Sheep Industry News March 2023

Polypays lead with more than 110,000, followed by Katahdins with nearly 108,000, and Targhees with about 98,000. Suffolks, Rambouillets and Dorsets also have substantial numbers, with Hampshires and Shropshires at lesser numbers. Genomic-enhanced EBVs are also being established, Burgett said, with Katahdins taking the lead on this new data. A three-year research project led by Dr. Joan Burke of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Research Center enlisted a group of 20 coop erating producers to submit DNA samples resulting in a genetic database of more than 5,000 Katahdin lambs. This formed the genomic reference population for the Katahdin breed, which was used to develop the first G-EBVs for sheep in the United States, further improving the ability to identify superior breeding stock. Producers participating in the NSIP program are reaping finan cial benefit from participating in NSIP, Burgett indicated, citing last year’s sales results. The Center of the Nation Sale included 98 rams that sold for an average of $1,461, and 27 ewes that sold for an average of $859 – the highest sale gross and average price since the sale began 17 years ago. PANEL DISCUSSIONS Burgett moderated several fascinating panel discussions with both genetic researchers and sheep producers. A panel of federal scientists discussed some of the most significant findings of their genetic research projects, including those on correlated traits such as how udder structure affects mastitis, opportunities to maintain

genetic diversity within sheep breeds, the identification of parasite resistant genes, and identification of a gene that influences Ovine Progressive Pneumonia virus infection. The producer panel focused on record-keeping systems, how they have evolved and are used on farms and ranches. The data collection – shared with programs such as NSIP – has helped increase the financial returns from their flocks. From helping to identify the least productive sheep for culling, to identifying high performing animals to perpetuate, producers from Iowa to Texas spoke of how they have incorporated data into their management regimes. GEMS Data collection is what leads to increases in productivity and profitability. Ron Lewis of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln directs the Sheep GEMS research project which focuses on both genetics and performance data from 3,000 sheep from four breeds, tying the two types of data together. A key element is collecting performance records from NSIP-member flocks that reflect an animal’s productive efficiency, robustness and climatic resilience. Traits defining robustness and climatic resilience are largely absent in American sheep genetic evaluations, Lewis said, but the GEMS project seeks to address this limitation. Measures that indi cate robustness and climate resistance will include lamb survival, ewe longevity, udder health and gastrointestinal parasite resis tance. The breeds involved in the research are Katahdin, Polypay, Rambouillet and Suffolk.

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