toolbox
Digital
Cattle and swine breeds have been developing and using digital tools for nearly 30 years… it’s time for sheep producers to explore what is in the digital toolbox for them. The vision of Digital Suffolk was not only to give breeders a modern technology platform for flock management tools and registry but also to provide connectivity for data. Historically, the industry has relied heavily on visual assessment. We can now have even greater impact by transitioning to a combination of visual assessment and genetic selection based on data. Digital Suffolk has partnered with Flock 54 and NSIP to connect the various tools available, to assist producers in their breeding decisions. The U.S. sheep flock will improve significantly as more producers make genetic selections based on genotyping and use of Estimated Breeding Values.
THE SUFFOLK BREED IS COMMITTED TO THE FUTURE OF THE U.S. SHEEP INDUSTRY.
Flock54℠ is a targeted genotyping panel that allows producers to test their flock’s DNA for animal parentage and traits associated with disease, production, and meat quality. This genetic test was created by Superior Farms in coordination with the University of Idaho and will be marketed through RILE Ag. As more commercial producers utilize Flock54, they can match the sires with their lambs, ultimately tracing the lambs through harvest. Pairing this genetic tool with the camera grading technology at processing plants will The National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) provides predictable, economically important genetic evaluation information by converting performance records into relevant decision- making tools. Through the use of Estimated Breeding Values, or EBVs, purebred and seedstock producers can identify superior genetics to greatly accelerate progress within the breed. By purchasing breeding stock with EBVs, commercial producers can use specific traits for improving the productivity and profitability of their flocks. Estimated Breeding Values are science-based, industry-tested measurements of heritable traits that can be tracked and measured through on-
enable producers to identify the sires that yield a higher quality, more consistent meat product.
LEARN MORE: WWW.FLOCK54.COM
farm data collection. The performance of the individual animal, related animals in the same flock, and related animals in other flocks are all merged in the dataset to determine EBVs. In addition to specific EBVs, NSIP has grouped certain traits together into indexes for selecting breeding stock suited to particular situations. EBVs for Suffolks: Weaning Weight (WWT), Post Weaning Weight (PWWT), Loin Eye Muscle Depth (EMD), Fat Depth (FAT), Fecal Egg Count, Carcass + Index
LEARN MORE: WWW.NSIP.ORG
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