Latest news
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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.
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Signet Database
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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
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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
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Useful manuals and articles
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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.
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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.
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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.
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