Join sheep breeding programme

SHEEP breeders with 10 pedigree ewes or more seeking better information on which to base breeding decisions are advised to consider joining the Pedigree Sheep Breed Improvement Programme 2005/2006, which has just commenced.

Breeding for faster growth rate, leaner carcases and better conformation will yield higher profits in the decoupled sheep farming sector, according to the Department of Agriculture and Food.

Recent Teagasc research showed that progeny from a ram with a high Lean Meat Index (LMI) are, on average, 1 kg heavier at weaning than lambs from an average ram. This adds €400 to the overall monetary gain from using a high LMI ram over its normal lifespan.