PROGRAMS Registry HAVE PUREBRED SUFFOLKS BUT NEVER REGISTERED?
In 2015, USSA Board developed a Suffolk genetic recovery program under the breed improvement plan as it became apparent that a number of Suffolk breeders had not registered their Suffolks for many years. Usually this was due to generational change and a long lapse in connection to the registry. The Suffolk GAP program provides an avenue to record unregistered Suffolk ewes in the flock book at 75% Suffolk with application acceptance. The percentage program will be used to track generational progress in the GAP program. These ewes, over time and generations, are eligible to become purebred (white paper) when using a registered purebred ram in the subsequent breeding seasons after entry. All animals registered through GAP will have a permanent designation on their registration paper noting their original descent. GENETIC AQUISITION PROGRAM (GAP) MUST BE A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF THE USSA OR UJSSA. CERTIFY TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE THAT THE SHEEP BEING CONSIDERED FOR GAP ARE OF SUFFOLK DESCENT. OFFSPRING OF THESE EWES ARE ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR REGISTRATION IF SIRED BY A REGISTERED SUFFOLK RAM. PAPERS HAVE NOT BEEN MAINTAINED ON THESE EWES FOR GENERATIONS.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
• Enrollment and acceptance into the program is limited to one time. Ewes are enrolled, accepted, and recorded as a complete group. There is no additional entry for ewes in subsequent years. • Fill out the background questionnaire about these ewes. • An inspection, either physically or photographically, will validate their phenotype and determine their eligibility for registration. • Once ewes have been approved for registration an inventory list
of initial entry ewes that includes tag number and birth year should be submitted to the association. To register lambs, complete the application for registration, noting GAP on the form.
RECORDS HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED ON THE EWES AND YOU ARE CONFIDENT THAT THEY ARE SUFFOLK IN THEIR GENETIC MAKEUP.
GAP SPOTLIGHT
AJ OLSEN • MANILA, UTAH
f l o c k s since I have enrolled, and have also sold
ewes and work toward a full registry, giving me more opportunities to market to the purebred crowd. I still have a bigger market towards range rams, where the registry has no bearing but it is nice to be able to market my stud rams and ewes to the local purebred customers. The process was pretty simple. I had been looking into the GAP program and while at the California Ram Sale, Ron Alves gave me some additional information and also looked over the rams I had brought to the sale to see if my Suffolks would be a good fit for the program. I sent in additional photos of the flock and worked with USSA Executive Secretary Amanda Everts to get everything squared away. Since enrolling my initial ewes, I have continued to register their progeny and have many 100% registered ewes in my flock. I have been able to sell ewes lambs on a consistent basis to purebred
Growing up, my dad and older siblings had a registered Suffolk flock so they could compete at the Wyoming and Utah state shows. After my siblings graduated and were no longer
stud rams to range ram producers looking to keep a purebred portion of their operation. Now that I have my own little family started and showing interest in the operation, the ability to go to state shows requiring registrations is also a nice bonus to allow my kids to be involved in the Suffolk breed. I am glad I went through the program, something that is fairly simple to do to open some marketing doors is worth it, especially in the sheep business where any opportunity to reach more people should be sought after.
going to FFA/4-H shows, our family stopped registering the ewe flock, though we continued to use registered rams. Our Suffolk ewe base always centered around producing range ram type genetics. Even before enrolling into the GAP program I continued to strive for a clean Suffolk character in my ewes. The GAP program allowed me to register these
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