Low Input Central Progeny Test

[NZDan]

As some will have been aware NZ Beef and Lamb Genetics has been running a Low Input Central Progeny test. It has just completed it's 2nd mating ( I'm scanning the ewes today) and the initial results from the first lamb crop are being released next week.
The aim if the CPT was to look at increasing sheep profitability by lowering costs, no docking, no dagging, no drenching being the ultimate aim. We are also looking at feed efficiency as well as normal production traits.
2019 born lambs were undrenched from weaning until the autumn and ram lambs were left long tailed, traits measured were, Survival, tail length and tail bareness, dag score, weaning weight, FEC, EMA, LW6, LW8, meat yeild(ram lambs, Viascan) Hogget estrus (ewe lambs with harnessed teaser rams) over the winter ewe lambs will be measured for feed efficiency and methane emissions.

There is a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Low-Input-Sheep-BLG-Progeny-Test-390828358442369/

And on Tuesday evening NZ time a virtual field day on zoom
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/8515919457840/WN_ZPcM8eFGRb2AdDJmmBYg7g

 

[NZDan]

 

[Woolless]

Would it not be easier just to breed from the ones with the bonniest heids??

 

[NZDan]

Would it not be easier just to breed from the ones with the bonniest heids??

Aye it would be.

 

[Guleesh]

I had no idea ewes built their worm resistance earlier than tups. Quite a few short tailed lambs here this year, now I wish I'd recorded them before ringing the rest, I already find it quite difficult to prioritize which traits to go for, now there's a few more things to consider... Very interesting though.

 

[NZDan]

First time we've had a chance to have a real field day.

 

[Agrivator]

Dan, this is not a novel idea by any stretch of the imagination.

Paul and Linda McCartney were doing exactly the same thing on Kintyre at least 35 years.

But they took it a stage further. While Paul was writing his hit ''Mull of Kintyre'', Linda was allowing her long-tailed shitty-arsed entire Suffolk cross lambs to spread their improved genetics among the neighbouring un-improved flocks.

 

[NZDan]

Dan, this is not a novel idea by any stretch of the imagination.

Paul and Linda McCartney were doing exactly the same thing on Kintyre at least 35 years.

But they took it a stage further. While Paul was writing his hit ''Mull of Kintyre'', Linda was allowing her long-tailed shitty-arsed entire Suffolk cross lambs to spread their improved genetics among the neighbouring un-improved flocks.

You're quite right it isn't a novel idea, but sheep flocks have got less worm resistant and more prone to dags over the last 50 years. Dags are one of the most time consuming and least pleasant jobs on a sheep farm, remove dags and you remove a hell of a lot of work.

 

[Guleesh]

Do I detect a bit of glossing over the lowered wool growth, and differences in fat and change in composition of meat and milk of animals with lower methane output? Are these things not important? If changes are detected that early on in the selection process then surely a continued drive for lower methane output (low enough to satisfy the whims of the markets that blame livestock for perceived climate change) will lead to more detrimental effects on livestock?

I find it hard to believe that methane can be removed or lowered by any meaningful rate from the equation without causing detrimental effects on the animals, and since there was plenty ruminants grazing the earth for a year or two before livestock farming began I don't believe there is any need to do so.

 

[Agrivator]

You're quite right it isn't a novel idea, but sheep flocks have got less worm resistant and more prone to dags over the last 50 years. Dags are one of the most time consuming and least pleasant jobs on a sheep farm, remove dags and you remove a hell of a lot of work.

Dan, one of the significant observations at the end of the video by one of the researchers was '' if sheep need looking after, most young farmers won't want to look after them''.

Which begs the question: if you don't want to look after sheep, why keep them in the first place?

I think I'll contact the NZ Prime Minister to suggest she could re-wild all the upland sheep country in NZ and save the NZ farmers from having to spend time with sheep.

 

[NZDan]

Dan, one of the significant observations at the end of the video by one of the researchers was '' if sheep need looking after, most young farmers won't want to look after them''.

Which begs the question: if you don't want to look after sheep, why keep them in the first place?

I think I'll contact the NZ Prime Minister to suggest she could re-wild all the upland sheep country in NZ and save the NZ farmers from having to spend time with sheep.

I suggest you write to her as an 8 year old, it seems it is children that she listens to.
But seriously why would you create work for yourself? We all look after our Livestock but if we breed sheep that have less management issues then it is better for both man and beast. Regardless of what country we're in better welfare is better welfare.

 

[NZDan]

Do I detect a bit of glossing over the lowered wool growth, and differences in fat and change in composition of meat and milk of animals with lower methane output? Are these things not important? If changes are detected that early on in the selection process then surely a continued drive for lower methane output (low enough to satisfy the whims of the markets that blame livestock for perceived climate change) will lead to more detrimental effects on livestock?

I find it hard to believe that methane can be removed or lowered by any meaningful rate from the equation without causing detrimental effects on the animals, and since there was plenty ruminants grazing the earth for a year or two before livestock farming began I don't believe there is any need to do so.

It was glossed over because there is at this time not a full understanding of the implications of these changes. We have to be aware of any unintended consequences, so far the changes in milk look positive.
Ironically the feeding behavior that is coming from the RFI work is potentially more exciting than the actual RFI work itself.

 

[CopperBeech]

We don’t dock, dag, and mostly don’t drench from weaning onwards and some will never get a drench.

 

[NZDan]

We don’t dock, dag, and mostly don’t drench from weaning onwards and some will never get a drench.

Are those results from genetics, management or a combination of both? How do you get on for performance and dags when worm burdens do get high?

 

[CopperBeech]

Are those results from genetics, management or a combination of both? How do you get on for performance and dags when worm burdens do get high?

They are wool shedders Dan and I can’t lay claim to the genetics, although I’ve messed about with them whilst they’ve been here. Been putting a lot of effort and money into getting the best rams I can buy with a focus on fec score etc

 

[CopperBeech]

We also operate clean grazing systems, rotational grazing, co grazing with cattle, cover crops etc

 

[CopperBeech]

Re high burdens - it’s interesting, they perform well and don’t scout right up till they suddenly scour and die kind of thing. If you don’t monitor it, it can kick you in the nuts as you get complacent.

 

[Tim W]

They are wool shedders Dan and I can’t lay claim to the genetics, although I’ve messed about with them whilst they’ve been here. Been putting a lot of effort and money into getting the best rams I can buy with a focus on fec score etc

We try to do the hard work so you can benefit

I have taken the same approach that we apply to the Exlanas (dag score, stress lambs to make the dags/worms measurable etc) with the Charollais types i have ---got to the stage where i only de-tail potential breeding ram lambs & i only do them because i don't think the UK ram buyers are ready for long tailed terminal sires yet
There is plenty of variation and it's easy to select and make fairly fast progress ---there are quite a few long tailed Charollais ewes out in the flock now with no dags or other problems

Even have a few Bob tailed Exlanas coming through now (this one from a set of triplets --2 were bob tailed and 1 longer but still above the hock)

 

[NZDan]

Genetic parameter analysis of bareness and tail traits in New Zealand sheep

The physical traits of tail length, bare breech and bare belly are highly heritable traits in sheep. A number of breeds exhibit sufficient variation in the

academic.oup.com

 

[Tim W]

Genetic parameter analysis of bareness and tail traits in New Zealand sheep

The physical traits of tail length, bare breech and bare belly are highly heritable traits in sheep. A number of breeds exhibit sufficient variation in the

academic.oup.com

Highly heritable
Saves a job
Easy to measure and achieve
Breeders/farmers embrace ?