40 years of breeding in the UK

Geoff Pollott Senior Lecturer in Bioinformatics and Genetics Survey 2012 Headlines

Decline in purebred ewe numbers continues

Increase in ad hoc crossbred ewes

The continuing rise of the Texel as a terminal sire and as part of a crossbred ewe at the expense of the Suffolk

Further imports of new breeds to Britain and the decline of established British breeds

Yet more new composites Background

 June and December Census data collected annually (well almost!!!).

 No information on breeds or matings.

 In 1970, the newly formed MLC set up study groups to determine technical direction of each species.

 No comprehensive information was available on sheep breeds in Britain – initiated 1st survey at tupping 1971.

 Subsequent surveys carried out in 1987,1996, 2003 and 2012.

The last 40 years in context

Total sheep numbers in Britain – June census

45 England Wales 75 breeds 40

Millions England & Wales Scotland 35 90 breeds Britain 60 breeds 30

25 30 breeds

20

15

10

5

0 1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 The rise of the crossbred

80 Purebred 70 Crossbred 60

50

40

30

Percentage ofewes 20

10

0 1971 1987 1996 2003 2012

Britain - Source: MLC/Defra/EBLEX Sheep Breed Surveys Changing hill breed numbers

3.5 All Cheviots Swaledale 3

Millions Roughfell 2.5 Horn Welsh Mountain 2 Hardy Specklefaced Hill ewes as a proportion of all ewes Beulah declined from 57% in 1971 to 31% in 2012 1.5

1

0.5

0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Disappearing purebreds?

1971 1987 1996 2003 2012 12 28 13 5 4 Romney TheMarsh results294 presented 217 159 165 201at 127 51 6 7 4 Devon andSBRT Cornwall Longwool 2013 290 were28 4 2 2 Whitefaced Dartmoor 39 1 6 5 4 Greyfacedpreliminary Dartmoor 33 results 4 3 from4 4 Hampshire Down 1 15 2 8 7 Southdownthe survey. 7A full4 9report 7 9 Clun Forest 401 124 44 12 10 Dorset Hornwill be available59 124 in17 due12 11 Kerryhill 209 47 2 13 10 Llanwenogcourse. 20 3 10 6 7 Total 1,492 646 273 247 273 Overall breed changes in 40 years

New Lost Newly Lost Compo comp compo Year UK Imported imported imported sites osites sites Total 1971 ~50 1 1 ~52 1987 58 1 8 0 1 5 0 73 1996 58 7 6 2 4 0 2 75 2003 58 13 10 0 4 3 0 88 2012 59 18 5 5 5 3 2 90 30 12 The era of the imported breed?

30 breeds imported over 40 years - 5 not found in 2012

~ 545,000 ewes of imported breeds found in 2012

~ 20% of all non-hill ewes The rise of the Texel ewe

2,000 Estimated purebred Texel ewe numbers Texel1,800 not Estimatedfound crossbred in 1971 Texel ewe surveynumbers Thousands 1,600 The results presented at “In 1973,1,400 thirteen Lanarkshire sheep breeders joined forces1,200 withSBRT ABRO to2013 import twentywere-seven preliminary Texel females1,000 and thirteen rams from France.”

800 results from the survey. A full 600 report will be available in due 400

200 course.

0 1971 1987 1996 2003 2012 Terminal sire purebred ewe numbers

500 Suffolk 450 Texel 400 The results presented at

Thousands Charollais 350 SBRT 2013 were preliminary 300 250 results from the survey. A full 200 150 report will be available in due 100 course. 50 0 1971 1987 1996 2003 2012 Terminal sire crossbred ewe numbers

2000 Suffolk 1800 Texel 1600 Charollais

Thousands The results presented at 1400 1200 SBRT 2013 were 1000 800 preliminary results from the 600 survey. A full report will be 400 200 available in due course. 0 1971 1987 1996 2003 2012 Changes in regular crossbred ewe types (000)

1971 1987 1996 2003 2012 North Country 311 3,233 3,809 1,915 2,094 Welsh Mule The results 370 631presented 738 330 at Scots Mule 502 263 610 231 Greyface SBRT214 2013332 156 were 212 90 Welsh Halfbred 304 410 250 130 28 Scottish Halfbred preliminary590 346 162results 100 from19 Masham 406 249 162 56 32 Suffolk x Mule/HB thetype 550survey. 603 495A full590 report 622 Texel x Mule/HB typewill be0 available32 220 307in due862 Suffolk x Hill 154 182 115 81 154 Texel x Hill course.0 25 28 92 76

Total 2,529 6,284 6,291 4,831 4,538 A move towards more efficient sheep?

Lleyn 500 450 400 350 300 The results presented at 250

200 Thousands 150 SBRT 2013 were 100 50 0 preliminary results from 70 1971 1987 1996 2003 Bluefaced2012 Leicester the survey.60 Charollais A full report 50 will be 40available in due

30 Thousands course.20 10

0 1971 1987 1996 2003 2012 Composites – many a dashed dream?

12 composites introduced in 40 years - 4 disappeared The results presented at MeatlincSBRT - the most 2013 enduring were ~ 3,000 preliminary ewes

Easycareresults - the up andfrom coming the ~ 20,000survey. ewes A full report will be available in due course. Conclusions and discussion points

Stratified crossbreeding structure still found

Balance shifting towards crossbreds

Many ‘irregular’ crossbreds

New breeds and composites still appearing

Breeds with real traits to offer find a place