Sheep Industry News August 2023

strong reputation as a terminal sire breed. These sires are now more readily accessed and selected via this digital platform. The launch of Digital Suffolk is the beginning of a new era of connection among the different facets of the American sheep industry. Pedigreed Sheep in the Digital Age

AMANDA EVERTS United Suffolk Sheep Association I n this digital age of technology, one breed has stepped forward to offer exciting potential to not just its mem bers, but also to the greater sheep industry. The United Suffolk Sheep Association made the investment and imple mented a program called Digital Suffolk. In the fall of 2021, USSA partnered with Digital Beef – a software provider widely used in the beef industry – to cre ate a customized platform for pedigreed sheep called Digital Ovine. More than just a registry platform, this software offers various tools such as flock management and search capabilities that benefit USSA members and commercial sheep producers across the globe. USSA is the first sheep breed to give its members a digital program that offers: • Whole flock recordkeeping of both registered and non registered animals; • Recording of DNA, weights, scanning data and NSIP information; • Extensive search capabilities within the database; • Unique features for such things as semen inventory and sales, health treatments, inbreeding co-efficients and virtual matings; • Real-time registration service, with auto-pay and QR verification; • Marketing tools, photo options, sale listings, customer index and more. The value of USSA membership has increased signifi cantly because of this program. And as time goes on – and more input is acquired – this digital tool will continue to increase in scope and value. The added bonus of the Digital Suffolk program is the value it brings to the commercial sheep industry. Public ac cess makes it possible for people to: • Search for animals within the database; • Conduct pedigree research; • View animals designated for sale; • Connect with breeders in desired locations. This platform is publicly available via the USSA website at Suffolks.org by clicking on the Digital Suffolk icon in the upper right corner or directly at DigitalSuffolk.org. The investment was made by the Suffolk breed, but the connection that it offers to all sheep breeders has potential for growth and value across the industry. Suffolks have a

Digital Suffolk features a public search on any records in the database.

22 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org