New Weight Recording Initiative for Lincoln Red Breeders

In 1969 MLC weight recorded 49 Lincoln Red cattle and 50 years later and with Signet Breeding Services at the helm, we now have a dataset numbering more than 17,000 records.

Things have changed in the last 50 years, we now use the latest statistical methods to assess our breeding stock, including the ability to assess the maternal performance of the cow for traits like ease of calving, milk production and longevity.

Yet, the core remit behind Signet’s recording service remains the same, which is the requirement to provide regular updates to breeders across the country that predict the genetic merit of their cattle.

In 2020 Signet relaunched its Beefbreeder service to provide online data entry to clients and the ability to access breeding values, reports and stationery at the click of a button. This service is now being made available to all Lincoln Red breeders.

A New Weight Recording Initiative

The Lincoln Red Cattle Society have recently announced their intention to provide all their members with free access to Signet’s services. As part of this new initiative with Signet, the Lincoln Red Cattle Society will fund the recording costs of any paid up Society member; effectively removing the financial barrier that may have previously limited smaller herds from engaging in weight recording.

Data collection services for Lincoln Red breeders using Signet will move entirely online. Extra data has been provided by the Society to support this work – including the provision of pedigree records to strengthen the genetic evaluation and enhance Signet’s cutting edge, inbreeding software.

Amongst the new services provided, breeders are being encouraged to provide cow weaning weights as the recording programme shines a spotlight on the efficiency of the Lincoln Red in her role as a modern suckler cow.

To help with the marketing of bulls, breeders can generate charts and family trees online as before, but now they can also list cattle and semen that they have for sale and produce data in a catalogue format to interest prospective bull buyers.

To see the Lincoln Red recording programme in action go to www.signetdata.com

For more information contact Laura Eyles at [email protected]