Page 9 - Commercial Suffolks 2019

A Suffolk ram bred as part of the Ortum Flock in Lincolnshire

leads for Muscle Depth EBV in the RamCompare Results
op ram for Muscle Depth Estimated From the two years of data collected
Breeding Value (EBV) on RamCompare at Hutts Farm, shown in the chart, you
T this year is Suffolk ram 78X:17:00839 can see the strong correlation between
bred by Richard Garner’s Ortum flock based the Muscle Depth EBV of the sire with
near Horncastle, Lincolnshire. He is one of the the progeny’s adjusted muscle depth
highest ever recorded in the first four years of measurement. Ortum 78X:17:00839
the project and has been used for two years clearly had the highest Muscle Depth
at Hutts Farm based in Ripon, Yorkshire which EBV when compared with other rams on
is one of the RamCompare commercial farm test (a combination of Texels, Charollais
partners. Their organic North of England and Meatlincs).
Mule flock lambs outdoors in May, with
lambs finished off forage wherever possible. The genetic progress seen in the Ortum
Sires, including the Ortum Suffolk ram, were flock makes them a leading recorded
selected with high levels of muscling to Suffolk flock for this trait. It is not just
compliment these maternal genetics. the EBVs, which have gone up – the
physical measurements collected have
For Richard, the use of ultrasound scanning increased over time too. The average
to select sheep for superior muscle depth Ortum lamb today has an extra 2mm
has been a major breeding objective and of muscle at scanning (compared to
within the Suffolk breed, 78X:17:00839 sits 2002-2005), which might sound modest
in the top 1% for Muscle Depth EBV – as well – but is equivalent to an increasing in
as being Top 1% for CT Lean Weight and muscling of around 5-7% of the overall
Terminal Sire Index. carcase. ■
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