The breeding structure of the British sheep industry 2012, which analyses the results of a survey completed by nearly 10,000 wool producers registered with the British Wool Marketing Board, gives an insight into the popularity of different breeds and how the industry has evolved over time. It is the fifth such survey looking at the structure of the sheep industry, which has been conducted by various institutions since 1975.
The report gives an insight into the influx of imported breeds and compilation of new breeds, plus looks at how these breeds are mated to understand breeding decisions. This data, combined with the past four surveys, demonstrates how environmental, political and economic influences have shaped this structure to meet the needs of both domestic and export markets.
“Over the past 40 years, the quest to develop the perfect sheep breed has resulted in a very dynamic sheep industry in Great Britain,” said EBLEX beef and sheep scientist Poppy Frater.
“The results of the latest sheep breed survey are a testament to the resilience of the industry as it continually evolves to adapt to external change, while remaining focused on producing what the market wants.”
The analysis contained within the report will help breed societies understand the influence of their breeds on the commercial sheep industry and help organisations such as EBLEX target research and development and knowledge transfer efforts to meet the needs of the industry.
Download a copy of the report HERE
