The National Sheep Association will be holding a workshop highlighting the relevance of estimated breeding values (EBVs) in the sheep sector at the YFCU Optimise agricultural conference being held on 23 January 2016.

EBVs provide a measure of the breeding potential of an animal for a specific trait. They take into account performance, the relationships between performance traits and the degree to which traits are inherited from one generation to the next.

Choosing a terminal sire with high EBV figures in the required traits, to match the ewe flock, could potentially lead to an extra profit of around £3.50 per lamb, which could lead to an extra £800 or more in a terminal sire’s lifetime.

Other areas to consider are selecting rams with high litter size EBVs, which will increase lamb numbers produced by their female offspring, as well as selecting for improved maternal ability EBVs, which will ensure that ewes have sufficient milk to rear their lambs.

If a ewe bred from a high maternal index ram has a productive life of four seasons, she could have a lifetime income increase of £25. Can any sheep farmer ignore the potential to earn an extra £2,500 per 100 ewes?

Tickets for the YFCU agri event are available at www.yfcuagriconference2016.eventbrite.co.uk.

For more details, contact Heather Stewart at heather.stewart@yfcu.org.