Mount Rushmore Consortium Five unique NSIP flocks band together to increase the productivity of Polypay ewes though the use of the Pounds Weaned Index EPD Elm Creek Polypays Lambshire Polypays DB Farms CAK Polypays West Cyclone Farm Polypays with a Purpose!
Mount Rushmore Consortium What it is--how it happened. Larry Bremer had seen the genetic progress made by Mike Park s group by sharing genetics. It seemed logical do the same thing on a larger scale. John Anderson saw merit in the plan. Chris and Anna Kaeb and Devon and Brandon Grosjean also wanted to be part of this interesting venture. Such a venture would not not have been complete without Jerry Sorensen.
MRC What it is How it happened The first step to accomplishing any dream is seeking knowledge from the smartest people available. An appointment t was made with Dr. Kreg Leymaster, Dr. Larry Kuehn, and Dr. David Notter. Larry and Jerry met Leymaster and Kuehn at the Meat Animal Reseach Center in Nebraska. Dr. Notter, Anderson, Grosjean, and Kaeb attended via conference call.
MRC What it is How it happened. Larry commented that he felt like he was at the feet of the Mount Rushmore of the sheep industry, Notter, Leymaster, Kuehn, and Sorensen. Larry, John, Chris, Devon, and Brandon all thought it was really funny. Jerry is slowly warming up to it. Th t i h M t R h That is how Mount Rushmore Consortium came to pass.
Why Pounds Weaned EPD? Our discussions with Drs. Notter, Leymaster, and Kuehn convinced us that the Pounds Weaned Index EPD was the truest measure of a ewes total productivity. It takes into consideration: Weaning Weight-genetic genetic potential to for growth to weaning. Maternal Milk-mothering ability and milk production Milk & Growth-index combining Weaning Weight and Maternal Milk Number Born-genetic potential for multiple births Number Weaned-ability to carry lambs born to weaning
MRC Plan Here is the plan in a nutshell based off of our meetings with Notter, Leymaster, and Kuehn 15 distinct sire lines to prevent inbreeding Rotating each sire line to new MRC flock each year Replacing the sire line as soon as a son has superior Pounds Weaned Index EPD
MRC Biosecurity All MRC flocks are closed to ewes outside of MRC Elm Creek, Lambshire, DB Farms are tested OPP free. CAK and West Cyclone have never had a animal test positive West Cyclone and Elm Creek are tested Johnies free No MRC flock has had a case of footrot MRC flocks work together to increase the biosecurity status of all the member flocks Our biosecurity is as important to your flock as ours
Meet the MRC Flocks
Elm Creek Polypay Larry Bremer and Family 60 ewes Truman, MN Larry is a true believer in NSIP and likes to make thing happen. He has built his flock, in south west Minnesota, through wise sire select including YT19 and Uno, the top selling ram at the 2008 CNNSIP sale. He works tirelessly on bioscurity for his flock and is tested OPP, Scrapie, and Johnes free. I have been working on getting the right people and the flocks on board for this genetic project. Larry said After the Clay Center meeting it quickly came together. MCR can make difference for the Polypay breed. Larry helps make this endevor both entertaining and meaningful.
Lambshire Polypays John and Besty Anderson 100 ewes Shreve, Ohio John has been improving his Polypay flock for over 24 years. He has been one of the leaders in performance Polypays and his genetics run deep in pedigrees of some the top rams in the country. John along with Larry Bremer were the driving force behind the Mount Rushmore Consortium. John, Betsy, and his father Jim, were honored by the American Sheep Industry Association as Environmental Stewards of the year in 2009. NSIP and MRC are two great tools for improving the economically important traits of Polypays under a variety of management systems. Pounds of lamb weaned is often called the Holly Grail of lamb production and will be our focus. We are confident that by using these available tools we will further improve the genetics we have available for the commercial sheep industry.
DB Farms Polypay Devon, Brandon and Reilly Grosjean 50 ewes Wooster, Ohio The Grosjeans are relatively new to the Polypay breed. John Anderson helped get them to a running start with a great set of ewes. Devon s dad, Noel, also enjoys helping Devon and Brandon with their breeding program. There goal to to raise great Polypays through the use of NSIP and EPD's. It is great to be part of MRC. Brandon and I can learn a lot from the old guys in the Consortium. she laughed.
CAK Polypays Chris and Anna Kaeb 30 ewes Buckley, IL Chris and Anna s growing family live in east central Illinois. Chris farms with his family and wanted to add sheep to his part of the operation. Knowing they were definitely interested in the production end of raising sheep, Polypays on NSIP were exactly the breed they were looking for. In 2008 he selected a group of 10 WC732 daughters at West Cyclone to start his flock. They turned out to be an excellent set of ewes with the EPDs to prove it. Each year when the new EPDs come out, Jerry calls and tells me he should have kept those lambs. Smiling Chris adds, With the MRC those genetics will get back to him. The Kaeb flock is truly one of the great young flocks in the Polypay breed. Look to see the Kaeb family with rams at the Center of the Nation sale this summer.
West Cyclone Farm Mary and Jerry Sorensen 30 ewes Harlan, Iowa West Cyclone Farm sets in west central Iowa. When they got in the sheep business in 1992 they want a maternal breed and a breed that kept EPDs. After visiting with Dr. Dan Morcial they settled on Polypay. Jerry used Chuck Ripley as an early mentor as they built their flock. Because we are a small flock and cull heavily on EPDs, we can concentrate on some very elite ewes. commented Jerry. They have sold breeding stock to 20 states and Canada. Jerry enjoys helping new breeders get started. He is also on the board of NSIP. They are excited to work with the MRC.
Opportunities with MRC Sheep Ethnic Markets Farmer-Feeder Market Western Range Flock Replacement Ewe Lamb Production Seedstock producers.
Ethnic Markets MRC rams can be chosen with early grow in mind to fit the ethnic market of your choice. MRC rams can be selected to sire daughters with tremendous Milk and Number Weaned EPDs. More lambs to market with increased pre-weaning gain and milk production!
Farmer-Feeder Feeder Market Commercial producers, especially with contracts, want to hang as Commercial producers, especially with contracts, want to hang as many fast growing Choice 2 carcasses as possible. Ewes out of MRC rams selected with EPDs based on Maternal Milk, Number Born, and Pounds Weaned will help you reach you goal. 240% drop rates and ewes with lot milk will get get more speckled faced lambs in the center of the grid. A MRC sired ewe has never met a Terminal sire she didn t like!
Western Range Flock MRC sired ewes have proven adaptability, longevity, and productivity in range situations. Selecting MRC sired ewes with strong Number Weaned EPDs helps you find the ewes that can mother up, milk, and get her lambs to weaning. She can do this in some pretty harsh conditions. Whether her lambs are straight bred or speckles, MRC sired ewes helps you pull more lambs of your range.
Replacement Ewe Lamb Production If you are in the business to raise and sell replacement ewe lambs, MRC has the rams that will fit your EPD goals. Producers currently using MRC rams like the results. Not only are they get highly productive ewe lambs to sell, but report back that the whethers are working very well as fat lambs also. If you have replacement ewe lambs out of MRC sires please let us know. We would love to assist you with your marketing.
Seedstock Producers The Polypay gene pool, especially sheep with elite EPDs, is starting to shrink. This is one of the reasons for the development of MRC. Fifteen distinct sire lines were carefully selected based off of NSIP records. The MRC flocks are looking forward to sharing this germ plasma with other seedstock producers. We are looking forward to growing the breed together.
Mount Rushmore Consortium Improving the production capability of Polypay ewes through the use of the Pounds Weaned Index EPD. Polypays with a Purpose!