhl

Warren was raised on a cattle ranch in Montana. He has worked with shepherds and breeders in the United States and Europe. He taught and was over the sheep department for 27 years at Brigham Young University. Warren’s mentor is Jan Bonsma at the University Pretoria, South Africa.

I cannot overstress the importance of a good breeding, prepotent stud ram in the long process of selecting and manipulating genetics. He alone is balanced against the whole lot of ewes he breeds as the highest potential of the flock is determined at the point of conception. Therefore, a breeder needs to have a vision in as much as an artist looks at an empty canvas and sees a picture before painting it.

A great ram is a thing of rugged beauty. For me, he sums up the Suffolk breed standard that lies somewhere in the Suffolk archives. I’ll comment on only a few of these points.

Spine and Feet and Legs- No matter what type of animal we may each desire, I surmise we all want a straight spine and straight, well structured feet and legs.

Head- A great suffolk head is as attractive as any species I know. For me it has a high crown, ears set back and down that are long and bell shaped, and aqualine muzzle and a deep jaw to show strength.

Function follows form if low maintenance and high production is desired.

Size- If the purpose of the ram is a seed stock meat animal then we are emphasizing muscle per scale. Size is then considered after the legs are cut off even with the body. The width over the hooks should equal at least 1/3 the height of the animal. Long legs and lots of daylight translate into high maintenance and low production. I’ve experienced good EPD figures on some tubular rams with lots of daylight but I used a carload of feed to do it. A well placed, blended neck adds to the carriage and appearance of the animal. But I’ve yet to see a long lean neck on a massive body. It doesn’t even happen on football players.

Power/Strength- This entails a deep jaw, heavy smooth bone and big feet. A deep wide chest blends well into a massive body. This allows space for the organs that fortify the constitution of the animal. When viewing from the side, there is more depth between the hooks on top and the flank on the bottom as compared to the depth between the shoulders and the chest floor.

Hip- extended long, wide and level carrying down wide into the stifel.

Testicles- large and well shaped not only enhances the fertility aspects of the ram but is an indicator also of the internal reproductive organs of his ewe families and their mammary system.

Skin- thick and smooth. Thick skin adds to the constitution of the animal. It handles both heat and cold better than thin skin.

Homework- Ideally, it is best to see the stud prospect on a breeder’s place before it is fit. Many unseen things in a stud prospect may be evident in the related flock. Yearling rams will show more faults than their sister counterparts (barring rectal prolapse in ewe lambs). One will learn more on a successful breeder’s place sitting on a log or fence in conversation than one will with that same individual at a sale. Unless one knows the breeder and their flock (the good and not so good) one is merely relying on outside signs for inner genetics.

Integrity- will the breeder be forthright about unseen negatives.

Genetics- It is well to have a son from a prepotent dam and his sire from a prepotent dam. I’d much rather have a ram slightly less appealing out of a real strong consistent dam and family than a knockout out of one that isn’t.

Milk- is there a good supply of milk on both sides of the family? What is the size, shape and texture of the udder? How is the placement of the teats?

Balance in all aspects is important. When sculpting with genetics, the wise breeder knows that no one part of the anatomy is so exaggerated as to foster weakness in any other part.

Time and Patience- You don’t really get a full scope of a stud ram’s value or lack therein, until you grow out his daughters’ offspring.

Chuck Ream

Chuck is the USSA Coordinator for the United Junior Suffolk Sheep Association and has been involved in the UJSSA National shows. He has been involved in the sheep business for over 30 years.

Perhaps the most essential requirement for selecting a new and potentially successful stud ram is knowing your ewe flock very well. To me this means their pedigrees, genetic strengths and weaknesses, so that you can search for a ram that will compliment what you already have or do not have in your flock.

Honest and sincere advice has been greatly helpful to me over the years, and I have been extremely fortunate to have had the benefit of the wisdom of some great Suffolk breeders, who have been generous with their knowledge.

I personally think it is important to travel to the farms and ranches of prospective breeders you are interested in, despite the hardships of difficult traveling situations. I have purchased rams at auction, but with one exception, have been able to visit the flocks previous to making a purchase, or arranging a lease. However, phone or email conversations can be extremely valuable and many breeders have very informative websites. I envy their abilities. This helps in giving you the permission to make a thought out decision that you can feel confident about, without having to feel negative about a bad choice or being unhappy with someone else’s advice at a later date.

The mechanics of outcrossing, linebreeding and inbreeding are all very useful tools and I have used them all and will continue to do so as long as I am raising sheep. Again, it is very important to be able to realistically evaluate your flock and understand what needs to be brought in, in your opinion. There will continue to be different types of Suffolks because of the diversity of needs, personal preferences and environmental situations, so the pool of genetics will remain vast and I encourage you to look at what is beyond your pastures. Sheep that are the most economically feasible in the flatland pastures of Iowa are not necessarily those that are the most productive in the mountains of Northern California, and vice versa.

Good luck in your inspiring decisions!

Ron Young

Ron and his wife Carla are the parents of four children. Their oldest son Kris, a graduate of Ohio State University, is now located in Atlanta, GA, working in AGCO’s home office there. Jenny, a recent graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University, is working as a Social Worker in Wabash, IN. Phil and Will, their 17-year-old twin sons, are juniors in High School.

Ron has been a Suffolk Breeder since 1966. Their Buckeye Acres flock has been successful at both the major shows and sales. Ron has been honored to judge many state, national and international shows. Most importantly to them, many of the top Suffolk flocks have Buckeye Acres blood all through their pedigrees. Currently, the Buckeye Acres program is more than ever emphasing muscle and making a user-friendly Suffolk.

“What are the essential ingredients for selecting a successful stud that will have a functional and positive economic impact on your flock?”

#1) Do not wait until you Need a ram before you begin your search – this process should be continually ongoing.

#2) All flock owners need to have a vision of how they want their animals to perform and/or physically look like.

#3) Flock evaluation- a) What characteristics does your breeding flock (brood ewes) possess that meet or exceed your standards (goals). b) What characteristics does your flock fall short in meeting this standard? We need to do an honest appraisal of all breeding animals. Hire a flock consultant if you do not feel confident of making this evaluation yourself. After your flock evaluation prioritize which characteristics you want to emphasize most in your next stud ram.

#4) If your goal is to produce and market your animals as lambs, do your potential stud ram evaluation and selection when they are lambs. If your plan is to promote your animals as yearlings, it is very important to know exactly what this new stud prospect will contribute to this program.

#5) Identify flocks/ ewe lines with the strengths (characteristics) you are looking to improve in your flock. A good rule to remember is that a ram or ewe will breed most consistently like the average of their ancestral population (flock). We want our new stud to come from a flock that has numerous animals and most importantly, the dam and grand dam that possess the characteristics we want to incorporate into our flock.

#6) Talk to the different breeders, especially the breeder of the stud prospect/s we are considering. We do not want to be like the crowd and think that we know more about their flock than they know. After all, more than likely this breeder has also bred the parents and grand parents of our prospect. Animal genetics are not an exact science. We need to use all the tools we can in our selection process. EPD’s are an excellent tool; our cattle friends have used them for several decades and they are presently using them to help judges evaluate animals in the shows. If EPD’s are an aid to you, use them. They are all about predictability.

Be confident in your evaluations and with a smile from lady luck, you will accomplish your goals.