I have recently worked with a client who is seeing the affects of intense inbreeding beginning to manifest in her flock (infertility, lamb loss, dwarfism, lethal expression, supressed immunity etc.). The loss, both physical and financial is high not to mention the emotional toll to the shepherd. Needless to say, my client is making some dramatic changes.
A well-planned improvement program has been developed for the breed and hopefully FBA members will vote to make the program available to those members who need to make restorations to their flocks.
There has been an attempt to instill fear regarding the improvement plan by some that are concerned about the opening of the registry. Such commentary should be delayed until the program is released. How can one comment on what one has not seen or read?
Some are concerned about the "purity" of the American Finnsheep being diluted with such a restoration program, however I must state that the American Finnsheep is not a purebred breed; it is a composite developed by crossing several breeds already existing in North America at the time the initial Finnsheep were imported. The breed, as it exists in North America, is not purebred like the Finnsheep of Finland.
