Production Recording and Breeding Value Prediction (BLUP)

Mandatory 100-day production recording helps evaluate lamb growth, cull weaker animals, and assess ewes’ milk and mothering abilities.

Production Recording and Breeding Value Prediction (BLUP)

Mandatory 100-day production recording helps evaluate lamb growth, cull weaker animals, and assess ewes’ milk and mothering abilities.

Production recording is a vital process in Dormer sheep farming, requiring lamb weights to be recorded at 100 days through the Phase A Growth Test. This test provides a 100-day growth index, enabling the culling of weaker lambs and the selection of top-performing ones. It also serves as an indicator of the dam’s milk production and mothering ability. Detailed information, including birth and weaning dates, weights, and sire and dam identification, is recorded for each lamb. Breeders must submit this data within 120 days using official forms. This standardised system ensures informed selection decisions and the continued improvement of the Dormer breed.

Production Recording

Production recording is a critical and mandatory process in Dormer sheep farming, aimed at maintaining and improving the quality of the breed. The recording begins with the Phase A Growth Test, which measures the weight of lambs at approximately 100 days of age. This test allows breeders to compare 100-day indexes within a flock, enabling the identification and culling of weaker lambs. It also serves as a valuable tool for selecting the best-performing animals for breeding. Additionally, the 100-day growth index provides insight into the milk production and mothering abilities of the ewe, offering a holistic evaluation of the flock's productivity.

To streamline the process, lambs are grouped based on their birth cohort (e.g., Group 1, Group 2) to ensure efficient data processing. Detailed information is recorded for each lamb, including:

Membership number of the breeder
Identification numbers of the sire, dam, and lamb
Birth date and birth weight (if available)
Weaning date and weight
Additional remarks, such as health or growth observations

Breeders are required to submit this data on official forms, which can be obtained from the Dormer Society office. It is essential to adhere to the timeline, as birth and weaning data will not be accepted if the lamb exceeds 200 days of age.This system ensures that all lambs are assessed under standardised conditions, allowing breeders to make informed decisions to enhance the overall productivity and quality of their flocks.

Production Recording

To streamline the process, lambs are grouped based on their birth cohort (e.g., Group 1, Group 2) to ensure efficient data processing. Detailed information is recorded for each lamb, including:

Membership number of the breeder
Identification numbers of the sire, dam, and lamb
Birth date and birth weight (if available)
Weaning date and weight
Additional remarks, such as health or growth observations

Production Recording

To streamline the process, lambs are grouped based on their birth cohort (e.g., Group 1, Group 2) to ensure efficient data processing. Detailed information is recorded for each lamb, including:

Membership number of the breeder
Identification numbers of the sire, dam, and lamb
Birth date and birth weight (if available)
Weaning date and weight
Additional remarks, such as health or growth observations

FAQs

What is the purpose of the 100-day growth test?
The test measures lamb weight at 100 days to evaluate growth rates, identify weaker lambs for culling, and assess the dam’s milk production and mothering ability.
How are lambs grouped for production recording?
Lambs are organised into groups based on their birth cohort (e.g., Group 1, Group 2) to streamline data processing and facilitate comparisons within the flock.
What data must breeders record for production purposes?
Breeders must record the membership number, lamb identification, birth date, birth weight (if available), weaning date, and weaning weight, along with any additional remarks.
What is the deadline for submitting production data?
All birth and weaning data must be submitted within 200 days of the lamb's age. Late submissions will not be accepted to ensure data accuracy and timeliness.

FAQs

What is the purpose of the 100-day growth test?
The test measures lamb weight at 100 days to evaluate growth rates, identify weaker lambs for culling, and assess the dam’s milk production and mothering ability.
How are lambs grouped for production recording?
Lambs are organised into groups based on their birth cohort (e.g., Group 1, Group 2) to streamline data processing and facilitate comparisons within the flock.
What data must breeders record for production purposes?
Breeders must record the membership number, lamb identification, birth date, birth weight (if available), weaning date, and weaning weight, along with any additional remarks.
What is the deadline for submitting production data?
All birth and weaning data must be submitted within 200 days of the lamb's age. Late submissions will not be accepted to ensure data accuracy and timeliness.

FAQs

What is the purpose of the 100-day growth test?
The test measures lamb weight at 100 days to evaluate growth rates, identify weaker lambs for culling, and assess the dam’s milk production and mothering ability.
How are lambs grouped for production recording?
Lambs are organised into groups based on their birth cohort (e.g., Group 1, Group 2) to streamline data processing and facilitate comparisons within the flock.
What data must breeders record for production purposes?
Breeders must record the membership number, lamb identification, birth date, birth weight (if available), weaning date, and weaning weight, along with any additional remarks.
What is the deadline for submitting production data?
All birth and weaning data must be submitted within 200 days of the lamb's age. Late submissions will not be accepted to ensure data accuracy and timeliness.