The topic of crossbreeding in rams has been discussed for decades but has only really come into the spotlight in Ireland in recent years.
It is still a relatively minor topic of debate but discussions have been fuelled by a number of high-profile pedigree flocks in the UK and the sheep breeding company Innovis marketing crossbred rams and maternal breedlines.
It is important to point out that many people have different descriptions of what they deem crossbred rams to be.
While a crossbred ram is a cross of any two or more breed types, there are significant differences when it comes to breeding and selecting crossbred sires. But before we progress down that route, it is useful to consider why crossbreeding is desired or considered in the context of sheep breeding.
Benefit of hybrid vigour
The benefits of crossbreeding on the female or maternal side are well-documented and exhibited through hybrid vigour with potential gains in superior reproductive performance, higher growth rates and lower mortality.
The potential to take advantage of hybrid vigour is maximised where parents are close to being purebred
This is provided that the animals used for crossbreeding are good to start off with and capable of delivering enhanced traits into the mix.
There are numerous examples on the ewe side with Mules or Belclare cross ewes providing the potential of delivering higher prolificacy, while continental breeds can be successfully used in a breed mix to improve growth rates, conformation, etc.
The potential to take advantage of hybrid vigour is maximised where parents are close to being purebred.
It is limited in some cases, in many Irish ewe flocks, by a number of breed types being already present in the breed of ewe farmed.
Sire potential
This leads to the topic of the potential of crossbred sires in Irish breeding programmes.
There is less known about the potential of crossbred rams but some research and experience from other sheep-producing nations where crossbreeding is practised to a greater extent points to rams possibly exhibiting more vigour, particularly during mating and recording increased longevity.
It was mentioned above that the potential of any crossbreeding programme is driven by the genetics in the mix and this is no different in the case of crossbred rams.
The breeding potential from such a cross is more volatile as it depends on what genes progeny have received from each parent
In some cases, crossbreed sires are produced on the basis of purebred ewes not possessing the desired characteristics for pure breeding, with a decision made to crossbreed often based on trying to enhance the value of progeny.
The breeding potential from such a cross is more volatile as it depends on what genes progeny have received from each parent.
Crossing such a ram with a ewe type, which may already have been crossbred, will give rise to progeny with low uniformity and significant variation across a flock.
Recording is
essential
The potential for crossbred rams ideally needs to go further and be the result of a defined breeding programme, which is closely monitored to ensure the desired genetics are added to the breed mix and retained.
For example, the Sufftex (written as Sufftex, Suftex or Suf-tex), which is an initial cross of Suffolk and Texel genetics, has become more popular in New Zealand.
Characteristics
Such breeding programmes are no different to composite breeding programmes where a number of breeds are combined to deliver sheep with the desired characteristics of a number of breeds.
This approach gives the best chance of achieving a favourable outcome
The Belclare is a good example of this but it is also important to note that there will still be variation within these breeds as there is in many pure breeds with some possessing as much variation within breed as across breed.
This raises the importance of relevant production parameters being recorded to allow accurate evaluation.
This approach gives the best chance of achieving a favourable outcome.
Tips to considering when buying rams
What are you aiming for? The first tip is relevant irrespective of whether you are selecting a purebred or crossbred ram. Consider what traits you want to add to your flock and then select the breed that will have the best chance of delivering.Visual and genetics: select on a combination of looks and genetics. It goes without saying that the physical appearance and traits such as feet, teeth, conformation, testicle size, etc, must be up to scratch to consider purchasing a ram. While aspects such as conformation and size may give an idea as to how a sire is likely to breed, it is only an estimate with the best accuracy derived from breeding predictions. Source from good breeders: where records are not available for crossbred sires but they are produced from a pedigree flock, it is worth assessing what the breeding profile is like. This will indicate how good the parents are. If the parents are good to start with, the progeny are more likely to be good.
The topic of crossbreeding in rams has been discussed for decades but has only really come into the spotlight in Ireland in recent years.
It is still a relatively minor topic of debate but discussions have been fuelled by a number of high-profile pedigree flocks in the UK and the sheep breeding company Innovis marketing crossbred rams and maternal breedlines.
It is important to point out that many people have different descriptions of what they deem crossbred rams to be.
While a crossbred ram is a cross of any two or more breed types, there are significant differences when it comes to breeding and selecting crossbred sires. But before we progress down that route, it is useful to consider why crossbreeding is desired or considered in the context of sheep breeding.
Benefit of hybrid vigour
The benefits of crossbreeding on the female or maternal side are well-documented and exhibited through hybrid vigour with potential gains in superior reproductive performance, higher growth rates and lower mortality.
The potential to take advantage of hybrid vigour is maximised where parents are close to being purebred
This is provided that the animals used for crossbreeding are good to start off with and capable of delivering enhanced traits into the mix.
There are numerous examples on the ewe side with Mules or Belclare cross ewes providing the potential of delivering higher prolificacy, while continental breeds can be successfully used in a breed mix to improve growth rates, conformation, etc.
The potential to take advantage of hybrid vigour is maximised where parents are close to being purebred.
It is limited in some cases, in many Irish ewe flocks, by a number of breed types being already present in the breed of ewe farmed.
Sire potential
This leads to the topic of the potential of crossbred sires in Irish breeding programmes.
There is less known about the potential of crossbred rams but some research and experience from other sheep-producing nations where crossbreeding is practised to a greater extent points to rams possibly exhibiting more vigour, particularly during mating and recording increased longevity.
It was mentioned above that the potential of any crossbreeding programme is driven by the genetics in the mix and this is no different in the case of crossbred rams.
The breeding potential from such a cross is more volatile as it depends on what genes progeny have received from each parent
In some cases, crossbreed sires are produced on the basis of purebred ewes not possessing the desired characteristics for pure breeding, with a decision made to crossbreed often based on trying to enhance the value of progeny.
The breeding potential from such a cross is more volatile as it depends on what genes progeny have received from each parent.
Crossing such a ram with a ewe type, which may already have been crossbred, will give rise to progeny with low uniformity and significant variation across a flock.
Recording is
essential
The potential for crossbred rams ideally needs to go further and be the result of a defined breeding programme, which is closely monitored to ensure the desired genetics are added to the breed mix and retained.
For example, the Sufftex (written as Sufftex, Suftex or Suf-tex), which is an initial cross of Suffolk and Texel genetics, has become more popular in New Zealand.
Characteristics
Such breeding programmes are no different to composite breeding programmes where a number of breeds are combined to deliver sheep with the desired characteristics of a number of breeds.
This approach gives the best chance of achieving a favourable outcome
The Belclare is a good example of this but it is also important to note that there will still be variation within these breeds as there is in many pure breeds with some possessing as much variation within breed as across breed.
This raises the importance of relevant production parameters being recorded to allow accurate evaluation.
This approach gives the best chance of achieving a favourable outcome.
Tips to considering when buying rams
What are you aiming for? The first tip is relevant irrespective of whether you are selecting a purebred or crossbred ram. Consider what traits you want to add to your flock and then select the breed that will have the best chance of delivering.Visual and genetics: select on a combination of looks and genetics. It goes without saying that the physical appearance and traits such as feet, teeth, conformation, testicle size, etc, must be up to scratch to consider purchasing a ram. While aspects such as conformation and size may give an idea as to how a sire is likely to breed, it is only an estimate with the best accuracy derived from breeding predictions. Source from good breeders: where records are not available for crossbred sires but they are produced from a pedigree flock, it is worth assessing what the breeding profile is like. This will indicate how good the parents are. If the parents are good to start with, the progeny are more likely to be good. 
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: