Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 24th November 2015
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

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. 

 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.