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Using EBVs from NSIP Rusty Burgett, NSIP Program Director. Importance of Genetic Selection. Need to produce more lamb and wool from a smaller national flock Productivity Improvement Wider adoption of Quantitative Genetic Selection U.S. Sheep Industry Roadmap
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Using EBVs from NSIP Rusty Burgett, NSIP Program Director
Importance of Genetic Selection • Need to produce more lamb and wool from a smaller national flock • Productivity Improvement • Wider adoption of Quantitative Genetic Selection • U.S. Sheep Industry Roadmap • Genetics are the foundation to build upon
Value of a Ram • Profit is determined by pounds of lamb(wool) sold per ewe. • Number of lambs born • Number of lambs weaned • Birth, weaning and post weaning weight of lambs • Wool yield and quality
Estimated Breeding Values • EBVs are tools that: • Minimize guesswork of ram selection • Assign number values to genetic merit • Allows for quick, easy comparison • More powerful than actual performance data, adjusted means... • Focused on economically important traits
New Tool for Ram Selection • NSIP Ram Buying Guide • 3-step tool to select rams for productivity • Fine-tuned for each flock • Commercial • Purebred
Analyze Production • Quantify current production level: • Number of lambs born/ewe • Number of lambs weaned/ewe • Average weaning weight of lambs • Average post weaning growth (ADG) • Example: Polypay flock, producing own replacements
Set Goals • Establish a goal for improvement of each trait • Prioritize importance of each goalfor profit
Use EBVs in Selection • Start with Production Indexes • Combine multiple traits into one value • Maternal-USA Maternal • Terminal-Carcass Plus • Range-USA Range • Hair-USA Hair • Select from top 60% of the index
Step 3. Use EBVs in Selection • Select for individual traits • Based on priority of goals • Priority 1.-select ram in top 10% of breed for that trait • Priority 2.-select ram in top 20% of breed • Priority 3.-select ram in top 25% of breed
http://nsip.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/62-Percentiles.pdfhttp://nsip.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/62-Percentiles.pdf
http://nsip.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/62-Percentiles.pdfhttp://nsip.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/62-Percentiles.pdf
http://nsip.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/62-Percentiles.pdfhttp://nsip.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/62-Percentiles.pdf
Use EBVs in Selection • Prioritizing selection pressure on individual traits will expedite genetic progress • Priority should be placed on economically important traits
“Common Sense Traits” • Visual appraisal of ram for: • Sound feet and legs, free of foot rot • Correct mouth structure • Breeding soundness exam • Health statusand susceptibility • Scrapie • OPP • Spider
Not a Silver Bullet • Does not replace good management • Breeding Program • Including cross breeding! • Nutrition • Marketing
Thank you! • Questions? • Paid for in part by the American Sheep Industry • Website: www.nsip.org • email: info@nsip.org phone:515-708-8850 • Facebook
Genetic Progress 14 extra lambs/100 ewes lambing! 1.75 pounds heavier @ 60 days=201 more lbs of lamb!
Conclusion • This method is designed to: • Reduce risks associated with ram selection • Expedite genetic progress • Increase productivity Visit www.nsip.org for more information including percentile and elite sire reports
Where we’ve been, where we are, &where we are going! CULHAM & STEVENS NSIP
Where we’ve been… Culham & Stevens Webberville, MI
1987 CROSSROADS • Spider Gene • Tax laws change
Previous mistakes • Abandoned performance for“Pretty” • Made excuses for sheep • “Worked for sheep, rather than sheep working for me” • Selected for the wrong things
Where to boss? • Rebuilt flock with bloodlines free from “spider” gene • New labor agreement
1989 enrolled in NSIP
“The Bell Curve” 1995 Suffolk Sire Summary 25 EPD=Expected Progeny Difference . N 20 o . o 15 f S 10 i r e 5 s 0 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. 120 day wt. EPD (lbs.) EBV = Expected Breeding Value = EPD x 2
“EPDs” • Express expected performance of offspring compared to breed average • EPDs are expressed as a deviation from the breed average • FEPDs are expressed as a deviation from the flock average • Expressed in same unit as measured
IN THE DARKwhen selecting outside sires without EPDs • Rams purchased could not be compared to ours • Few breeders on NSIP • New sires were near “0” for most traits
S-p-i-n-n-i-n-g our wheels • Selection only on dam side by culling & replacement ewe selection • No progress! Genetic trend
Leap of faith Use the data!
Faith rewarded Started EPD Sire selection
Genetic trend changes Red - before EPD sire selection Blue - after EPD sire selection