Promoting sheep genetics

Katie Thorley

Thinking positively

Photo: Geoff Simm

Sheep genetics are incredibly versatile

…though bigger isn’t always best!

KT & KEPublicationsShows

R&D Markets and sales

Pedigree and commercial

Website

Events

R & D

• FEC & CT support

• Combined breed analysis for terminal sires

• Electronic data transfer

• Genetic analysis of longevity in sheep

• Genetics of trace element deficiencies

• iSAGE

• New CT EBVs

• RamCompare

Farm excellence platform

Ram MOT

• Purchase in time for

treatments

• Quarantine

• Events

Markets and sales

Website

Events on farm

Information at shows

…and we will write the results on the sheep if we have to……

Example: Interacting with industry

…and 200 days later

What next

Promote RamCompare results Combined breed analysis

Commercial & Pedigree

Split the breeding messages• Buying a terminal sire manual• Buying a maternal sire manual

CT carcase traits

Work with societies

KT & KE

Publications

Shows

R&D

Markets and sales

Video clips

Moving forward

Webinars

Pedigree and commercial

Website

Events

Consultation for SQQ

Standard Quality Quotation (SQQ)

Weight bands – do they reflect current market?

Short survey - markets tab then top left

http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/markets/consultation-prime-

lamb-reporting/

31st December 2017

www.ahdb.org.uk

‘Inspiring our farmers, growers and industry to succeed in a

rapidly changing world’

Hybu Cig Cymru

Meat Promotion Waleswww.hccmpw.org.uk

Gwawr Medi Parry

Industry Development Officer

Swyddog Datblygu’r Diwydiant

HCC – Genetic Improvement

Hybu Cig Cymru

Meat Promotion Waleswww.hccmpw.org.uk

Historical GI Work

• Welsh Sheep Strategy

• Welsh Mountain Group

• Sire Reference Schemes

• Ram Vouchers

• EBV Workshops

Hybu Cig Cymru

Meat Promotion Waleswww.hccmpw.org.uk

CT Scanning

• 50% funding for PR breeders

• ~70 PR animals from Wales

• Mobile Scanner visits IBERS

• Increase

Hybu Cig Cymru

Meat Promotion Waleswww.hccmpw.org.uk

Cefin Pryce

• Performance Recording

• CT Scanning annually

• Huge benefits to genetic

improvement

• Increase accuracies and

confidence

Hybu Cig Cymru

Meat Promotion Waleswww.hccmpw.org.uk

37%

16%

47%

Yes, I have in the past but do not every

time

Yes, all my rams are from performance

recorded flocks

No, I have never purchased a

performance recorded ram

2016 Ram Survey

Hybu Cig Cymru

Meat Promotion Waleswww.hccmpw.org.uk

RamCompare

Hybu Cig Cymru

Meat Promotion Waleswww.hccmpw.org.uk

Future Plans

• Continue to:

»Advocate purchasing performance recorded stock

»Steer KT messages on the use of EBVs

• RamCompare Phase 2

• Encourage further funding for GI in the Welsh sheep sector

‘The aggregation of marginal gains!’

Communicating GeneticsQMS Plans for 2018

Emily Grant

Knowledge Transfer Specialist

Quality Meat Scotland

•Scotch

•BO

The Challenges

The Challenges

The Challenges

Ramfoozled by EBVs

CONFIDENCE!

How to Tackle

Need to Scotch the Myths

Need to help farmers identify their own BO

The Approach

Articles – Press

RamCompare results – Top Rams & CBA

RamCompare phase II

Publications

Update Exisiting

New?

The Approach

Events

Scotsheep 2018 – Ballantrae, Ayrshire

Monitor Farms?

EBV workshops –

linked with Live to Dead

Thank You

PROMOTING SHEEP GENETICS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

PROJECT OFFICER

DR ELIZABETH EARLESHEEP BREEDERS ROUND TABLE 2017

Overview Northern Ireland sheep industry

AbacusBio review - Sheep genetic progress

Current research areas

Knowledge exchange activity

Presentation Outline

Northern Ireland Sheep Industry

⅓ of NI sheep farms account for

almost ¾ of the ewe flock

Independent Review - ABACUSBIO

Major potential to improve the rate of genetic gain

Main reasons for low levels of gain:

‒ Very low levels of performance recording (2-3% of rams from

recorded flocks)

‒ Focus on key performance traits – especially within terminal breeds

‒ Lack of focus on maternal traits

‒ Lack of integration of commercial data

‒ Poor understanding of estimated breeding values

Current value of rate of genetic gain in NI ‒ valued at £495,000 per year

Sheep Genetic Progress

Increased and improved phenotypes – data, data, data

Commercial data from progeny test initiatives – CPT flocks

Increased focus on maternal traits

Standardisation of recording protocols within UK and ROI

Progeny test demonstration schemes

Establish systems for collection/storage of DNA from select animals

Recommendations

Current Research Areas

Optimising grazing strategies for Lowland and Hill grazing

systems – GrassCheck

Evaluation of the effect of sire estimated breeding value for muscle and finishing diet on progeny performance and meat quality

Collation of phenotypic data:

– Feed intake

– Measures of net feed efficiency

– Meat quality

– Saleable meat yield

Farmer Engagement / Dissemination

NSA Events

Website & Social MediaFarm Walks

(Hillsborough/Loughgall)

Scientific peer-reviewed publications

Press Releases (local & national press)

Farmer Booklets

• Understand how to use the breeding indexes

• Have a good knowledge of the science behind the index

• See the benefits of the index at farm level

Farmer-Led ResearchMaking a Difference for Generations