Performance-recorded rams can boost returns, study shows

Using performance recorded tups, instead of selecting breeding rams purely on visual merits, can improve lamb performance and increase returns.

Results from Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS) two-year Scottish Sheep Strategy Better Breeding project found progeny from performance-recorded rams reaped returns up to £3 higher per ewe when compared to lambs from rams selected solely on looks by farmers.

The physical and financial differences between lambs sired by Suffolk tups within the top 5% of the breed, and those sired by Suffolk tups of unknown genetic merit, were recorded by Signet Breeding Services on three Scottish farms.

In almost every case the performance of lambs sired by performance-recorded rams was better. Benefits included faster finishing times, improved carcass weight and composition, increased lamb uniformity and more efficient growth.

The exception was at Wellheads Farm, Huntly, where there was a U-turn in the second year, with results favouring the Farm Choice tup by £2.04/lamb. “It’s most likely we just had a good unrecorded ram that came through. The challenge with unrecorded genetics is just that – we don’t know,” explains Sam Boon, Signet manager.

“If you want guaranteed success you need to buy a ram that has known figures.”
Kathy Peebles, QMS

Despite this, experts say the benefits of using estimated breeding values (EBVs) cannot be ignored.

“If you want guaranteed success you need to buy a ram that has known figures,” adds Kathy Peebles, livestock manager at QMS.

Mr Boon said there had been a “big step forward” in recent years, with more farmers buying tups based on EBVs.

It is estimated there has been a steady increase in the number of pedigree flocks now recording using Signet, with the number of recorded flocks rising from 620 to 700 in the past 18 months. Llen and Texel breeds have seen the biggest increase.

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