Hair Sheep Color Genetics

[Baymule]

I love the colors too. Let’s face it, white is boring. Uniform same color and pattern is boring. Even so, you learn their faces and mannerisms and can tell them apart. I have Miranda’s triplet daughters and I have to check ear tags on them. Different colors and patterns are like a bouquet of flowers!

 

[Margali]

Even so, you learn their faces and mannerisms and can tell them apart.

Umm, I have issues with matching names of coworkers to faces for people I don't interact with everyday. They TALK and most wear uniforms with name tags.

 

[SageHill]

Definitely colors and patterns - so much more fun to just plain look at -- maybe that's the allure of goats -- but sheep are more my idea of fun, not trying to outwit goats!

 

[Baymule]

I had a neighbor once, an older man who had a herd of black Angus. He walked among them, knew every one of them by their faces. They were his “girls”.

 

[Margali]

So was thinking I would always get white lambs from Mr. Snickers but that is wrong. There are two ways to get a visually all white sheep either:
1) black sheep Wt in Agouti pattern loci
2) brown or black with double SS in spotting loci covering sheep 99.9% with white spots.

All my buff tan girls are brown sheep with a Wt in Agouti loci. For Snickers option:
1) I should get close to 50/50 buff tan and white lambs
2) A single brown or black lamb, would prove this with color of lamb will give away Snicker's base color.

 

[Baymule]

I love surprises! You never know what color you’re gonna get!

 

[Mini Horses]

In horses we call it "minimal pinto".....

Had a stallion who appeared to be a "washed out" buckskin...save a few white patches on a lower rear leg. But so many genetics!! The dark brown points, mane/tail ... Those tiny spots. A rainbow of colors and some wild pinto foals.

I used to get real involved with the horse colorings. Now, I just look at my goats and smile at every kidding.

 

[Ridgetop]

Let’s face it, white is boring. Uniform same color and pattern is boring.

I recognize a lot of mine depending on what flock they came from. The home bred ones are harder. That means I am getting uniformity in type though, so I am happy. The ones I really recognize are the ones with definite personalities. The fewer you have the easier to recognize facial and body structure in the flock. Having all white also makes it easier to cull bad temperament or faults. No need to keep a particular color pattern hoping to produce more of the same.

I am considering getting a paint branding kit so I can sort and brand their numbers on them with paint. Easy then to ID. LOL

 

[Margali]

So lovely Cocoa gave me some more clues on Mr Snickers. Close visual inspection shows no color spots even super tiny ones. So he is Bb with agouti wht pattern (Option 1) before.

Cocoa is bb,aa+s,++.

 

[Mini Horses]

Whatever he is, Cocoa id sure pretty! Love the white face on that brown body.