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"Rosey"
is currently the epicenter of our breeding program. We purchased
him at 5 months of age and have had the privilege of showing him
to most of the current AOBA judges who agree that he deserves to
be a major contributor to gray genetics. There are no spots or
blemishes in this blanket and Rosey is holding his micron. We are breeding for
"solid" rose gray and that is what he is doing with his outstanding
cria (most of whom are solid rose gray!) He has also produced
a six time color champion (before the age of 10 months) in FAWN!!!
We are getting ready for Blaze's second
year of showing and cannot wait! All together, his cria have won
14 color championships already and half of them have not yet been
shown...
A
quick review of his pedigree going back 3 generations, reveals
that there is not a one that hasn't been an excellent producer and
held their micron too!
Not only is he a remarkable tuxedo grey with a solid
blanket, minimal neck markings, but an unmistakable tuxedo
melanocyte migratory pattern BUT he is also a heterozygous BPG.
His
blanket is uniform rose grey, with incredible consistancy and
sustained fineness (See
2008 OFDA graph). The
histogram is remarkably consistant from chest to tail and blanket
quality fiber from neck through thigh. These same characteristics
are now showing up in his cria.
His 2008 shear yielded 12.2 pounds (pix at right). His 4th shear,
2009, is 4 inches but only 315 DAYS growth i.e. shorn 50 says
earlier! His histogram for '09 is still impressive. He's sure not
losing it.
*A
quick look at his histogram
page will show why. He is holding a fine micron. See
2008 OFDA graph, which shows that he started the year at
22 microns, increased his micron as expected through the winter,
and after 1 year of extensive breeding returned right back to 22
micron at age 3. Small wonder...all his predecessors going back 3
generations had held their fineness into maturity.
More
significantly, as seen from his 2008
Yokum McColl, his butt sample shows still only 2% of his
fibers over 30 micron. This is further confirmed by his skin
biopsy which shows that the difference between his primary and
secondary follicles is only 7.4 microns!
His
grid sample (6 tested spots) also confirms that the uniformity
starts at his neck and extends to his hips...literally head to
tail! Talk about usable fiber!
You
must see his offspring!!. He is consistently
reproducing his color and fiber genetics. It is easily
appreciated, even in his young cria - the brightness,
density, definition and especially uniformity of color and
fineness which GnR had as a cria from ears to tail. The majority
of his cria are grey (out of solid non-gray females), females (for
whatever that's worth...we are thrilled to have his males), and
solid with no spots in their blankets - just like dad. GNR
has produced 14 Color Championships in his offspring thus far...
"Isn't that what a breeding program is supposed to
be about?
-
Ken and Julie
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