Latest RamCompare results reveal new leading tup
© Tim Scrivener With results from two breeding seasons now collated, the recent RamCompare analysis shows a slight repositioning of the top rams.
Since November 2017, the data set has been updated to include records from later-lambing flocks and analysis has been modified to enhance the way hybrid vigour is taken into account.
It is the carcass weight EBV that has seen reranking, affecting their overall index.
See also: Why cross-bred tups are on the rise
Bridget Lloyd, RamCompare project co-ordinator, said the repositioning will happen each year as more rams are included in the trial, with data regularly coming in from the farms and abattoirs.
“Genetic linkage between years and farms is important for the project, so certain rams are used for more than one season. Artificial insemination with frozen semen is also used to ensure linkage, with some of this semen being made available to other recorded breeders to develop wider links,” said Ms Lloyd.
“Many ram breeders are following the project closely and access to this semen provides them with the opportunity to compare the genetic merit of their flock to those rams used on the project, as well as trying new breeding lines.”
Texels lead the way
The three top rams when ranked by overall carcass merit index are all Texel:
|
Ram ID |
AI/NS* |
Breed |
Owner/breeder (both if different) |
Number of progeny / farms |
Carcass weight EBV (range: 2.59 to 2.07) |
Carcass conformation EBV (range: -2.28 to 2.74) |
Carcass fat class EBV (range: -2.31 to 3.59) |
Carcass merit index (range: -13.36 to 13.90) |
|
Penygelli PAP1501802 |
NS |
Texel |
Alwyn Phillips |
67/1 |
2.07 |
2.08 |
-1.27 |
13.9 |
|
Handbank PRH1500573 |
NS |
Texel |
RM & EA Payne / Peter Baber |
67/1 |
1.75 |
2.22 |
-0.64 |
12.22 |
|
Roxburgh Shot Gun Willie EJR1101108 |
AI |
Texel |
Mr John Elliott / Messrs DM & S Prince |
142/3 |
1.43 |
2.57 |
-1.18 |
11.24 |
|
Source: RamCompare, AHDB |
||||||||
Penygelli, PAP1501802, is sired by Boghouse Ultramuscle, one of Alwyn Philip’s stock rams. Boghouse Ultramuscle was sold to RamCompare and is being progeny tested this year on the project farm run by the Edwards family in Wales.
Other breeds
The top Charollais and Suffolk rams ranked by carcass merit index are:
Charollais: Logiedurno Navigator 13ZNN07239 with a carcass merit index of 7.46
Suffolk: Hans Fokker 95 T79:13:095 with a carcass merit index of 6.49
The full results are available, broken down by estimated breeding value across all breeds (PDF).