Major changes to the way farmers evaluate the genetic merit of hill sheep are set to make the selection of hill rams easier and more profitable.
The Hill Ram Scheme, which is one part of Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales’ (HCC) Red Meat Development Programme, brings the latest technology to upland flocks in Wales, with the aim of strengthening the Welsh sheep sector through long-term genetic improvement.
In collaboration with the Hill Ram Scheme, sheep geneticist Dr Janet Roden has developed a new Welsh Hill Sheep Breeding Index to help identify animals that thrive in the hill environment and optimise the efficiency and economic performance of hill sheep. The new Welsh Hill Sheep Breeding Index has just been published online, and will be launched and discussed further as part of HCC’s webinar series on Tuesday 1 September.
Dr Roden explains, “The index takes into account the need to increase lamb growth rates, carcase weight and conformation, while simultaneously enhancing the maternal characteristics of the ewe and her ability to successfully rear lambs on the hill. Further research is planned to look at traits linked to lamb survival and ewe longevity.”
As part of the Hill Ram Scheme, Signet Breeding Services is about to relaunch its performance recording services for hill sheep producers.
Samuel Boon, who has been leading on the work on behalf of AHDB Signet says;
“A key change is a new approach to the assessment of muscle and fat depth measurements using ultrasound scanning. The evaluation of these important carcase traits will now be done on a liveweight adjusted basis to give them a greater commercial focus – as well as enabling ram breeders to enhance the carcase attributes of their hill sheep without increasing ewe mature size."
"The new analysis will be delivered on a monthly basis, meaning breeders and buyers always have the latest information at their fingertips – which in many cases will mean via laptops and smartphones through Signet’s new website”
Heather McCalman, HCC Programme Coordinator explains; “Performance recording schemes are important in helping commercial farmers select genetically superior rams for their enterprise. But performance recorded rams are vital in hill sheep breeding programmes where many of the economically important traits are expressed by a ram’s daughters and when buying a ram, are impossible to assess ‘by eye."
“Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) help reduce the risk of buying poorly-performing rams and help producers to match the rams with the right genetics to their flock requirements.”
The new Welsh Hill Sheep Breeding Index can be found on HCC’s website and will be the topic of discussion in the next webinar which will be held on Tuesday 1 September on HCC’s Facebook at 19:30. Heather will be joined by both Janet Roden and Samuel Boon as the Index is launched. The presentation will be followed by a live question and answer session.
HCC’s Hill Ram Scheme is one of three 5-year projects in the Red Meat Development Programme which is funded by the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.