The JCC Polypay Sheep Flock
John and Colleen Carlson Family
While sheep production was a part of John’s childhood and also by Colleen’s family in the late 1970’s, the JCC Sheep flock began in 1979 with the purchase of three Suffolk ewes. Yes, I said Suffolk ewes. The plan was to have a sheep flock that our children – Mark, Paul, Michael and Mary Ann -- could participate in as they grew up and learn about the care of animals, responsibility, nutrition, reproduction and work skills. Both John and Colleen were avid 4-H’ers in their youth and they hoped to someday have children that would also be involved in 4-H projects, including sheep. As Suffolks were the important breed in the showring at that time, they were selected for the 4-H project. As John has a Ph. D. in Animal Breeding and Genetics from Iowa State University, registered animals were chosen with the goal of producing top seedstock for the breed.Years have passed and the back porch wall is now filled with ribbons and in the house are numerous plaques and silver trays for sheep placings, judging awards and showmanship. Paul also won a state award for Leadership with a trip to Atlanta.
Over the years, in addition to 4-H shows, the flock actively participated in the Illinois Ram Test, as well as the showring. The type of lambs we produced did very well in production tests with the commercial sheep industry in mind, as evidenced by Illinois ram test results and also by high placings in the Illinois Premiere Lamb Contest, in which lambs are placed on a combination of growth and carcass merit. Commercial producers have been a great market for JCC Suffolk rams, with rams selling into seven states. The record price at the Illinois Ram Test was held for many years by JCC Suffolks. However, many producers, after purchasing two or three Suffolks rams, often asked where they could purchase a good white-faced ram to regain some of the heterosis from crossbreeding. After sending numerous buyers to various Polypay breeders, and of hearing of the good results from crossing Suffolks and Polypays, the decision was made to include Polypays into the JCC sheep flock. We are currently in the process of downsizing our Suffolk flock and increasing the size of the Polypay flock.
The first Polypays selected were two ewes from 4-Corners Polypays and two ewes from Diamond S Polypays, as well as a ram from 4-Corners. One of the ewes purchased from Diamond S Polypays, Diamond S 263, is the foundation ewe of JCC Polypays – all ewes currently in the flock trace back to this ewe through two of her daughters that were born twins to each other – JCC 411 and JCC 412. Subsequent rams were purchased of Diamond S Polypays genetics until the flock was dispersed. A ram bred by JCC Polypays, JCC803 was then used due to his high EPD values and the desire to keep the Diamond S genetics intact. An outcross ram, Sheeder SPP47 was then purchased at the National Sale in 1999. This ram was the result of the grading up program put in place by the Jim Sheeder flock. Sheeder SPP47 maintained the genetic performance of the Diamond S line while increasing the frame size and correctness of the flock. Another Sheeder ram, SPP15, was purchased at the 2001 National Sale, where he was the Champion Fall born ram. While SPP15 did not greatly increase the genetic performance levels of the flock, his lambs were some of the most correct and eye-appealing lambs of the breed.
With the increased interest by purebred and commercial producers in EPD’s, the Sheeder rams were followed by WC203 “Stacked”, a ram bred by Jerry and Mary Sorenson of West Cyclone Farms. We purchased half interest in this ram, using him for January-March lambs, while West Cyclone farms had him for breeding for the rest of the year. Stacked’s lambs maintained the correctness of the Sheeder base and brought back some of the Diamond S performance. The EPD values of the flock increased with the use of Stacked and the genetic ties to other flocks increased as well, which increased the accuracy of the EPD estimates. As numerous Stacked daughters were retained for the flock, he was used for only two years, but left a son in the flock, JCC 20601, that was used to produced the 2007 flock. Linebreeding to JCC 20601 tightened the genetics of the flock without greatly increasing the inbreeding values, creating a more uniform flock. Due to a health problem, however, we were only able to use JCC 20601 for one year. In consulting with Jerry Sorenson about the various bloodlines in the breed and rams available, Jerry suggested we purchase 2/3 of “Albert”, WC516. Albert had sired the top selling ram at the Center of the Nation Sale the previous August, selling to the Don Drewry flock. Albert also brought back some of the Diamond S and 4-Corner genetics that serve as our foundation. We were very honored to be able to purchase Albert and the fortunes of the flock have been greatly boosted. Because his daughters' EPD levels are significantly higher than those of the older females in the flock, we will be retaining most of his daughters from his first production, the 2008 year.
We plan to continue to use Albert and sons of Albert in the future, while looking for an outcross ram to keep the inbreeding levels somewhat low. Albert’s extremely high EPD values for weaning weight and adjusted 120-day weight, with good EPD’s for milk and number of lambs born, have propelled us to the top of the breed for EPD levels and yet we have been able to maintain correctness, thickness and eye appeal in the sheep. It’s always tough to follow up a good ram with one that’s better, but we know what we want, we have a plan for our flock, and we’re willing to work hard to reach our goals. We hope that you will be among the increasing number of breeders nationwide to include profitable JCC Polypay genetics in your flock.