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Breeding Better Crossbred Sheep

Published: Thu, 02 Dec 2004

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Research Note Full Title

Breeding better crossbred sheep
Carcass quality can be changed by genetic selection in conventional breeding programmes.  This has been shown clearly in terminal sire and hill sheep breeds.  Very little research has been done on the longwool crossing breeds, despite their major impact on UK lamb production.  This has now been addressed by this major collaborative project funded by Defra and MLC which commenced in 1997.

Objectives

The project aim is to develop a selection index to improve carcass quality of crossing sire ("longwool") breeds and their progeny, while maintaining the valued maternal traits of mothering ability, litter size and longevity.

Approach

Phase 1 - Production (1997-2000)
Over three years, 4500 matings took place between hill ewes (Hardy Speckled Face and Scottish Blackface) and 45 performance recorded Bluefaced Leicester ram lambs to produce crossbred (Mule) progeny at three sites in Wales.  Rams were selected from within the Penglas Bluefaced Leicester group Breeding Scheme that were extreme in ‘lean index’ and/or conformation, to reflect the full range of carcass characteristics of the breed.  Growth and ultrasound measurements were taken on all lambs; nearly 2500 wethers were slaughtered and carcass traits were assessed, whereas 1845 of the ewe lambs were distributed equally over 3 sites to be assessed for lifetime productivity.

Phase 2 - Evaluation (1999-2004)
At SAC Edinburgh, ADAS Rosemaund and IRS Aberystwyth, the Mule ewes are being evaluated for reproductive and maternal traits, by crossing them in equal proportions to Charollais, Suffolk and Texel sires.  In the first four seasons half of these sires had a high index value and half had a low index value to allow a comparison between performance of high index offspring and low index offspring.

Phase 3 - Longevity (2005-2006)
The remaining Mule ewes will be mated for another two seasons to the same terminal sire breeds as in Phase 2, but using high-index rams only.  The focus will be on detailed recording of health status and reasons for culling of ewes.

Outcomes

Achievements

The project so far has demonstrated important carcass benefits in Mule wethers (Phase 1) as well as terminal sire cross lambs (Phase 2) from selecting high index sires.  Full evaluation of Mule ewe maternal traits is still underway.  Results will allow carcass as well as maternal traits to be included in an optimum way in a selection index tailored to the place of the crossing sire breeds in the UK stratified industry.

Sponsors & Partners

Research Sponsors

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Meat and Livestock Commission ( Eblex, QMS and HCC), the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders’ Association, the British Texel Sheep Society, the Suffolk Sheep Society and the British Charollais Sheep Society and Charollais Sires Ltd

Research Partners

SAC, ADAS Rosemaund and Phllpeiran, Institute of Rural Studies (IRS) Aberystwyth