Findings from Sheep Ireland are showing that 5-star ewes are scanning with a higher litter size than all other ewes – especially 1-star ewes with the difference being 27%.
As the recording of pregnancy scanning results is now part of the Data Quality Index (DQI), pedigree breeders who have joined the Sheep Ireland LambPlus performance recording programme for 2021 have been uploading their results over the past six weeks. To date, just over 6,500 pregnancy records have been uploaded to the database.
The numbers of ewes in each star rating are as follows:
- 1-star: 1,652;
- 2-star: 1,125;
- 3-star: 1,067;
- 4-star: 1,139;
- 5-star: 1,525.
To put these numbers above into context, if we take 100 5-star ewes scanning 169% versus 100 1-star ewes scanning 142%, we end up with a difference of 27 more lambs for the 5-star ewes.
To summarise, 5-star replacement ewes are more prolific and will produce more lambs on average, according to Sheep Ireland.
The fact that 5-star ewes will produce more lambs on average than 1-star ewes will play a central role in achieving the latest target set out in the Teagasc 2027 sectoral road map for sheep, to increase the number of lambs reared per ewe from the current level of 1.39 to 1.55 by 2027, through the use of available genetics and management practices.
Data source: Sheep Ireland
Number of LambPlus flocks increases
The Sheep Ireland performance recording programme LambPlus has seen another increase in pedigree ram breeder participants for 2021.
The number of flocks now involved in LambPlus now stands at over 850 flocks.
Eamon Wall of Sheep Ireland had the following to say: “Participation has grown year-on-year since the LambPlus programme began back in 2009.
“The percentage increase seen in LambPlus participation for 2021 is extremely encouraging. Overall, the increase in LambPlus numbers is over 15% on 2020 levels. The increases across individual breeds vary by breed with some seeing major increases in participation, while others less so.”