2002: In November of this year, I visited Tami Mulder's Justalit'l Farm located in N/W Illinois. There, I met Bramble Dixen, a black, naturally polled shetland ram. I was fascinated by this ram. At this time, I had no idea that polled shetland rams existed, and I couldn't help but wonder why this occurance wasn't being actively propagated by some shetland breeders.
2003: At this time, we also raised babydoll southdowns in addition to shetlands. I had many visitors come out to see the babydolls. Many people compared the two breeds side by side, and commented how much more they liked the shetlands, but they didn't want horned animals. I began to think about how polled shetlands could offer a useful alternative to the babydoll.
2004: Tami advertised two polled shetland ram lambs for sale, both moorit. I made arrangements to buy them both. Upon picking them up, I was pleased by the conformation and fleece on both lambs. Later in the year, one ram (Griffin) grew snail scurs and was sold to a breeder in New Mexico who is also working towards polled shetlands. I kept the other ram, Gallifrey, and conducted a test breeding over a few ewes for 2005 lambs.
2005: I was pleased with Gallifrey's small lamb crop.
I also obtained another polled ram, Walnut Rise Malcolm. With the help of shetland sheep friend Gail Former, I obtained a snail scurred Dixen son (Justalit'l Boomerang) from Michigan's UP, and with the help of Gail and Stephen Rouse, I obtained a daughter of Walnut Rise Shakespeare (Malcolm's polled son). This very typy ewe, North Wind Netty, had a ewe lamb by her side. I retained this ewe lamb, Lil'Country Josephine, and was pleased to see her produce our only polled ram for 2006, by Gallifrey.
2006: I used almost all polled rams this year, as I was now confident that polled rams have no issues with lack of breeding prowess, no fertility issues, or hermorphoditism.
Out of 8 ram lambs, I have one who is at least half- polled with very small scurs. (Gallifrey X Josephine). I will monitor and take notes of horn growth on all ram lambs we had born this year. Both Malcolm and Gallifrey threw 50% horned, 50% scurred, indicating that they are both genetic half-polls (carrying one horn gene, and one poll gene).
I also obtained three Dixen daughters, Justalit'l Grace (black), Justalit'l Twinkle (white), and Justalit'l Windy Bear (musket). Along with Boomerang, I am confident that Dixen's bloodline will be preserved.
I have also purchased five F2 Roban Dillons from Stephen Rouse in Allegan, MI.
Dillon is a UK polled carrier ram, providing new polled bloodlines to North America.
My purchases are a black gulmoget ram lamb with almost non-existant, pin-point scurs, a katmoget ram lamb with bone knobs, a grey gulmoget ewe lamb, and two black ewe lambs.
I also obtained a moorit yuglet sokket half-poll by Sheepy Hollow Zorro from Bluff Country Shetlands in Minnesota. So now I can continue with a spotted line! I'm very excited about being able to work on polled shetlands and continue working with my favorite color patterns.
2007:We are officially "all polled" with our rams, having moved on all the hornies. The majority of our ewes used this year, with the exception of just a few, are possible poll carriers. We will be phasing out all known pp ewes, and retaining F1, F2, F3 poll generations. Ewes throwing ram lambs with the smallest scurs will be retained.
Results: Out of 14 ram lambs, 7 matured with either small bone knobs, or smooth polls. A few had scurs that may grow into longer scurs.
The ram lambs with larger scurs or horns are all out of pp ewes. Horned ram lambs, with one exception, were culled. All known pp ewes were moved on into new homes.
2008: We used Octavian and Pompey Magnus again heavily this year. The 2007 lambs produced by these two rams were just to good to not use them again. Fleeces, conformation, and tails were improved tremendously with the Dillon genetics. Test breeding with Silvio had favorable results as well, so he will be retained for future use. A scurred caped flecket was imported from Pennsylvania, and a poll carrier ewe from Arizona was purchased for some fresh bloodlines. A polled moorit Jamison son (Hickory) was purchased from Carol Bator.
Results: 16 shetland ram lambs. 9 polled, 2 horned, 4 large scurs, 1 with bone knobs.
2009: This year, we used Eragon & Hickory heavily, and test bred Bearclaw. I did purchase some pp ewes last year to improve fleece & conformation. They will be moved on when I have 2 ewe lambs out of each.