AHDB Signet Breeding News
Signet breeding news

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year and reflect on a few of our successes from 2022. These include the launch of a new initiative with the Lincoln Red Cattle Society to provide performance redording services, the development of genomic breeding values as part of the Welsh Hill Ram Scheme and research relating to the inclusion of abattoir data in the National Terminal Sire Evaluation.


We have seen the completion of the ‘Shape the Future’ vote and plans are being developed to determine how levy income and wider AHDB resources will be used in the future. The Signet team are looking forward to catching up with breeders over the coming year, including many new ones, as our diaries start to fill. For those about to commence lambing and calving, we trust it goes well and look forward to receiving your data over the coming months.


Laura Eyles

Senior Signet Breeding Specialist

Samuel Boon, Animal Breeding Senior Manager (Signet) © Robert Smith
Latest news
What’s new for 2023?

The team of geneticists at SRUC regularly make recommendations on ways to enhance our evaluations and if it is going to help breeders to make better breeding decisions, then we try to take their advice. As a rule, we try and avoid making changes during a recording season, implementing most of these updates in the winter and early spring.

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Breeding for parasite resistance in sheep

In Autumn 2022 ten performance recorded hill flocks measured their lambs, assessing both individual FECs (for Strongyles and Nematodirus) and an immune response to worm challenge that is measured via blood samples, referred to as IgA. Measures were taken by farmers and vet and then assessed by Techion (for FEC) and Biobest (for IgA).

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What is a reduction in days to slaughter worth for a spring lambing flock?

Within our terminal sire breeding programmes we are often asked to put a commercial value on the genetic improvement we make in enhancing growth rate and conformation.


While it is relatively easy to understand the value of increasing a lamb’s carcase weight, carcase conformation grade or changing fat classification, it is far harder to determine the impact of reducing days to slaughter.

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Should I only breed from rams that are born as a twin?

At a recent meeting, commercial farmers with Dorset sheep were discussing how important it was to select a ram that has been born as a twin.


The number of lambs reared per ewe is a key driver of flock profitability, but simply selecting a ram because it was born as a twin will not guarantee increased prolificacy in his daughters. Selecting Signet recorded rams with EBVs for terminal sire and maternal traits enables farmers to make more informed decisions based on a ram’s genetic merit, which is a far better predictor of progeny performance.

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HDSBA Announce the Kelsey Trophy goes to the Bridgehaugh flock

The Kelsey trophy is awarded to a Signet recorded Hampshire Down flock who has made the greatest genetic gain this year. This year it has been awarded to the Bridgehaugh flock, the flock has an impressive Terminal Sire index flock average of 287, putting the lambs within the top 5% of the breed.

Read more >

Signet Database
Check out data deadlines for 2023

Signet’s recording scheme has been designed to make data collection simple and easy to fit around routine management activities. Our genetic evaluations rely on the accurate and timely submission of data either online or to the Signet bureau.


When do I submit data? | Sheep
When do I submit data? | Cattle

Monitor your flock and herd progress

Signet clients can produce genetic trends for their flock or herd for any of our measured traits and for rates of inbreeding. Click below to monitor your flock or herd's progress.

Sheep genetic trends 
Beef genetic trends


Useful manuals and articles
Recording birthweight and lambing ease

The ease with which a lamb is born has a big impact on lamb survival. Traits influencing lambing ease have a genetic component and Signet breeders now have the opportunity to record both lambing ease and birth weight. This manual provides technical information on recording birthweight and lambing ease.

Read more>
Getting the best out of recording

The quality of the Estimated Breeding Values produced for your flock are only as good as the data that has contributed to them. Some flocks put themselves at a disadvantage by not providing sufficient high quality data to reveal the quality of their sheep within the analysis. Find out how to get the best out of recording your data in this online article.

Read more>
Ultrasound scanning beef cattle

Ultrasound scanning services provide cattle breeders with the opportunity to assess the carcase quality of their cattle by measuring muscle and fat levels in the live animal. This information is then analysed to identify superior breeding lines.

Read more >
Vidoes
Data driving genetics, genetics driving the industry

In this video, Signet Breeding Manager Sam Boon explains how they use data to drive genetic improvement for the industry. This includes using superior breeding stock to improve profitability and resilience for the changes we are seeing in the industry.

Watch now >
Signet tutorial videos

Finding and using reports effectively

Entering lambing data online

Creating a Grassroots export file

Online data entry for cattle breeders

Podcasts
How cow temperament impacts calf performance
Listen now >
The role of CT scanning when making breeding decisions
Listen now >
Lambing, colostrum management and watery mouth
Listen now >
Events

21 February: Webinar - Reducing carbon emissions through breeding and genetics with Kim Matthews (BSAS) and Noirin McHugh (Teagasc)


25 March: Lincoln Red Sale at Melton Mowbray Market


28 – 30 March: British Society of Animal Science Conference (BSAS) in Birmingham


14 April: Dorset Centurion Sale at Exeter Livestock Market

2-3 May: Dorset May Fair at Exeter Livestock Market


10 May: NSA Sheep South West 2023


16 May: NSA Welsh Sheep 2023


7 June NSA North Sheep 2023


Look out for further farm events over the summer


Act now
Things to be doing this Spring
  • Keep an eye out for CT scanning dates and locations for 2023
  • RamCompare nominations opening soon
  • Ensure lambing and calving records are submitted ahead of weighing and ultrasound scanning visits
  • Have you liked the Signet Facebook page to keep up to date?
Contact us
The AHDB Beef & Lamb head office is based at:

AHDB Beef & Lamb
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
Stoneleigh Park
Kenilworth
Warwickshire
CV8 2TL

Telephone: 024 7669 2051
Email our head office
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© Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board 2023.

All content is correct at the time of publication.