Support “Seek the Standard” over the coming season

The ‘Seek the Standard’ campaign has already taken off for the 2018 ram sale season with top genetic merit stock sporting our range of identifiers at premier breed sales across the country. As we approach many of the main commercial sales, it’s time to think about the sales you have entered and how you’re going to market breeding stock to stand out against the crowd.

Gold-plus, gold and silver identifiers are designed to be worn round the neck of an animal and will identify animals in the top 5%, top 10% and top 25% of their breed, based on index. High-index rams can increase profitability by £3-4 per lamb. Over a ram’s lifetime, this is an extra £1,000.

The identifiers are part of the ‘Seek out the Standard’ campaign, which encourages breeders to Seek, Check and Review to ensure they buy rams with high genetic merit.

Matt Harding, pedigree breeder of Bentley Suffolks, has used the identifiers and said: “The 2017 campaign gave us another opportunity to make our stock stand out at sales. The gold and silver identifiers made it easy for buyers to spot high-index rams at a glance.

“We’re looking forward to trying out the new gold plus identifier this year, which will really highlight rams with some of the most productive genetics in the breed.”

Once breeders have identified rams with top genetics, they should check the ear tag identity of the animal and review its Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) with the breeder, using the sale chart or online at SignetData.com

Driving greater on-farm uptake of genetic potential by increasing the use and understanding of EBVs is a key activity in the AHDB Beef & Lamb 2017-2020 strategy.

Signet Breeding Services have made all identifiers, which are designed to be worn around the neck, available to Sheep Breeder clients for free. Email [email protected] to place your order.