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Sep
22

Kirjoittaja: Roosa Honkanen / Lampolauutiset

Oxford Down – the breed we raise – currently has ten ram lines in Finland: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, M, N and O. The latter two were brought into the country on our farm’s initiative: the N-line as a living ram, and the O-line as seed. Despite having all said lines in […]

Oxford Down – the breed we raise – currently has ten ram lines in Finland: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, M, N and O. The latter two were brought into the country on our farm’s initiative: the N-line as a living ram, and the O-line as seed. Despite having all said lines in our breeding system, it sometimes proves surprisingly difficult to avoid inbreeding.
In order to face this challenge, we launched a new project again this year to get new rams to the breed. Sirola’s Rudolf and Sirola’s Pontus, two fantastic youngsters, will be out of quarantine just in time for the mating season.

Both rams come from a Latvian breeding farm, Sia Mikaitas. The farm is administrated by two veterinarians, and it is one of the largest sheep farms in Latvia. Because of their professional backgrounds, the necessary procedures, blood tests and examinations related to the transfer were fluid and transparent. The local officials were prompt and flexible as well.
I would also like to take the opportunity here to give well-earned praise to Finnish authorities and partners for seamless cooperation, help and advice, as well as to our municipal veterinarians for taking care of the examinations and arrival inspections on our end.

I’m happy to tell a bit more about our new rams’ proud lineage: Pontus’ sire comes from Germany, and his sire’s dam comes from Great Britain. Rudolf’s sire’s line has been bred in Denmark, while the dam’s bloodline is British. Both boys were born in Denmark, and arrived at our partner’s farm a bit more than a year ago.
This marks another new page turned for our breeding farm, which we have managed for 20 years. Time will tell what kinds of results this initiative will bring to this magnificent breed.

Roosa Honkanen
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