FFC-045J "Celeste" Gray (Black), polled, twin.  Born 4-14-99.  Sire BLW-49G, Dam FFC-005G.  "Celeste" is shy , beautiful gray ewe.  She has a thick fleece and an good udder.  She was not bred last year which has given her extra growth which will help as she lambs this year for the first time.  She has a nice top line and a good confirmation.  She carries moorit and solid.  She may also carry spotting.

To the best that we can tell Celeste's genetic make up is as follows: 

Sire:BLW-49G, "Gunnar", Gray Moorit (M2P), twin. Dam STS-49B, Sire BLW-078D.  Gunnar is a big, beautiful  moorit/grey polled  twin ram  at Frelsi farm and is top ram among the polled rams.  Strong build with gorgeous fleece.  Friendly but reserved.  High libido, produces wonderful lambs with exceptionally lovely fleece.

Dame: FFC-005G black, polled, twin.  Sire SRX-37F (M5SC), Dam BLW-021C.

Because Grace is Gray and both her Sire shows gray, it means that both parents were carrying solid as their second pattern gene (which would not show as Gray is dominant to solid).  So Grace is black (Gray) but must carry moorit as her father could only pass on Moorit but her mother passed on black which is dominant to moorit.  It is not known whether either parent carries spotting.

Late evening on April 13, 2001, Celeste had twin lambs.  a Grey (black)  badgerface ewe and a spotted moorit badgerface ram.  The ewe lamb may be grey but it will be hard to tell for the next couple of days.  The ram lamb was very small and did not make it but it is still impressive that Celeste twinned as a yearling as she was not bred as a ewe lamb but is big enough now for twinning.  The spotted moorit badgerface had the same spotting pattern as his sire Panda.  Her mother has always been a consistent twinner.  Because the ram lamb was moorit and spotted, which are both recessive traits, that confirms that Celeste carries both moorit and spotting (as will her ewe lamb).

The thing that we really like about this grey badgerface polled ewe is that because she is showing the two pattern genes (grey and badgerface) passed to her by her parents, her lambs will get either grey from her or badgerface.  If she is bred to a solid ram then the lambs will be either grey or badgerface.  Grey badgerface also is one of the prettiest pattern combinations available in Icelandic sheep.  She will be a beautiful ewe for a flock focusing on color or grey in their flock.  If she does not sell we have already decided to keep her as she is very promising with her color and pattern and coming from good fleece lines and solid twinners.

*- We do not own this ram but he can be found at Frelsi Farm.   He was used as stud this season and was bred to our "Celeste" who we bought as a bred ewe.