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Report celebrates genetic advances in sheep industry
Pair of sheep
The report features success stories from farmers who have found huge benefit from flock recording.

Genetic gain 'having a real impact' at farm level

A report championing genetic advances in the English sheep industry has been published by AHDB Beef & Lamb.  

The report looks at the ten years since AHDB Beef & Lamb launched the Better Returns Programme (BRP), which focuses on the use of superior genetics as one of its key areas.

AHDB say that the publication shows how genetic gain is having a real impact at farm level, by centering on the achievements of breeders in England and giving examples of best practice with regard to the breeding and marketing of rams.

The report features success stories from farmers who have found huge benefit from flock recording and the use of technology such as Computed Tomography (CT) scanning.  It also includes technical advice showing how breeders could make faster rates of genetic gain in their flocks.

Chris Lloyd, AHDB research and development and knowledge exchange director of livestock, said that ten years ago encouraging commercial farmers to embrace the benefits of performance recording was a challenge.

He added: “The progress made since then is clear, with performance-recorded flock producers reporting greater interest in recorded sheep and the most progressive customers looking for estimated breeding value (EBV) information to select breeding stock according to their farm situation.”

‘A Decade of Genetic Progress in the English Sheep Industry’ is available to download at: beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk. 

 

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.