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.

To participate in the programme, flockowners were asked to apply to the Department by November 30, 2005 for all breeds other than Texel and Beltex, the closing date for which is January 15.

The fee for participation ranges from €222 for the first 15 ewes plus €1.90 per additional ewe in a one breed flock, to €253 for the first 15 and €1.90 per additional ewe in a two breed flocks. For three breed flocks, the fee is €285 for the first 15 and €1.90 per additional ewe. Full details and application forms are available from the Livestock Breeding Section, Department of Agriculture and Food, Farnham Street, Cavan.

Launching the programme, Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan said there has been a very encouraging response to incentives in the National Genotype Programme, designed to raise the level of genetic resistance to scrapie in the national flock. The offset against the cost of genotyping sheep is higher for flockowners in the Breed Improvement Programme than to others.