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Genomic recording of Sheep

Tim W

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
Read the full report you lazy s*d :)

Here's my concise version (edited by a few pints)--

1) Genomics are a great tool but need lots of good performance data behind them
2) The process isn't cheap
3) It can add up to 15% accuracy to your data 'specially in unproven stock
4) Lots of hard to measure traits can be assessed (eating traits etc)
5) NZ Romneys have a great database and have done lots of work with genomic selection (but it's a waste 'cuz they have all that wool ;))
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Here's my concise version (edited by a few pints)--

1) Genomics are a great tool but need lots of good performance data behind them
2) The process isn't cheap
3) It can add up to 15% accuracy to your data 'specially in unproven stock
4) Lots of hard to measure traits can be assessed (eating traits etc)
5) NZ Romneys have a great database and have done lots of work with genomic selection (but it's a waste 'cuz they have all that wool ;))

I've read the report (thanks Rob:)), just hoping for a run down on today's bun fight.
 

Gulli

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset
Seems to me that it is obvious that the potential of genomics is huge ---however, as always, this must be balanced against cost.
well yes but I didnt really have any knowledge of genomics. I would like to think that as it becomes more widely used the cost would come down
 

Gulli

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset
I've read the report (thanks Rob:)), just hoping for a run down on today's bun fight.
the gist was if you want to get into farming, sheep are a good first step, annoy people until they give you a chance and its not easy, not everyone can/should make it.

what was the name of that chap that bought his sheep on card @Tim W ?
 

Tim W

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
the gist was if you want to get into farming, sheep are a good first step, annoy people until they give you a chance and its not easy, not everyone can/should make it.

what was the name of that chap that bought his sheep on card @Tim W ?

Michael Blanche-----read his Nuffield report on the farming ladder
 

d.iainm

Member
Location
south uist

Tim W

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
"Micheal is on here somewhere, dont know his username tho or if he comes on much. Good to hear he buys on figures....;)

Like lots of people he is just an onlooker ---- pity as I would enjoy winding him up in public :p
 

d.iainm

Member
Location
south uist
What's the context---I don't know the expression
"David was the first to develop sharefarming in the UK, the first to May lamb and the first to drift lamb. He was an innovator as well as a character. He had really testing times but saved himself by his history of integrity and his determination to find solutions"
He was talking about a David Sullivan from the UK that he had met.
 

Tim W

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
"David was the first to develop sharefarming in the UK, the first to May lamb and the first to drift lamb. He was an innovator as well as a character. He had really testing times but saved himself by his history of integrity and his determination to find solutions"
He was talking about a David Sullivan from the UK that he had met.

Drift lambing---having a set of fields for lambing in and drifting the sheep around them

So, start with 100 ewes in field #1 , after a couple of days when say 15 have lambed you open the gates and let the un-lambed ewes drift through to field # 2, when 15 of them have lambed you let the un lambed ewes through to field # 3 etc

The idea being that you have less mis-mothering due to the lambed ewes being left with lots of room ---tried this and found it to be more hassle than it was worth. You end up with plenty of mis mothering when you 'drift' the ewes

Some people do it with success
 

d.iainm

Member
Location
south uist
Drift lambing---having a set of fields for lambing in and drifting the sheep around them

So, start with 100 ewes in field #1 , after a couple of days when say 15 have lambed you open the gates and let the un-lambed ewes drift through to field # 2, when 15 of them have lambed you let the un lambed ewes through to field # 3 etc

The idea being that you have less mis-mothering due to the lambed ewes being left with lots of room ---tried this and found it to be more hassle than it was worth. You end up with plenty of mis mothering when you 'drift' the ewes

Some people do it with success

First I have ever heard of it i just do it with the Dog seperate of a few that have lambed at a time sending them to another field.
 
It sounds like your "drift lambing" is what we in NZ called shedding-off. This was very popular decades ago when the NZ sheep flock was not as functional as it is now. Since breeders have drastically reduced lambing problems with associated increased mothering ability, the need for intensive shepherding is no longer required. Therefore this system faded away.
Farmers on lowland now use set stocking at lambing according to scanning results and many start boxing paddocks up for rotationally grazing after about a month (this coincides with tailing) to have better control of feed quality to prevent lamb growth depression due to seed head emergence.
 

Tim W

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
Drift lambing was a pain for all involved (sheep and man) ---used it once or twice but sheep are best left alone at lambing

GO---you just need to improve your sheep a bit so they don't need tailing ;)
 

d.iainm

Member
Location
south uist
shedding off is what i would call it. I have small in bye are but large common area so shed off the lambs groups at a time then one they at least a week old let them head for the hills. But very much small scale.
 

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Webinar: Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer 2024 -26th Sept

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On Thursday 26th September, we’re holding a webinar for farmers to go through the guidance, actions and detail for the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer. This was planned for end of May, but had to be delayed due to the general election. We apologise about that.

Farming and Countryside Programme Director, Janet Hughes will be joined by policy leads working on SFI, and colleagues from the Rural Payment Agency and Catchment Sensitive Farming.

This webinar will be...
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