Sheep Ireland recently hosted a Hill Sheep Industry meeting together with 17 Hill breeding groups, farm organizations, Teagasc, and other industry stakeholders.
The purpose of the meeting was to plan and decide about the future of the sector, and discuss opportunities for the implementation of a Hill Sheep Data Programme (HSDP).
During the second semester of 2024, Sheep Ireland surveyed 700 Hill group members, which gave valuable information about the needs and challenges for the Hill farmers.
David Kenny & Tim Byrne (AbacusBio), John Noonan (Teagasc), Eamon Wall & David Cohen (Sheep Ireland)
During the meeting, AbacusBio presented the blueprint impact for developing a genetic gain improvement programme to be implemented by Sheep Ireland, with Teagasc partnership, and the participation of all the Hill breeding groups.
The HSDP programme will be similar to LambPlus (for the lowland breeds), but will be designed to address important breeding metrics for the Hill sheep. The implementation of this programme can deliver a €10 million benefit over the next 15 years for the Irish sheep industry. This revenue is based on the direct improvement in the production performance; lamb survival, weaning weight, ewe milk, litter size & barrenness, ewe longevity, and ewe mature weights.
The HSDP will address a low level of performance recording with a major emphasis in genotyping animals to accelerate the genetic gain.
Sheep Ireland is working on a European Innovation Partnership (EIP) project (Oviflock) which was recently approved. The EIP funding will provide a strong foundation for genotyping purebred hill females, and develop flockbooks for each hill sheep breed.
HSDP expected outcomes:
- A genotyping service and genetic merit information available to the hill ram breeders and ram buyers
- Hill sheep index and €urostars
- An opportunity for hill ram groups to set up flockbooks
- Tools available to manage inbreeding/mating
- Cumulative and permanent improvements in productivity and profitability in ram breeder and commercial flocks
- Increased industry viability
- Maintenance of hill ecosystem and rural society
Read more about in Darren Carty’s article on the Irish Farmers Journal by clicking on it:
