The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: beagh-suffolks on March 18, 2016, 10:15:02 am

Title: any Views welcome (for my project)
Post by: beagh-suffolks on March 18, 2016, 10:15:02 am
for my project i am doing an investigation into the use of EBV's by sheep breeders and would like to ask if anyone has any views on this topic, all discussion is greatly appreciated. i have already handed out and returned a questionnaire but would like peoples personal opinions on the matter.
Title: Re: any Views welcome (for my project)
Post by: Tim W on March 18, 2016, 10:58:52 am

Been using BLUP for 25+ years so have some views (backed up with raw data)
What do you want to know?
Title: Re: any Views welcome (for my project)
Post by: Marches Farmer on March 18, 2016, 11:23:20 am
Bought a ram one year to see if high EBV's made any difference.  None at all that I could see.  I run rare and traditional breeds and, provided the conformation is good and feet sound, healthy pedigree rams are what I want.  Slower finishing is fine with me.
Title: Re: any Views welcome (for my project)
Post by: SallyintNorth on March 18, 2016, 12:15:28 pm
Haven't had any experience using them with sheep, but we certainly do take them into account when buying bulls and bull semen.

If they were widely used in Texel-land, I'd be urging BH to take note of them.  Small lambs at birthing and fast growth rates is what I want!  Not these socking great tanks of lambs - they're all very impressive, maybe, but it wears their mothers out carrying the two of them around for the last few weeks.