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Maternal ability assessment set to improve
Sheep and lambs
"The maternal ability EBV provides producers with a way to assess this commercially important trait".
New approach takes into account lamb's eight-week weight

New research will lead to 'major improvements' in the assessment of maternal ability in sheep, according to beef and lamb levy body EBLEX.

Research commissioned by the organisation, looking at the Lleyn and Dorset breeds, identified the need for a better way to assess the genetic potential of flocks for maternal ability.

The updated approach is being rolled out to all breeds recorded by Signet Breeding Services in 2015.  It takes into consideration the direct and maternal genetic influences on a lamb's eight-week weight, as well as environmental influences.

The analysis of eight-week weights will consider:

  • The contemporary group in which lambs are reared – incorporating their flock and year of birth, as well as their sex
  • The number of lambs being reared by each ewe
  • Age of the ewe
  • Direct genetic influence on lamb growth rate from sire and dam – this becomes the eight-week weight EBV
  • Maternal genetic influence on lamb growth rate from dam – this becomes the maternal ability EBV
  • Temporary environmental influences on the lamb
  • Permanent environmental influences on the dam

The organisation say that the maternal ability EBV is designed to identify breeding lines where ewes express superior performance as mothers in terms of their ability to influence lamb growth rate in early life.

They add that it is expressed 'independently of prolificacy', however it will take into account that a number of lambs that a ewe is rearing. By taking this into consideration, the maternal ability of EBVs of ewes producing singles/multiples are not biased in any way.

EBLEX breeding specialist Sam Boon said: "Without access to detailed lamb weight records it is very difficult to assess a ewe's genetic merit for traits like milk production and maternal care, and virtually impossible when selecting rams.

"The maternal ability EBV provides producers with a way to assess this commercially important trait. This will help them avoid the purchase of rams whose daughters are likely to express poorer levels of milk production and rear lighter lambs as a result."

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.