For
information on 2006 results, click
here
For information on 2005 results, click
here
For information on 2004 results, click
here
For information on 2003 to 2004 results, click
here
For information on 2001 to 2002 results, click
here
1998 to 2000
In 1998 a number of British Bleu du Maine breeders established a Sire
Reference Scheme using the Signet Sheepbreeder programme. The objectives
of the group known as "Blue Sires" were to evaluate the breed
and then improve its characteristics to meet future commercial requirements.
An additional benefit was that by using type R1 scrapie resistant rams
the participating flocks would eventually achieve scrapie resistance.
Group
analysis from the first two years of recording are shown in table 1999/1
|
Total
|
1999
|
2000
|
|
ewes
entered in SRS
|
430
|
253
|
|
lambs
born (Jan - March)
|
625
|
412
|
|
ram
lambs SI > 120
|
105
|
70
|
|
ram
lambs scanned
|
56
|
48
|
|
lambs
inspected
|
36
|
19
|
|
lambs
selected
|
7
|
4
|
Table
1999/1 Numbers of animals recorded in the first two years of the
scheme
Notes: two members with large flocks
withdrew from the scheme in June 1999 due to retirement. The results
from year 2000 is still based on 9 members as two new flocks joined
the scheme. In both years 17% of ram lambs had a SI > 120 but the
number of rams retained for back scanning rose from 53% to 68% in the
second year.
Although
the numbers forward for inspection in the second year were lower there
were no plain lambs in this batch compared to 1999.
In 1999, inspection
of the ram lambs was carried out by a 3 'judges panel'. This assessment
was based on breed characteristics and conformation. Each animal was
given a Visual score out of 100 and this was combined with the scheme
index (SI) in a ratio of 40:60 to give an overall score. The genotype
of each was also noted.
The results of the
7 selected lambs are shown in table1999/2
|
Identity
|
Visual Score
|
Scheme Index
|
Overall
|
Genotype
|
|
GR:
V919*
|
93
|
191
|
152
|
R1
|
|
GR:
V923
|
94
|
180
|
146
|
R1
|
|
JH:
V502*
|
95
|
163
|
136
|
R3
|
|
JJR:
V6
|
79
|
166
|
131
|
R4
|
|
JH:
V537*
|
88
|
155
|
128
|
R1
|
|
JH:
V539
|
89
|
151
|
126
|
R1
|
|
JER:
V20
|
89
|
144
|
122
|
R1
|
Table
1999/2 Inspection scores for
ram lambs selected in 1999
Note: at the inspection day (2000) the
rams were reassessed as shearlings and those indicated by * were retained
for use as 'core' rams by the group.
At scanning these
7 lambs averaged
|
57.0 kgs
|
29.0 mm muscle
|
3.0mm fat
|
Visual assessment of the ram lambs was changed in 2000. The same objective
criteria for measuring conformation, muscle development, movement and
breed character were applied but recording was simpler and faster and
the final points for each of the four categories (from -5 to +5) were
displayed on a linear chart.
|
Linear Assessment Chart
|
|
weight (kg):
|
Scheme Index:
|
Points allocated to each section
|
|
Section
|
-5
|
-4
|
-3
|
-2
|
-1
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
Body
- correctness in body
|
-5
|
-4
|
-3
|
-2
|
-1
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
Handling
- muscle development
|
-5
|
-4
|
-3
|
-2
|
-1
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
Locomotion
- legs and feet
|
-5
|
-4
|
-3
|
-2
|
-1
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
Breed
character - colour and wool
|
-5
|
-4
|
-3
|
-2
|
-1
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
4 lambs gained a
maximum of +5 in each of the four categories.
Their individual EBVs and scheme index are shown in table 3 and are
compared with the mean EBV and scheme index for all SRS lambs.
|
Identity
|
EBVs
|
Scheme Index
|
|
|
8 week wt (kg)
|
scan wt (kg)
|
muscle (mm)
|
fat (mm)
|
|
|
JH
W558
|
+1.60
|
+4.12
|
+0.52
|
-0.05
|
162
|
|
AP
W38
|
+0.79
|
+2.34
|
+1.23
|
+0.12
|
155
|
|
AP
W39
|
+0.97
|
+2.20
|
+1.07
|
+0.01
|
154
|
|
CHB
W51
|
+0.33
|
+1.42
|
+0.57
|
+0.05
|
122
|
|
all
lambs
|
+0.50
|
+1.00
|
+0.25
|
+0.08
|
103
|
Table
1999/3 EBVs and SI for ram
lambs selected at Inspection in 2000 compared with the mean values for
all lambs. Genotype results were not available.
Note: the SI combines EBVs (estimated
breed values) for scan weight, muscle and fat (in equal proportions)
to highlight those animals which are fast growing, well muscled and
lean. All the selected rams demonstrate their strength and weaknesses
through their EBVs.
At scanning these
4 lambs averaged
|
49.00 kgs
|
28.43 mm
muscle
|
2.33mm fat
|
Table 1999/4 shows
those stock sires with a SI > 107 who were used in SRS flocks during
1999 and 2000. The 4 ram lambs in table 3 were sired by AP.T5, EJG.T8
and CHB.R5. The scheme index of a ram or ewe also changes according
to the results from its progeny eg JH.V502 - its SI increased from 163
to 179 on EBV analysis of his lambs.
SHA.M2 is the sire of JH.V502.
87.340 is the sire of JER.T6 and JER.T3.
|
Identity
|
EBVs
|
Scheme Index
|
|
|
8 week wt (kg)
|
scan wt (kg)
|
muscle (mm)
|
fat (mm)
|
|
|
SHA.M2
|
+2.52
|
+5.20
|
+0.58
|
-0.35
|
199
|
|
JER.T6
|
+1.88
|
+3.66
|
+1.17
|
+0.08
|
181
|
|
JH.V502
|
+1.45
|
+3.22
|
+0.39
|
-0.55
|
173
|
|
JH.V537
|
+1.67
|
+2.99
|
+0.32
|
-0.41
|
169
|
|
AP.T5
|
+1.69
|
+2.96
|
+1.66
|
+0.49
|
155
|
|
CDB.T1
|
+1.56
|
+3.36
|
+0.50
|
+0.14
|
143
|
|
EJG.T8
|
+0.78
|
+2.84
|
+0.44
|
+0.13
|
130
|
|
87.340
|
+1.52
|
+2.42
|
+0.07
|
-0.11
|
127
|
|
JER.P17
|
+0.75
|
+2.08
|
+0.14
|
-0.10
|
125
|
|
JH.S24
|
+0.52
|
+1.55
|
+0.46
|
+0.03
|
121
|
|
JER.T3
|
+1.12
|
+1.33
|
-0.56
|
-0.52
|
116
|
|
CHB.R5
|
+0.09
|
+0.40
|
+0.59
|
+0.09
|
107
|
Table
1999/4 Top Stock Sires used
in 1999 and 2000. Scheme Index > 107
Ram
lambs and shearling rams by APV10 and other stock sires are
available for sale in 2002
from
Blue
Scanned Indexed Recorded Evaluated Stock
B
L U E S I R E S
The
Bleu du Maine Sire Reference Scheme in the UK
Also,
check out the results of the Lambing
Survey. Interesting reading!
The
Bleu du Maine Sheep Society can be contacted at
http://www.bleudumaine.co.uk
|
