Forward thinking for genetic success - from Sheep News, March/April 2005

High health status and a continued commitment to genetic improvement are what make Darryl & Rachel Stoltz's sheep flock a success. They raise replacement ewes under the Ontario Lamb Improvement Breeding Strategy (OLIBS) - a research-based genetic improvement program focusing on important economic traits in sheep.

The Stoltz's manage a 400-ewe flock on their farm in Wingham, Ontario.

What makes the Stoltz's operation unique is their team approach. They are one of three producers raising OLIBS as part of the OLIBS Replicating Breeders' Association (ORBA). Together with John and Eadie Steele of Norwood, and Neil and Heidi Bouman of Brantford, Ontario, the group manages nearly 2,000 breeding ewes.

"We market ewe lambs together, share advertising and promotional expenses as well as market successes," says Darryl, "This helps keep costs to a minimum."

Health and Breeding Strategies

OLIBS is a project unique to Ontario, originally developed by the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency (OSMA), the University of Guelph, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Ontario's sheep producers. The original goal was to develop a flock with strong multiple maternal lines and an advanced health status.

Genetics were pulled in from North America and overseas, crossing the Rideau Arcott and Polled Dorset breeds. Together, they resulted in a flock with excellent maternal genetics for reproduction, lambing and mothering ability, milk production and out-of-season breeding.

In 2001, the University of Guelph refocused their research facilities, allowing the OLIBS flock from New Liskeard to be relocated. The Stoltz's were successful bidders on the flock, after several proposals were reviewed by OSMA adding them to their existing OLIBS flock.

Since the acquisition, the Stoltz's farm has maintained both an excellent health status and breeding program to advance the genetic value of their sheep flock. They use Sheep Flock Improvement Program (SFIP) records to manage the breeding program and recognize high value animals.

SFIP records utilize data pertaining to the sire, dam and lamb to make comparisons on individuals and in the flock. When properly used, SFIP records can ensure that new additions will increase flock performance.

The ORBA also use a SFIP compatible software program called Ewebyte, which tracks health, lamb production and pedigrees for optimum flock management. These tools help Darryl determine Estimated Progeny Differences (EPD) for individual traits important to maternal production in sheep. EPDs are an estimation of the genetic value that an animal will pass on to its progeny for that trait.

By identifying the top one percent of rams for these important maternal traits, Darryl can retain the very best for breeding. Correctly identifying and breeding the animals with the best genetics means he has been able to produce lambs that will become exceptional breeding ewes, even better than the year previous.

Selecting animals in this manner also helps maintain uniform genetics in the flocks. Uniform genetics allows management practices to be more effective at the flock level.

To help record the data for SFIP and Ewebyte, ORBA are testing a portable computerized recording device, which is taken into the barn and stores information on-site. The device works with Radio Frequency Identification ear tags and easily transfers the gathered information to the main database, saving time and error associated with paper records.

Customer Service

Darryl and his partners often test management tools to make informed suggestions to their own clients. They perform on-farm trials of research-driven production techniques to ensure they are valuable for Ontario's production climate and OLIBS genetics.

"Before we recommend a management technique to other producers, we want to know if it is going to be successful as well as economically beneficial," says Darryl.

Beyond the initial sale, Darryl aims to ensure the continued success of his clients. ORBA provides management advice tailored to the OLIBS to help their customers be more successful

One such trial is using light day-length to improve reproductive success. Darryl extended the light days for several weeks, and then shortened them before breeding. He found the system worked well in his flock's conditions and environment. "We develop management systems to help our customers succeed using a systems approach", says Darryl. "We want to have the best after market support possible."

In order to continuously improve the OLIBS productivity and health, the group is looking to have all high index rams genetically tested for the scrapie genotype. By selecting breeding rams that carry the resistance gene, Darryl hopes to increase the resistance of his animals. The OLIBS sheep are already enrolled in the Ontario Sheep Health Program, which entails on-farm disease control and quality assurance practices that safeguard the flock's health status.

This attention to detail, advanced production standards and uniform genetics has resulted in repeat business for the ORBA, with ewe lambs being marketed in Ontario, Quebec, the United States and the Ukraine.

Family Farming

On the Stoltz's farm the flock is raised outside from May to October, rotating pasture paddocks daily. In the winter, they are fed corn silage and hay grown on-farm or locally. In 2005, Darryl and Rachel plan to lamb year round in manageable sized groups. This will create a continual flow of lambs optimizing the available space in the lambing and feeder barn facilities.

Sheep farming is relatively new to the Stoltz family, which includes three children, Lazarus, Hannah Joy and Keziah. While Darryl comes from a farm equipment background and Rachel was raised on a dairy farm, the couple were only introduced to sheep in 2000. They decided quickly that this was the profession for them and haven't turned back since. In 2003, they added the New Liskeard research flock to their farm, as a simple way of expanding quickly with animals of similar genetic merit. They admit the learning curve has been steep at times, but they are always looking ahead to the next lambing.

In the future, the Stoltz's want to keep strengthening their maternal genetic lines and expand the farm modestly. In turn, ORBA will be expanding the OLIBS genetics to include terminal sire lines. These will be separate from the maternal lines and focus on traits useful in meat production.

Flock Management

Pasture Based Flock
Darryl & Rachel are always looking for ways to extend the grazing season. Field rye is planted after corn silage and grazed in April. In May the ewes move to orchard grass pasture and then to alfalfa based pastures. Turnips are then planted in the field rye for grazing later on in the summer when the other pastures require a longer rest period due to a lack of rain. After the turnips are grazed in August, bin run mixed grain is planted for grazing in November - December. Usually the orchard grass is not grazed or baled after the middle of August in order to stockpile the grass for an October - December grazing. Darryl & Rachel intensively manage a rotational grazing.

Winter Nutrition

Ewes with lambs are fed a corn silage & baleage ration from a centre feed passage. Dry ewes are fed hay or baleage without grain.