Superior_Source_Spring_2020

INDUSTRYWIDE STUDY EMPHASIZES THE BENEFITS OF TECHNOLOGY

Of course, the same analysis applies for the high-performing brood stock. Lambs weighing more than 120 pounds represented 20 percent of the lambs pro- duced and could have generated an addi- tional $9,500 of revenue. Tying these lambs back to both specific ewes and rams can provide extremely valuable informa- tion to identify the right ewe lambs to keep as replacements. Perhaps even more economically sig- nificant for the com- mercial producer

small snapshot of the information gleaned from this study. But it is clear that using genetic selection tools such as Flock54 S- M and EID tag technology will provide sig- nificant advantages to producers. If you would like to read the study in full, please contact me and I will be glad to share the full report. Additionally, if you would like to implement Flock54 SM and EID tag technology in your flock, please reach out with questions. 

Lesa Eidman Director of Producer Resources and Sustainability Lesa.Eidman@superiorfarms.com Superior Farms was actively engaged in the “Leading Edge Genetic Selection Demonstration Project,” a study that has been widely followed in the sheep indus- try. This study used genetic testing tech- nology to identify the sire of each lamb, accurately follow the growth and efficien- cies of the lambs from birth to harvest, and demonstrate the value of using sires with known genetic characteristics. There were many findings in the study that have a significant impact to produc- tion efficiencies at the farm level. Specifi- cally, the benefits of identifying individ- ual animals with electronic identification (EID) and utilizing the Flock54 SM genetic test to verify parentage and identify genet- ic traits of the animals. Using the tag and genetic technology to identify the bottom 10 percent of the ewes producing light or no lambs will have a significant financial return to producers. So often, we rely on averages in our industry. And while the average weight of the lambs being sold sound better than last year’s, it is imperative to realize that there are significant outliers on either side of the average. As an example, with an average weaning weight of more than 100 pounds, the heaviest weaned lamb was 160 pounds, while the lightest was 54 pounds. But more than 11 percent of the lambs weighed less than 80 pounds. If these lambs had been equal to the average it would have added an additional $5,000 in profit. Tying these underperforming lambs to specific ewes and potentially underperforming rams can help producers identify which brood animals to keep and which to cull.

are the differences observed between the lambs that were twins raised as twins, a twin raised as a single or a single raised as a single, and how that impacted the pounds of marketable lamb weaned per ewe. Even though the average weight of a twin lamb raised as a twin is sig- nificantly lighter than either the single lamb or the twin raised as a single, the total pounds of marketable lamb is nearly doubled. This means that there is an economic advan- tage to selecting ewes that consistently raise and wean twins versus ewes that only wean a single lamb. It is also important to note that, despite the material difference in weight between twins and singles at weaning, the difference was much less at harvest. This is merely a

4 SUPERIOR SOURCE | Spring 2020