UPGRADING RULES - Approved 6/22/07

1. Object

   The Gotland Sheep Breeders Association of North America (GSBANA) supports the development of Gotland Sheep that meet or exceed the GSBANA Standard. The development consists of the original crossing of specific non-Gotland Foundation ewes with Gotland rams through imported semen, and breeding subsequent generations using increasing percentage Gotland animals and imported Gotland semen.

2. Foundation Ewes

   The Foundation ewes used in the first cross must be purebred ewes from the following nine (9) breeds, or ewes produced from crossing these breeds with themselves and/or with Gotlands. No other breeds or crossbred breeds are allowed to have their progeny recorded or registered with the GSBANA.

   • Northern Short tailed Breeds
     • Shetland Sheep (S)
     • Icelandic Sheep (I)
     • Finnsheep (N)
   • Longwool Breeds
     • Wensleydale (W)
     • Lincoln (L)
     • Cotswold (C)
     • English Leicester (E)
     • Border Leicester (B)
     • Bluefaced Leicester (F)
     • Teeswater (T)

3. Determining Percentage

   The sire and dam Gotland percentages are added together and divided by two. This number is the percentage Gotland of the offspring. For example, a 50% dam crossed with a 75% sire results in a 62.50% offspring. A 62.5% ewe crossed with a 75% sire results in a 68.75% offspring. Animals will be recorded or registered with their blood percentage calculated from the parents. The Gotland percentage will be displayed in pedigrees as rounded to the nearest whole number. Percentages will be calculated from the actual, non-rounded percentages.

4. Registration Procedures

   Only GSBANA members in good standing may record, register or transfer sheep with the Association

   An animal is eligible to be included in the North American Gotland breeding program as follows:

   • Foundation ewes (and rams) - prefix "F"
     All Foundation ewes (and rams) must be listed with the GSBANA, and will have up to a two letter suffix assigned(shown in Item II) representing their breed or major breeds if a crossbred. If applicable, the first letter is the breed of the sire and the second letter is the breed of the dam.
   • Recorded stock - prefix "R"
     All Recorded stock will be some traceable percentage Gotland with Ewes up to 75% Gotland and Rams up to 87.5% Gotland.
     First cross lambs sired by use of imported 100% Gotland semen will be recorded as 50% Gotland. Successive generations will be recorded or registered if they come from parents who are recorded or registered with the GSBANA.
     Recorded Animals need not adhere to the GSBANA Standard, although greater merit shall be given to animals that most closely resemble the GSBANA standard.
     The ewe lamb known as #253 Lil' Chops, belonging to Laurie Andreacci, white in color, born on 9/21/04 as a result of LAI from Zorro (purebred Gotland) and #232 Molly (Hampshire), is eligible to be Recorded in the GSBANA Flock Book by virtue of being conceived prior to the formation of GSBANA and choosing the Foundation Breeds.
   • Registered Gotland stock - no prefix
     Ewes at least 75% Gotland blood, and Rams at least 87.5% Gotland blood may be registered.
   • Sheep submitted for GSBANA Registered status shall meet the breed standard set forth by the Gotland Sheep Breeders Association of North America. Otherwise worthy sheep who do not meet the GSBANA standard may be Recorded with the Association and used in breeding programs. This would include sheep with patterned fleece, fleece color other than gray, sheep with atypical tails, horns or excessive white spots, but not sheep with jaw deformities, undescended testicles or other known genetic abnormalities.
   • Gotland rams whose semen is imported for use in North American Gotland breeding programs will be registered with GSBANA at no charge. These rams will have the suffix "AI".
   • At some as yet undetermined future dates, the registry may be closed to further additions of foundation ("F") and recorded ("R") animals.
   • Registered Gotland sheep with a genotype of QR at codon 171 will be designated "Ram or Ewe of Merit".
     Registered Gotland sheep with a genotype of RR at codon 171 will be designated "Elite" rams or ewes.
   • If the codon 171 status is known at the time of registration, it will be noted on the registration.

5. Examples of Foundation, Recorded, and Registered Numbers

   Prefix	Number	Suffix	Type	Breed	Percentage
   F	123456	S	Foundation Ewe	Shetland Sheep
   R	123456	50	Recorded Animal	Gotland	50%
   	123456	88	Registered Animal	Gotland	87.5%
   	123456	AI	Imported Semen	Gotland	100%

Upgrading Rules Unanimously accepted 6/22/07, with modifications as discussed on 6/22/07. Additional modifications added per 092207 Annual Meeting. Modification to add the ewe #253 Lil' Chops to the Flock Book as a Recorded 50% Gotland as voted on at the 092207 Annual Meeting completed 5/20/08.

Teeswater sheep added to the Foundation Breeds by member vote after Sept. 26, 2009.
Use of Foundation Rams allowed by member vote after Sept. 26, 2009 AGM.
Acceptance of sheep from other US Gotland Flockbooks will be allowed if each sheep meets these upgrading guidelines and the GSBANA standard - approved by member vote after Sept. 26, 2009 AGM.

Page last modified August 5, 2010.