UPLANDS students Progress with Blackface Improvement Scheme

Students opting for the U.P.L.A.N.D.S* (Uniting the Production of Livestock And Nature Development for Sustainability) learning project at Greenmount Campus have enterprise management responsibilities for Glenwherry Hill Farm. The farm is currently stocked with 1150 ewes (160 Texel x Blackface and 1000 Lanark Blackface) and 110 mainly Angus and Limousin type suckler cows.

Greenmount students are closely involved in the routine management and breeding policy of the hill flock. Several scientific studies have shown the economic benefits of selecting breeding stock based on Signet performance data and physical correctness. In conjunction with an established group of Blackface sheep breeders (BF Elite Ltd) Glenwherry has been using the Hill 2 Index since 1997. This information allows our students to develop their knowledge and skills in the selection of breeding stock based on Estimated Breeding Values’ (EBVs) and physical appearance.

The 440 pure breeding Blackface ewes are divided into five families and placed in a rotational breeding system to avoid inbreeding. Progeny from these families are Signet recorded using the Hill 2 Index. This year 10 Signet recorded rams (seven home bred) with no physical defects have been selected for use. Their average EBVs and Index is shown in Table 1 along with percentiles for Top 25 percent. Explanations of what EBVs and overall Index can do for a sheep flock are presented in Table 2. Particular emphasis was placed on high maternal EBV and Index.

Table 1 Blackface Rams Average Signet Performance Data

Table 2 Explanations of Estimated Breeding Values and Index

Throughout 2005 any ewe requiring treatment for lameness was recorded. Repeat offenders for foot trouble were removed from the nucleus flock. Signet records show that late breeding ewes consistently lamb late. In 2004 Blackface rams remained with the ewes for 35 days and the flock was then swept with a crossing sire. Any ewe that did not lamb with a Blackface lamb was removed to our crossing flock. Selection criteria for lameness and fertility will continue as a priority in the future.

As part of the project with BF Elite Ltd an objective is to identify sheep that have natural resistance to worms, foot rot and other diseases. To identify resistant animals, Greenmount staff along with BF Elite members in Scotland and Northern Ireland DNA profiled breeding Blackface rams used in 2004. Faecal egg counts were taken in 2005 for ten lambs born to each ram.

DNA profiling has identified fourteen different genes in the Blackface breed for all those flocks that were profiled. These genes occur in pairs. Research has shown the benefits for disease resistance when the pair of genes is different at a certain point in their genetic makeup. Greenmount as part of an Easy care sheep group that include breed societies, SAC and ARINI is currently seeking funding from Genesis Faraday to investigate this issue further.

Having the opportunity to assess modern breeding technologies at first hand provides an excellent learning environment for the current group of students on the U.P.L.A.N.D.S project.

Students in Uplands Project pictured with Lewis McClinton, CAFRE Sheep Technologist
(from Left to right) Austin Ashfield, Alan Thompson, Dr Lewis McClinton (Sheep Technologist), Stephen Hutchinson and Jason Booth

*U.P.L.A.N.D.S is the new project name for B.E.E.F (Bringing Effective Education to Farming).