Major constraints to improving profitability of hill sheep enterprises are a low level of output and the lower value of output that is typically produced compared to lowland enterprises. As such, implementing a breeding policy that works best with the land type present and optimises kilos of output produced and the value of each kilo should be a key target for all sheep enterprises.

This is one of the first factors of discussion between advisers and participants when formulating farm plans for the Teagasc BETTER farm sheep programme in Ireland. It is also an area where impressive improvements have been made in recent years, as shown in Table 1, where performance of the initial hill sheep participants is outlined. Much of this work was carried out by programme adviser Ciaran Lynch, who has moved to the position of Teagasc sheep specialist and replaced by Frank Campion.

Starting point

According to Ciaran, the starting point in implementing a breeding programme is to identify where existing issues may lie. Experience through the programme has continually shown that the three main areas requiring attention are litter size, barren rates and the number of lambs weaned per ewe joined to the ram.

Litter size and barren rates will influence the weaning rate, but another factor that can also have a large influence is mortality, both during pregnancy and post-lambing, and is also influenced by ewe condition and nutrition. As addressed in the previous article, addressing ewe condition and liveweight in the run up to mating will have a huge impact on these aspects.

Crossbreeding

Ciaran says producing sufficient replacements is the priority in hill flocks but points out that producing above what’s required may not be exploiting the flocks potential with crossbreeding offering significant potential to increase output. The level of crossbreeding possible in a flock is directly influenced by litter size. This is demonstrated by Ciaran in Table 2, which shows the level of crossbreeding possible at varying litter sizes.

As shown, the level of crossbreeding possible ranges from 34% at 0.8 lambs reared per ewe to over 50% where there are 1.1 lambs reared per ewe to the ram. This can have a huge impact on potential revenue generated from lamb sales, with the potential lift in performance detailed in Table 3.

The potential to add value can be particularly increased where the performance and sale value of wether/ram lambs is improved and ewe lambs command interest from lowland farmers seeking hill-born replacements with good maternal attributes.

This is evident through numerous sales of ewe lambs and hoggets (such as Mules, Hiltex and Suffolk-Cheviot-cross) which continue to grow in prominence.

The level of crossbreeding possible will also be influenced by the area of improved or semi-improved pasture and the quality of hill grazing available. Sire selection also needs to take into account the type of ewes present.

For example, for smaller-framed ewes Bluefaced Leicester or border Leicester sires may be more suitable for ease of lambing than Suffolk or Texel sires. Charolais sires also cross well, but farmers progressing down this route favour a ram with a good cover of wool to suit outdoor lambing.

The value of crossbreeding can be improved by matching ewe type to ram choice. The best-performing Scottish Blackface or Cheviot ewes in hill systems should be selected to continually advance the genetics and quality of sheep entering the flock, with lesser-quality ewes used for crossbreeding to improve the value of progeny.

Improved pure breeding

Where crossbreeding is not an option due to the availability of fenced areas for operating single sire mating or availability of rams, progress can still be made in a pure breeding system by selecting rams with superior genetics.

This of course will depend on the potential mature weight of sheep that can be run in different areas, with ewes on harder hills limited in cases to 47kg to 50kg, while on better-quality grazing, there may be potential to increase conformation and weight of Scottish Blackface strains and Cheviot ewes, which will improve the quality of progeny longer term. This will also serve as a benefit in selling excess replacement stock with crossbreeding and policy changes surrounding commonage management also increasing demand in recent years for hill replacements.