Our
Pedigree Sheep Flock History
We
have been breeding pedigree Île De France sheep, Texel
sheep and Suffolk sheep for over 20 years on our farm at
Chapelizod, Kells, County Kilkenny, in the southeast of
Ireland.
Our
aim from the outset was to provide Hardy Pedigree Rams
for use in our 600 ewe commercial sheep flock. To that
end we purchased quality ewes in each breed, which provided
the foundation from which we produced our rams needs, and
subsequently other farmers needs.
Ram
Breeding policy
Our
policy is to produce top quality Hardy Pedigree Rams
bred and fed to work in commercial Texel, Suffolk and
Île De France flocks under commercial conditions.
All
of our pedigree rams are run alongside the 600 ewe commercial
flock; which lamb in late February and early March. No concentrates
are fed to ewes post lambing and only small amounts of creep
fed to lambs.
Lambs
which exhibit potential are selected at weaning in June
and provided they have HIGH LMI figures are retained
for breeding.
Some
are sold as Pedigree Ram lambs, but the majority are used
on the commercial ewes and allowed to develop naturally.
These are then sold as shearlings the following year.
Pedigree
Sheep Breed Improvement Programme
The
Irish Department of Agriculture weigh and ultrasound scan
our ram lambs each year to identify the Estimated Breeding
Values (E.B.V) for growth rate, muscle and fat depth. Pedigree
Rams exhibiting above average results are awarded an LMI figure
of 100 or more.
This
has allowed for better decision-making and rapid improvement
in genetic commercial traits in our flocks.
"Rams
with higher LMI values, sire lambs with a higher growth
rate".
Pedigree
Ram Sales
We
prefer to sell our Pedigree Rams from home, as this allows
the potential customer to view our rearing system and the
flock that produces hardy rams bred and fed to work.
Visiting
the farm allows the customers to discuss their varying requirements
and visualise ram potential under real commercial conditions.
Flock
Health Status
We
have a Closed Flock into which no female sheep have been
introduced in the last ten years.
- Covexine
10 is used to prevent clostridial diseases.
- Toxovax
is used on all replacement breeding females.
- All
of our pedigree sheep are scrapie genotyped.
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