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Report on 2008
Unfortunately due to BTV8 movement restrictions being in force at the time of our planned yearly assessment at Worcester market, we were not able to have our annual appraisal of shearling rams and ram lambs.
However the following summary supplied by Sam Boon (Signet Consultant for the breed) shows that 2008 was an exceptional year with average breeding index for Bleu du Maine sheep increasing by nearly 27index points.The breed average is now 192.
Over the last 10 years the breeding potential for growth to 21weeks of age has increased by over 2.5kg. A major change in the population of 300 lambs which are recorded each year.
This change in breeding potential has been accompanied by an increase in average muscle depth of over 1.5mm, an increase of in muscling across the loin of 5-8%.The fat depth remains fairly constant.
Top Stock Sires 2008
Ram |
scan wt.
& EBV (kg) |
muscle depth
& EBV(mm) |
fat depth
& EBV (mm) |
scheme
index |
JER.06.05 |
65.0
5.74
|
33.5
2.87 |
1.9
0.06 |
271 |
CHB.A0261 |
75.0
5.72 |
34.2
2.53
|
4.3
0.01 |
261 |
CHB.06.20 |
64.5
3.30 |
34.9
2.69 |
2.0
-0.20 |
249 |
CHB.06.48 |
75.0
5.26 |
36.5
2.97 |
4.1
0.43 |
242 |
CHB.07.37 |
73.5
5.92 |
37.1
2.56 |
3.6
0.36 |
240 |
At our AGM which took place in November, Robin Johnson presented Maurice Jones our Chairman with a painting of a ram CHB 07.53 which Robin has purchased from Maurice for his Winholme flock. Due to ill health Maurice is having to retire from active sheep keeping
but he still remains our Chairman and Publicity Officer.
Presentation of the painting to Maurice by the artist and new owner Robin Johnson.
It was an unanimous decision that Maurice should receive the flock trophy for a shearling ram which was the first male animal to scan with a muscle depth greater than 40mm.
Churchbridge Endeavour (CHB.07.53) - his statistics
Actual record
|
8wk.wt |
scan wt |
muscle depth |
fat depth |
29.2 |
60.0 |
40.2 |
3.07 |
EBVs |
3.25 |
6.57 |
3.71 |
0.7 |
Endeavour with ewes
Chairman's Report - Blue Sires 10 Years On
Blue Sires was formed in 1998 with the objectives of evaluating the breed and designing a strategy for improvement. The evalution showed that the BdM had good litter size and mothering ability but had some disadvantages as a terminal sire. Growth rates needed to be improved for the commercial market. Finishing times on grass for crossbred wethers was not acceptable.The initial development programme was to increase growth rates to slaughter weights whilst improving muscle growth for finishing ability. Fat was never a problem.
Also it was decided to aim for R1 scapie resistance over the Blue Sires flocks.
It was also considered highly important that the breed characteristics should be maintained and sire selection placed great emphasis on this as well as on the figures.
The graphs above show that the objectives of the group have been met in every respect:
Growth rates have increased on average with the top animals showing some 500g/day;
this means the ability to reach slaughter weight at 10 -12 weeks.
Muscle growth is even better, increasing from the maximum of 30mm to 40mm over 10 yrs;
finishing ability even for the most difficult of crossbreeds.
Maternal ability has slightly increased with litter size (200% lambing the norm) remaining much the same although annual variations occur due to environmental factors.
Breed Index which amalgamates all the figures has grown at a faster rate than any other breed at a similar stage of development.
Most of
the sheep in the Scheme are now R1 scrapie resistant.
This has all been achieved whilst maintaining the breed characteristics and being highly successful in the Show Ring.
