The Folly of Embryo Transfers

[Pistonbroke]

What about folk E T ing swale ewes, breeding mules to get consistent runs of bonny faced glimmer lambs. Is that genetic progression or vanity progression.

Remember going to a place from newton rigg in 1990 where they sponged hundreds of swale ewes and AI'D them to their best crossing blue face tup

 

[neilo]

Out of interest, we hear of breeders flushing ewes a couple of times in the same season. Can the amount of embryos be the same each time or is it a given the second flush will provide less?

Ime if a ewe responds well to the superovulation drugs, then she will do repeatedly. I don’t think there’s any reason why they wouldn’t respond just as well a month after the previous flush, assuming they are still within their natural breeding season, in good condition, etc.

I understand that there are Swiss Valais and Dutch Spotted sheep that are being flushed regularly, to satisfy demand for those ‘pretty’ genetics, for home and export trade.

 

[neilo]

Remember going to a place from newton rigg in 1990 where they sponged hundreds of swale ewes and AI'D them to their best crossing blue face tup

That would be a whole different ballgame to flushing ewes to produce crossbreds though. I understand there’s been plenty of hill ewes AI’ed to BFL rams for various hill sheep improvement schemes.

 

[gatepost]

Although I don't agree with the breeding aims and methods of a lot, they are only supplying a market, which seems insatiable, massive shearlings have little to offer profitable prime lamb production, just as lambs with massive birth wts and other non desirable traits also have little use, when you have lambs that you could drive a bus between the front legs making 20 grand, the breeder won't worry.

 

[Pistonbroke]

That would be a whole different ballgame to flushing ewes to produce crossbreds though. I understand there’s been plenty of hill ewes AI’ed to BFL rams for various hill sheep improvement schemes.

Yes,I was wondering whether the two processes had been mixed up in the conversation. How could et ever be viable for breeding mules?

 

[Fourofakind]

If an embryo doesn't hold in a recipient ewe, what are peoples thoughts on using that ewe as a recip again the following year?

 

[neilo]

If an embryo doesn't hold in a recipient ewe, what are peoples thoughts on using that ewe as a recip again the following year?

I’d imagine plenty do, so can’t see why it would necessarily be an issue.

My recips go into a quiet field after implanting, away from footpaths/dogs, with a ram to catch returns. They lamb a bit later than the other recips, and just before my April lambers start, so they just disappear into that mob with their crossbred lambs. I then pull some more in from the (Mv accredited) commercial flock in the Autumn, which may or may not be the same ewes.

 

[Werzle]

I think people should fail there farm assurance if the annual vet review shows they have had over a certain percentage of C section most years tbh

 

[NZDan]

Don't forget the number of ETs done on Leicesters
Have you seen how many BFL lambs are born from mules?

Isn't that how they bred crossing types?

 

[M-J-G]

Isn't that how they bred crossing types?

I've yet to see any Blackie traits come through, Blackie wool seems to come through even when it's very far in the background
One breeders told me it was some Teeswater and Kerry Hill that were fed in to colour them.

 

[neilo]

I think people should fail there farm assurance if the annual vet review shows they have had over a certain percentage of C section most years tbh

Really? You want to give those self important pen pushers even more power to decide over our practices?

I usually get talked into the financial wisdom of letting my vet perform a CS every three years or so. Does that make me a better farmer than someone that does a CS more frequently, or just more ruthless in weighing up the financial implications vs animal welfare?

 

[gwi1890]

I think people should fail there farm assurance if the annual vet review shows they have had over a certain percentage of C section most years tbh

would not make a difference you don’t have to be farm assured you don’t have to fork out £160 a year for fancy stickers and a few pennies more per Kg for fat lambs and a wasted day with a person and a clip board ,I still do bit wonder why I bother!?

 

[Paul E]

I think people should fail there farm assurance if the annual vet review shows they have had over a certain percentage of C section most years tbh

I did hear of a well known pedigree man up scotland had a % of his SFP docked due to excessive amount of ceasarians. Elective c's, rather than 'welfare' c's.
As for red tractor- They need a REALLY big pot of Vaseline, so they can stick their heads right up their

 

[Werzle]

Really? You want to give those self important pen pushers even more power to decide over our practices?

I usually get talked into the financial wisdom of letting my vet perform a CS every three years or so. Does that make me a better farmer than someone that does a CS more frequently, or just more ruthless in weighing up the financial implications vs animal welfare?

I would rather see people fail FA for a welfare issue than an admin mistake ffs.

 

[Werzle]

I did hear of a well known pedigree man up scotland had a % of his SFP docked due to excessive amount of ceasarians. Elective c's, rather than 'welfare' c's.
As for red tractor- They need a REALLY big pot of Vaseline, so they can stick their heads right up their

Elective ones are the problem, the vet isnt given a choice.