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The
CHURCHBRIDGE FLOCK of Pedigree British Bleu du Maine The flock
was established in 1994 using laparascopic AI for the first 2
years with semen from High Tor Granite, Goldies Just Great and
Pommeria Powerhouse - all Royal Show Champions.
The Flock currently comprises some 60+ breeding ewes and each year 4 main tups are used together with the top 4 or 5 ram lambs. Lambing is sychronised for the 2nd or third week in January using sponges and teaser rams. |
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In the 6 years since recording started the ram lambs have increased muscling by 19% and the ewe lambs by 22%. Growth rates have increased by more than 15%. Lamb genetic trends have increased from index 98 in 1999 to 162 in 2004. The index for Churchbridge ram lambs alone was 179 (source Signet).  The flock now produces some of the highest indexed Bleu du Maine rams in the country and in 2003 and 2004 has been very successful on the Show circuit. A lambing percentage averaging 200% has enabled the flock to develop rapidly and the use of 5 different bloodlines has maintained the genetic diversity.
Churchbridge Warrior (shown right winning the Breed Championship at the Devon County Show 2003) has sired progeny in 2004 with 39.7 mm of muscle at 21 weeks.
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As
a founder member of "BLUE SIRES" the Bleu du Maine Sire Reference
Scheme in 1998, access was gained to other top sires. Each year
the highest index sires are assessed by a team of breeders and
the best selected for members use. As a result of this the original
bloodlines have been considerably enhanced. The Flock is fully
R1 scrapie resistant.
The
breeding policy is to develop well-muscled fast-growing commercial
sires with the genetics for their progeny to finish on grass. By
using only approved rams which are correct in every respect for
the breed, both rams and ewes are capable of winning shows at the
highest level.
