RamCompare Phase II – Nomination Forms, Terms and Health Declaration

Background to nominations for Phase II

The national progeny test, RamCompare, will expand in 2017 to test more rams and represent more breeds. We aim to mate over 3,000 ewesto RamCompare sires in autumn 2017.

RamCompareaims to continue to run multi-breed trials on six farms, whilst establishing new farms that will tend to be specific to one or two breeds.

Funding has been secured from AHDB Beef Lamb, HCC, QMS andAgriSearch to cover the majority of project costs. Involvement of Sainsbury’s and its processors – Dunbia and Randall Parker Foods – will continue.It has been calculated that the project will deliver benefits worth £16 to the sheep industry for every £1 invested.

Any ram breeding businesses involved will gain from new information on how their ram’s progeny performed for commercially relevant traits. New estimated breeding values (EBVs) on days to slaughter, carcase weight, carcase fat and carcase conformation will become available due to the RamCompare project.

The cost of testing a ram within the project is nearly £5,000 per ram. The new rates offered for ram and semen purchase recognise that breeders engaged in the project are contributing towardsthe scheme.

Ram selection criteria

The project is seeking representation from the following number of rams.

AI sires / Natural service sires
Suffolk / 5 / 8
Texel / 5 / 8
Charollais / 5 / 8
Meatlinc / 1 / 2
Beltex / 1 / 2
Hampshire Down / 1 / 2
PollDorset / 1 / 2
Open nomination / 6 / 6

For the AI sires, there is a minimum requirement of 30 doses. However, if 60 doses are available the sires may be used on multiple farms and act as link sires. We are interested in semen available for use in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, so would be keen to know of semen available or potentially available with an EU Export status.

For natural service sires, preference is given to rams that are shearlings or older. Nominations of fit and fertile, older stock rams are extremely welcome.

RamCompare is seeking rams and semen based on the following criteria:

  • Genetic merit of the ram in relation to project aims – but ideally top 20% of the breed for EBVs or better
  • Quality of performance records taken on ram and his contemporaries (including availability of CT data)
  • Breed
  • Age – with shearlings and mature stock rams preferred to ram lambs
  • Health status – see health declaration below
  • Connectedness to the breeding programme and diversity of breeding lines being tested
  • System under which the ram has been reared
  • The seller being a current, active and paid up member of Signet’s flock recording service

The final decision relating to the procurement of rams and semen will be made by AHDB.

The deadline for ram nominations is Monday 26th June.

Open Nomination Places

The 12 open nominated places may be filled by Suffolk, Texel, Charollais, Meatlinc, Hampshire Down, Poll Dorset, Beltex, Blue Texel, Bleu du Maine, Vendeen, Shropshire or Southdown rams. These terminal sire breeds are actively performance recording with Signet and are currently included within the Combined Breed Analysis research project. Other terminal sire breeds may be considered subject to availability. Preference will be given to breeds capable of providing both an AI and a natural service sire to go onto the same farm.

Supporting RamCompare

In Phase one, the project was offered the use of rams and semen free of charge by breeders wishing to get their animals on test. Offers of this type are noted and can be made again through the attached forms. The provision of loaned rams may enable more rams to be tested within a breed.

Breeders can loan stock rams to the project for one breeding season on a farm of known health status. Breeders do this at their own risk. The project will pay for transport and health testing with the ram being provided free of charge.