|
11/07/06
A new recording scheme, instigated by the Suffolk Sheep Society
for its members was launched this week (Monday July 10) at a
QMS sheep breeding open evening, hosted by leading Suffolk breeder,
Robbie Wilson, of Aberdeenshire.
Host of the QMS breed improvement evening, Robbie Wilson of the Srathisla flock, where figures are increasingly important selection criteria.
 |
Sam Boom, Signet Manager, told some 30 pedigree and commercial
sheep producers, that the unique agreement between MLC Signet and
the Suffolk Sheep Society will provide recording to all Suffolk
Society members, UK and Irish, as part of their overall membership
service.
This development follows a two year recording promotion drive which
has seen a 35% increase in the number of Suffolks recorded with
Signet; and debate sparked by leading New Zealand sheep breeder,
Murray Rohloff, at the Society’s highly successful Spring
Conference. It will enable every Society member to enjoy a basic
recording system as part of his or her overall membership, with
effect from January, 2007.
SILVER SERVICE
The basic, “Silver,” recording package, which will
be part of the overall membership, will include the ability to
record and create EBVs for the following traits:
- Prolificacy
- Birth weights
- Lambing ease
- Lamb vigour
- Ability to suck
- Single weighing
GENERATING GOLD
The full, Gold, recording service will include a second weighing,
together with ultra sound scanning for:
- eye muscle depth
- fat cover
- muscularity
- (optional CT scanning -whole body scan)
Members subscribing
to the Gold scheme will receive a voucher, to the same value as
the Silver service, towards their fee.
Robbie Wilson, of the renowned Strathisla flock, welcomed the
move: “The
carcase is the most important driver and figures are essential
to achieving the carcase quality today’s market requires.
We only have to look across at the beef industry to see this.
“Most of the top breeders are now recording, but the wealth
of data which will be created by the new service will be unprecedented
and of huge benefit both to individual members and more importantly
to our commercial customers. Certainly more buyers are paying attention
to the ‘Suffolk’s figures to kill campaign’ for
and I think that will be borne out at the Society’s sales
which start next week in Edinburgh.”
Commenting on the new services, Sam Boon added: “This is
an excellent example of Signet working in partnership with it’s
customers to meet their needs. The Suffolk Society’s new
service will enable all members to contribute to the development
of the Society and benchmark themselves against the whole breed
performance. Furthermore the Silver recording scheme builds foundation
records which can be used if Gold recording is embraced at a
future date.”
Says Suffolk Sheep Society commercial director Robyn Hulme: “This
arrangement is possible because the BASCO database has been built
to accommodate new and different traits and made simple by the
shared use of the data between the Society and Signet. There
will be extra work inputting the data, but we firmly believe
that the benefits to all members are worth the effort.
“The Society’s total commitment to breed improvement,
including both basic performance and management traits, is reinforced
by this revolutionary move, which continues the Society’s
drive to deliver ‘figures to kill for.’”
 Control
Worm Build-up with Careful Flock Management
Plan Early Lambing with Good Budgeting in Advance
Gene Markers Boost Performance
Boost
Returns with Better Planned Ewe Replacements
|
