Study to prove if ram genetic merit drives higher lamb returns

Wednesday 1st April 2015

APRIL, 2015.

New study to prove if ram genetic merit drives higher lamb returns.

Having a good eye when buying rams may well be a thing of the past if a new study shows it’s the data behind the ram’s breeding that delivers profit.

“Data Drives Dollars” is a joint project between Massey University and red meat genetics company Focus Genetics, with significant support from B+LNZ Genetics. It aims to find out if there is a financial advantage in buying rams with high genetic merit, or not.

The project running over the lambing season, involves two 25-member farmer working groups at Simon Wilson’s Mt Hebert Station in Waipukurau and Taratahi’s Glenside Station in Gladstone.

Central Hawke’s Bay farmers John Mitchell and his neighbour Sam Stoddart are keen to learn more because it could make a difference in how farmers buy rams in the future.

“When buying a bull you spend a lot of time studying its EBVs – but you don’t tend to do the same homework on rams. Maybe we should be doing more and I will be keen to know the results of this study”, says Sam.

John says he wants to see the gap in genetic gain he could be missing out on.

“It could change what rams I buy. We’re always keen to learn more and have it backed up with facts.”

The experiment involves using two teams of rams of high and low genetic merit over 500 mixed-aged ewes on each farm.

The rams will be selected based on estimated breeding values (EBV’s) for live weight at eight months of age, and the experiment will compare the lambs’ live weight up to four weeks after weaning.

The ewes and their lambs will be managed in a single flock on each farm throughout the experiment to give lambs from all sires equal opportunity to grow.

There will be two more on-farm field days at pregnancy scanning to view the condition of the ewes and update progress, and after weaning to view and weigh the resulting progeny.

Dannevirke farmer Garth Coleman, who is a Focus Genetics client, is confident the project will show there is real benefit in buying high merit genetics.