Southdown Meeting

1. Southdown Meeting Lucy Webb Wilson and Samuel Boon

2. Agenda • 2013 performance and breed progression • Getting connected… data entry by breeders, Pediweb • Performance: connectivity and accuracy • How and why do non-UK genetics perform they way they do? • Getting the balance right: growth rate, muscle and fat • Marketing and promoting the Southdown as a Terminal Sire • The www.signetsouthdowns.com website

3. Signet bits....... • Southdown achievements to date • Current connectedness / linkage • Testing the unknowns / why do rams get the EBVs they do? • Getting the balance right – index weightings

4. Achievements – Genetic Trends

5. Plus more smaller breeds

7. Genetic Trends Positive progress since 2008 in all traits across the Southdown breed.

8. Index since 2008

9. Growth EBVs Since 2008 Increase of almost 1kg in Scan Weight EBV in 5 years

10. Carcase EBVs Since 2008 Increase of approximately 0.3mm of muscle depth EBV across the loin

11. Connectedness

12. “An outstanding sheep is more likely to be found amongst 5,000 ewes than in a flock of 60.” Within-flock analysis Whole breed analysis

13. Comparing performance Across Flock 2 BLUP Flock 1 Within Flock 3 = a contemporary group = genetic links between related animals

14. Which is the best ram for growth rate? Relative to Mark Mark 0 Simon – 2kg David + 3kg

16. Where do unknown rams come in?

17. Unknown Animals Unknown animals are just that “unknown” Assuming no parents recorded or other relatives known – they get the same EBVs as all other “unknown” males or females on the database – but with accuracy value of “0”. .....But they can move fast.....

19. How do rams get the indexes they do?

20. Range of factorsOwn performance (if known)Relatives performance (if known)Progeny performance (if known)

21. Benoit – 215680:090019Index:368 • 8week weight EBV ---- 2.14kg • Scan weight EBV ---- 3.84kg Looking at the raw data within the ram’s contemporary group for 2013 Lambs achieved similar weights to two other sires despite being 17 and 26 days younger respectively. Lambs were on average approximately 3-4kg heavier at 8 weeks

22. Benoit – 215680:090019 • Muscle Depth EBV ---- 2.37mm • Fat Depth EBV ---- -1.12mm Looking at the raw data within the ram’s contemporary group for 2013 Despite achieving high levels of muscling across the loin the lambs were leaner than those by other sires Lambs achieved similar muscle depths at scanning to two other sires despite being 17 and 26 days younger respectively.

23. WEBBELLIS FlockEAST DEAN DEAN – 165:092132Index:238 • 8week weight EBV ---- 0.92kg • Scan weight EBV ---- 2.91kg Lambs grew strongly to scanning gaining 3kg more than those that had a similar weight at 8weeks by a different sire Lambs achieved slightly above average growth to 8 weeks when compared to their contemporaries

24. WEBBELLIS FlockEAST DEAN DEAN – 165:092132 • Muscle Depth EBV ---- 2.38mm • Fat Depth EBV ---- 0.28mm Lambs achieved above average muscle depths when compared to others of similar age by different sires The lambs we slightly fatter than their contemporaries leading to the positive fat EBV

25. Index weightings Getting the balance right

30. ATAN Penalty for Fat Depth EBV

31. Other Signet things

32. Main source of reports, technical updates and news Twitter @SamBoonBreeding Flickr Webinars (future)

33. Print your own charts

34. Download your own EBVs

35. Electronic File Upload • BADUT • Working for • Lambing information • Calving information • Lamb weights • Retagging and census work • Ewe mature weights

36. Vision of the future for data entry and reporting On-line New Web Based Service BADUT Formatted Spreadsheets Paper As now Reports Electronic Paper