With scanning 2019 coming to an end, Sheep Ireland have just over 6,200 animals muscle and backfat scanned and nearly 10,000 animals inspected for liveweight, dag score, lameness and visual appraisal across Ireland (this is for scanning flocks only, LambPlus flock visits are not included) with over 170 breeders scanning their flocks this year. All data collected during our scanning flock visits feed directly into the Sheep Ireland’s €urostar index’s on a weekly basis.

While conducting research trials last year (2018), Sheep Ireland decided to update their muscle and fat scanning method the 2019 scanning year. Sheep Ireland are now using the UK muscle and fat scanning method which proved to be a more universal and accurate method when compared to the traditional Irish method used in the past. Sheep Ireland technicians have been explaining the new method and answered any queries or concerns breeders may have had. Breeders were informed that the new measurements taken were different to previous years, while the measurements were taken at the same area of the animal, the depth’s in which the technicians were measuring changed.

Breeder’s who have not muscle and fat scanned should weigh all their live lambs between 121 – 180 days old. Where lambs have been sent to the factory, carcase data should be retrieved (breeders can request these from their respective factories) and inputted through Sheep Ireland’s Factory Sales screens which breeders can access via their Sheep Ireland accounts.