challenges to moving to a performance-based flock
DESCRIPTION
This is the fourth presentation from a six-part webinar series on the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP). The presenter is Bill Shultz, an Ohio Suffolk breeder. The presentation was given on May 22, 2014.TRANSCRIPT
Challenges of Moving to a Performance Based Flock: Experiences from the Field
Bill Shultz
FULL DISCLOSURE• I am not a scientist versed in the theory of quantitative
genetics• I am a breeder who focused for the past 50 years on
raising traditional purebred registered sheep• I faced many challenges changing to a performance
based flock•Many of my thoughts may be anecdotal, but they are
based on my experiences • I hope that they will be helpful
SIXTY YEARS…
…CAN MAKE FOR
HARD TO
BREAK HABITS
MY REASON FOR CHANGING
•Belief that purebred breeders should be the catalyst for genetic change for the commercial sheep industry•Loss of focus by our major breeds to address the needs of the commercial producer•The speed of genetic change though the use of EBVs as demonstrated by other species
MY THREE BIGGEST CHALLENGES
1. Disappointment in my results in the early years2. My better management didn’t make better
numbers! 3. It’s hard changing selection criteria!
CHALLENGE #1: Disappointing Results
I thought I had a “LAKE WO-BE-GON” flock, where: all my rams grew like weeds,
all my ewes milked like cows, and all my lambs were above average…
THE COMPUTER DOESN’T CARE…
…that I had been breeding sheep for 50 years…that I had exhibited champions from coast to coast…that I paid high dollars for Champion rams…that I was recognized as a an elite breeder
THE COMPUTER DOESN’T CARE !!!
THE NSIP COMPUTER…
…thinks that your sheep are average, until you can prove differently with quality data
THREE REASONS FOR MY DISSAPOINTMENT…
1. My sheep weren’t as good as I thought2. I was not very patient 3. I did not have any genetic links
My
BIG FAT LOSER
The sire of champions
My
LUCKY WINNER
The sire of performance
PlusGenetic links
GENETIC LINKS• The pedigree connection between sheep
•Genetic links connect your flock with other flocks
WAYS TO CREATE GENETIC LINKS
1. Buy a young Stud from an NSIP flock (most common)
2. Share a Stud with an NSIP flock (most preferred)• Use an older proven Stud• Purchase a Stud jointly • Use artificial insemination
BUY, BEG, LEASE or STEAL
Whatever it takes, find a way to exchange genetics with a participating NSIP flock
DON’T BE A BUTTHEAD, FIND A FRIEND OR TWO
•Develop a relationship with a NSIP breeder or two who share your vision and goals
•Regularly share Rams (and Ideas)
CHALLENGE #2: Better Management Doesn’t
Lead to Better Numbers
The fallacy of what I learned in 4-H: Better husbandry does NOT make a better sheep.
YOU CAN’T MANAGE FOR HIGHER EBVs
• In the show-ring philosophy, feeding and management after a lamb is born is just as important as genetics
• In the NSIP philosophy, one of the goals is to reduce the impact of management and environmental factors when comparing animals
MY AH-HA MOMENT
•That all true BREEDING VALUES are set at conception•You can’t change them
HOWEVER, MANAGEMENT STILL
MATTERS
Better management can’t change BV’s however it can improve the accuracy our EBVs ( our estimates of true breeding values)
WHY ARE ACCURACIES IMPORTANT ?
•Higher accuracies help you make better selection decisions•Which ewes to keep as replacements •Which Rams to use as Sires
•Higher accuracies mean the sheep you sell perform as advertised•Happy repeat customers
KEYS TO MORE ACCURATE EBVs
•Develop strong contemporary group strategies
•A contemporary group is a set of lambs from your farm that are all managed the same
THE CONTEMPORARY GROUP IS THE BASIS OF ALL
COMPARISONS
1)All other comparisons are made though genetic links2) No comparisons can be made between flocks or contemporary groups unless you have genetic links
My three tips for stronger
contemporaries• Shorten lambing periods
•Use at least two rams in each contemporary group
•Use a proven ram in each group
•Comparing your raw data to your neighbors
•Comparing this year’s data to last years data
DANGER!!!
DON’T INCREASE YOUR HAT SIZE
Resist the temptation to quote raw data
CHALLENGE #3: Thinking Function Not
Form
1) It’s not a beauty contest
2) If it works keep it
My old traditional way of sheep selection
BIG, THICK, HEAVY BONED SHEEP = FAST GROWING, HEAVY MUSCLED SHEEP
LET FUNCTION DESCRIBE FORM
My new standard
LAMBS THAT WEIGH MORE AND SCAN LARGER LOIN EYE MUSCLE = FAST GROWING, HEAVY MUSCLED SHEEP
LET FUNCTION DESCRIBE FORM
TRANSFORMING MY SELECTION PROCESS
THE OLD1) Identify my top lambs early and watch them grow2) After EBVs are back adjust who my top lambs are3) Make final ranking of lambs
THE NEW4) Do nothing until EBVs are back5) Select top performing lambs based on EBVs6) Adjust ranking based on appearance7) Make final ranking
•Set acceptable standards for traits such as: breed character, eyes, mouths, testicles, udders, feet and legs
•They either meet the standard or are off to slaughter
TRANSFORMING MY SELECTION PROCESS
CAN I SHOW AND BE ON NSIP?
YES, BUT…Be realistic with your expectations
WE TRIED TO DO BOTH(WE FAILED)
•We could not move fast enough with our EBVs for performance traits
•We looked at what was happening in the beef industry with commercial bull producers
SELECTION CRITERIA FOR SUFFOLKS
SHOW• FRAME SIZE• FEET AND LEG
CORRECTNESS•PROFILE, STYLE,
BALANCE•BREED TYPE
PERFORMANCE•GROWTH•MUSCLE• FEET AND LEG
CORRECTNESS
•Marked improvement in the productivity of your show flock
•Difficulty in keeping pace with strictly performance oriented flocks
WHAT TO EXPECT
LAST ARROW IN MY QUIVER
With EBVs we have the opportunity to create a new paradigm in how we view and select our sheep. If we wish to meet the demands of our ever changing industry we must be
willing to change.
IT WILL DEMAND BREAKING MANY HABITS LONG PRACTICED
Genetic selection 1974Champion Suffolk Ram Eastern Stud Ram Sale
Genetic selection 2014High indexing Suffolk ram