Recording & Registering Sheep with GSBANA

  • Gotland Lamb
  • Gotland Ram Lamb

The GSBANA registry recognizes purebred Gotland sheep genetics from several different countries, including Sweden, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The registry also accepts all colors, including traditional Gotland grey, fawn, white, black and brown, and allows transfers of Gotland cross sheep, which meet the record/registration requirements.

Sheep can be entered into the GSBANA registration book in three different categories: Foundation sheep, Recorded sheep and Registered sheep.

Only GSBANA members in good standing may submit paperwork to record, register, transfer ownership, or transfer sheep from another registry. 

Likewise, record/registration papers will be issued only to GSBANA members.

Only the breeder can record/register sheep with GSBANA.

Please visit our Forms & Applications page for registry instructions and fees and to register your sheep with GSBANA.

Foundation Sheep

All foundation ewes and rams will be from one of the ten approved foundation breeds or first generation progeny of animals from these breeds, or crosses between those ten breeds.  Registration papers for the foundation animal shall be submitted with the application to record the foundation animal. Unregistered first generation progeny of animals from the approved breeds or crosses of those breeds require breeder documentation to verify the pedigree and shall include copies of the registration papers of parents with the application to record the foundation animal.

Recorded Sheep

Recorded stock – prefix “R”

Sheep may be recorded in the registry if they contain some percentage of Gotland breeding, and derive from eligible foundation stock. Recorded sheep need not adhere to the GSBANA standard.

Registered Sheep

Registered Gotland stock – no prefix
Registered ewes must be at least 87% Gotland, and rams must be at least 87% Gotland.
All registered sheep must adhere to the GSBANA standard.

Registered 81.25% Gotland Ewe - Pacific Fibers Farm
Registered 81.25% Gotland Ewe

Transferring Registrations

Percentage Gotland sheep, already recorded or registered in another recognized Gotland sheep association, may also be entered into the GSBANA flock book and registry if they meet GSBANA breed and eligibility standards. Any foundation animal(s) in the sheep’s background must be from one of the ten recognized foundation breeds, and, if recorded in the original association after June 1, 2018, must also be registered in one of the acceptable foundation breed registries or be the first generation progeny of parents registered in one of those registries. To request a transfer, please submit the transfer fee and copy of the current record/registry for the sheep.

Determining Percentages

To calculate the percentage of off-spring, the sire and dam Gotland percentages are added together and divided by two.

The Gotland percentages will be calculated and shown to four decimal places (e.g. 82.8125%).

EXAMPLES:
A foundation ewe crossed with a 100% Gotland ram (artificial insemination) would produce 50% Gotland off-spring.
A 50% Gotland ewe bred to a 75% Gotland ram would produce 62.5% Gotland off-spring. (Record will show 63%)
A 75% Gotland ewe bred to a 90.625% Gotland ram would produce 82.8125% Gotland off-spring. (Registration will show 83%)

IMPORTED SEMEN – Approved Gotland rams whose semen is imported for use in North American Gotland breeding programs will be registered with GSBANA. These rams will have the suffix “AI”.

IMPORTED EMBRYOS – Imported Gotland embryos are eligible for registration. The dam and sire will need to be registered with GSBANA. The lambs will have a suffix “EM”.

 AI Ram Registration Guidelines

  • Require all AI rams to submit the following documents to the GSBANA board to be eligible for approval to the GSBANA registry.
  • Rams originating from countries with EBVs and a formal evaluation system in place must submit a complete 4 generation pedigree with EBVs and formal evaluations done to the GSBANA board for approval by the board. Final approval will be voted on by the GSBANA board.
  • If the country of origin does not have a formal EBV and evaluation system in place then in addition to the 4 generation pedigree the breeder must also submit a series of photos taken at approximately 110 days and another series of photos taken 30 to 90 days before collection.
    • The 2 separate series of photos must each include the following: 
    • Full head shot showing ear tag.
    • Photo of mouth structure and teeth from the front.
    • Front shot showing chest, feet and leg structure. 
    • Full side view including full topline and side view of feet and legs.
    • Hind shot showing rump and rear feet and leg structure.
    • 3 separate shots of fleece taken at shoulder, mid ribs and lower hind leg.
    • Photo of ram shorn.
    • These photos along with the 4 generation pedigree must be submitted to the GSBANA board to be eligible for approval and acceptance into the Gotland registry.