RamCompare

RamCompare year six results have continued to show the correlation between Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) in terminal sires and commercial productivity in lambs.

Signet’s Shear Force research has also proven that the animal’s genes do influence tenderness and that measurements of tenderness can be used to produce breeding values.

RamCompare uses nominated performance-recorded rams from many breeds on commercial farms across the UK. RamCompare’s year six results demonstrate how rams with key breeding traits can optimise flock profitability. In four case studies flock profitability was enhanced by £1.98 to £5.17 per lamb; with some rams producing lambs that finished several weeks earlier than others.

The full results, which report the data collected and analysed from rams with the fastest growth rates, best conformation and most valuable progeny, will be presented in an industry webinar on 19 May, which is free to attend and open to all

The Antur flock of Texel sheep, owned by Aberystwyth University Farms, was one of the founder members of the Texel Sire Reference Scheme.  This scheme, started in 1990, introduced performance recording and genetic evaluation to improve growth rate and carcass quality, characteristics of major importance for commercial lamb producers. 

The fifth-year results from the RamCompare project reveal how rams with key breeding traits can drive productivity and optimise flock profitability and demonstrates how commercial producers can use specific estimated breeding values (EBVs) to identify rams with a high genetic potential and prove their worth when assessing financial impact.

Join us at 7pm on Thursday 20th May to hear the latest results from RamCompare and our plans for the future

To sign up head to the AHDB website https://ahdb.org.uk/events/ramcompare-five-year-results

New rams and farms sought as RamCompare Phase III funding announced

Improving efficiency and reducing costs are both key drivers for any business. But for sheep breeders involved with the RamCompare project, investing in a ram with the right genetic merit for their system has proved to tick both boxes.

After the initial five years of research, funding has now been confirmed to allow the third phase of the project to get underway later this year.

Fourth-year results of the RamCompare project reveal how sires with key breeding traits can drive productivity and optimal new sire purchases.

The latest update shows a great spread of rams among the most recent lists of trait leaders. Signet Breeding Manager, Sam Boon, urges breeders to focus on those traits that deliver the greatest profit to their system, and source recorded rams with the right EBVs to deliver them.

Join AHDB and Samuel Boon and Bridget Lloyd for a webinar to reveal the latest RamCompare project results.

The webinar will:

• Explain how the EBV’s currently available to ram buyers can influence the carcase attributes of their progeny
• Demonstrate the financial value of genetic improvement through a series of case studies
• Launch the latest RamCompare results, which lists the leading sires for each trait
• Show ram buyers how they can select and source recorded rams

RamCompare results will be released on 13th May

Join Sam and Bridget for a webinar to reveal the latest RamCompare project results.

Sign up here to join us or get a link to watch at a later date - https://ahdb.org.uk/events/webinar-ramcompare-project-2020-results

For the first time in the UK, ram breeders will have access to breeding values that focus on traits rewarded further down the supply chain, including primal weights of the loin and haunch and meat tenderness.