Record prices achieved at virtual ram sales
During the summer, we launched some new estimated breeding values (EBVs) for sheep farmers. To explain what these were and how useful they could be, we hit the road to talk to farmers about them at a series of workshops.
Farmers attending the workshops heard how careful ram selection can easily lift the value of lambs by £3–£5 a head, which would be worth an extra £1,000 over a ram’s working lifetime.
The role of genetics when selecting for profitability and growth from forage
Assessing a ram’s genetic merit is key when looking to maximise profitability within the flock and accelerate growth from forage
Farm Event - New approaches to genetics and grassland
Join us at Dupath Farm, with RamCompare project farmer Adrian Coombe, to hear how to achieve better results by making changes to suit your system. These include maximising grazing potential whilst investigating the genetics that can increase your system’s output and profitability.
Farm Event - Ram selection to maximise lamb growth rates from forage
Join us at Thistleyhaugh, one of our RamCompare trial farms, along with Harry Sordy from our North East Beef and Lamb Monitor Farm to hear how this new genetic information can be used to find the most profitable sires as we debate the importance to carcase quality relative to speed of finishing, on a farm that strives to optimise lamb growth rates from forage.
Thistleyhaugh Farm, Longhorsley, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 8RG, Tuesday 08 August 2023, 3:00pm – 6:00pm
New breeding values for abattoir traits revealed by AHDB’s Signet Breeding Services
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board is to make new breeding values for abattoir traits an integral part of the National Terminal Sire Evaluation through its Signet Breeding Services, following significant analysis of abattoir data. This new approach coincides with the release of the latest RamCompare results at a webinar on 11 May 2023 (book online).
Catch up here - https://youtu.be/QW1OoJPK-_c
Signet will be in attendance at NSA events over the summer
Signet will be in attendance at all three major sheep events this summer, come and find us for a chat. Whether you are looking to record your flock or want to find out about the latest findings from the RamCompare project.
RamCompare Results Webinar 11th May 2023
Join Signet Breeding Services for the annual results update from the RamCompare project’s UK progeny test, with updated results from the year seven data collection.
For the first time results will be released online as 38,500 abattoir records from 400 RamCompare sires are incorporated into the National Terminal Sire Evaluation. SRUC’s new breeding index will be launched as the project steps up a gear and makes abattoir derived breeding values more widely available.
RamCompare nominations open for 2023
RamCompare, the National Progeny test for Terminal Sires is entering its eighth year and we invite you to nominate new rams for natural service or semen for use within an artificial insemination programme
What is a reduction in days to slaughter worth for a spring lambing flock?
Within our terminal sire breeding programmes we are often asked to put a commercial value on the genetic improvement we make in enhancing growth rate and conformation. While it is relatively easy to understand the value of increasing a lamb’s carcase weight, carcase conformation grade or changing fat classification, it is far harder to determine the impact of reducing days to slaughter.
RamCompare update October 2022
We have had a busy summer collecting data from our nine commercial farms involved with RamCompare this season and it has been fun getting to know how our new farms operate as we have worked alongside them collecting 8-week weight and 12-week weight /ultrasound scanning data from their lambs. This season we are collecting data from over 5,600 lambs, from around 95 different sires. Mating plans have been confirmed and many rams now through the quarantine and being put out with ewes.