Coloured Sheep

Some skill, some luck and lots of fun: sheep colour genetics is like a game of cards! This book explains the rules of the game. Assuming no previous knowledge, the book uses a game of cards to visualise the rules that govern colour genetics, introducing terminology on the way. What are genes and alleles? What is the phenotype of a sheep? What the genotype? The reader is introduced to agouti-pattern, base colour, and spotting and strategies are shown to identifiy them in the reader's own flock. This knowledge is expanded to show how it can be used to plan breeding for certain colours. More genes that influence colour are introduced later in the book and thought is given to preserving diversity within a breed while strategically increasing the presence of desirable traits in a flock. The book focuses on practical aspects. How to identify genotypes? Which animals should be used for test breeding? How can the knowledge be used for individual goals? Written by a molecular biologist and science communicator and co-written by a professional editor of scientific textbooks - both of them breeders of coloured sheep - this book uses an easily understandable approach to explaining colour genetics.

Irina Böhme was born on September 19th, 1973 in Rinteln. As a molecular biologist she worked with state-of-the-art DNA sequencing methods. In what sometimes feels like a parallel universe, she breeds sheep. Since spending time in Ireland as an Au-pair she has been fascinated with sheep. The old nordic breeds being most dear to her heart. That fascination led to travels - long and short - to some of the breeds' 'home turf': In order to learn about sheep, shepherds, their country and their history. Sheep colour genetics combines her interests in sheep and science and her passion for making scientific knowledge accessible to non-scientists.