DOCSLIB.ORG

Relationships Between Lamb Carcass Quality Traits Measured by X-Ray Computed Tomography and Current UK Hill Sheep Breeding Goals

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Relationships Between Lamb Carcass Quality Traits Measured by X-Ray Computed Tomography and Current UK Hill Sheep Breeding Goals Edinburgh Research Explorer Relationships between lamb carcass quality traits measured by X-ray computed tomography (CT) and current UK-hill sheep breeding goals. Citation for published version: Lambe, NR, Conington, J, Bishop, SC, McLean, KA, Bünger, L, McLaren, A & Simm, G 2008, 'Relationships between lamb carcass quality traits measured by X-ray computed tomography (CT) and current UK-hill sheep breeding goals.', Animal, vol. 2, pp. 36-43. Link: Link to publication record in Edinburgh Research Explorer Document Version: Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Published In: Animal Publisher Rights Statement: Copyright The Animal Consortium 2008 General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Edinburgh Research Explorer is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy The University of Edinburgh has made every reasonable effort to ensure that Edinburgh Research Explorer content complies with UK legislation. If you believe that the public display of this file breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 01. Oct. 2021 Animal (2008), 2:1, pp 36–43 & The Animal Consortium 2008 animal doi: 10.1017/S1751731107001061 Relationships between lamb carcass quality traits measured by X-ray computed tomography and current UK hill sheep breeding goals - N. R. Lambe1 , J. Conington1, S. C. Bishop2, K. A. McLean1,L.Bu¨ nger1, A. McLaren1 and G. Simm1 1Sustainable Livestock Systems Group, SAC, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK; 2Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS, UK (Received 21 May 2007; Accepted 16 October 2007) Genetic parameters were estimated between current UK hill sheep breeding goals and lamb carcass composition and muscularity traits derived using X-ray computed tomography (CT). To produce these estimates, a total of 648 lambs from two hill farms were CT scanned at weaning (ca 120 days of age), over 3 years, and total weights of carcass muscle (MUSC), fat (CFAT) and bone (BONE) and internal fat (IFAT) were predicted. Previously derived muscularity indices were also calculated for the hind leg (HLMI) and lumbar (LRMI) regions, to assess muscle shape. Data for current breeding goals (lamb performance and maternal traits) were also included from a total of 10 297 lamb records and 12 704 ewe records. Heritabilities were estimated for each trait and genetic and phenotypic correlations were calculated between each CT trait and other lamb or ewe traits. Moderate to high positive genetic correlations were found between CT-predicted tissue weights and breeding goals, which were also weights (lamb weaning weight, carcass weight, mature ewe weight, average weight of lambs reared by the ewe). CFAT was positively genetically correlated with ultrasound backfat depth at weaning (UFD) and subjective fatness grade at slaughter (MLCF), suggesting that carcass fat could be decreased using selection on any of these predictors. Ultrasound muscle depth at weaning (UMD) and subjective conformation score at slaughter (MLCC) had high genetic correlations with the muscularity indices (HLMI and LRMI), but correlations with MUSC were not significantly different from zero. This implies that selection to improve MLCC is likely to be increasing the ‘roundness’ of muscle shape in the high-priced carcass region, but having little impact on total lean meat yield. Correlations of CT traits with the other ewe traits (number of lambs weaned, number of lambs lost, longevity, fleece weight) were generally small or not significantly different from zero. The genetic parameters generated in this study can now be used in selection index calculations to assess the benefits of including lamb CT traits in future selection programmes for hill sheep. Keywords: body composition, carcass composition, computed tomography, genetic parameters, sheep Introduction progress observed is due to improvements in maternal traits, such as number of lambs weaned and lamb survival, Selection of an experimental line of hill sheep using a multi- alongside increased weights of lambs at marketing trait index that includes both maternal and lamb perfor- (Conington et al., 2004). However, improvements in carcass mance traits has resulted in economic improvements when quality traits have not been evident as a result of 7 years of compared with a control line, on two experimental hill selection on this index in the two experimental flocks. farms of contrasting environmental severity (Conington Minimal changes have been observed between the selec- et al., 2006a). This research has been used as the basis for tion and control lines in traits such as subjective fatness and recommendations to the UK hill sheep sector and com- conformation scores awarded at the abattoir (Conington mercial hill sheep breeding programmes have adopted this et al., 2006a), weights of fat, muscle and bone, or index for selection of breeding stock (www.bfelite.co.uk, muscularity traits as measured using X-ray computed www.scottishsheepstrategy.org.uk). Much of the economic tomography (CT) scanning (Lambe et al., 2007). At present, the breeding goal traits in the index include subjective - E-mail: [email protected] fatness and conformation scores, which are predicted from 36 Relationships of hill lamb CT traits with UK breeding goals ultrasound fat and muscle depths on live lambs at weaning. Table 1 Count of lambs scanned within each farm, genetic line and These previous studies have suggested that including CT- year and total number of sires represented within each line on each derived traits in place of subjective carcass grades as farm breeding goals would preferentially accelerate improvement Farm 1 Farm 2 of carcass traits. Heritabilities have been estimated for several CT-derived Total no. Total no. traits in hill lambs scanned at weaning, including predicted LINE 2003 2004 2005 of sires 2003 2004 2005 of sires weights of fat, muscle and bone in the carcass, internal fat, S 616350112419205 and muscle shape traits (Conington et al., 2006b). However, C 806654132520186 before these traits can be included in the selection index for I 1816546 0 hill sheep, genetic and phenotypic relationships with the R- 810154 8109 3 traits included in the current index must be estimated. The Total 167 155 173 34 57 49 47 14 aim of this study was therefore to estimate genetic para- -R 5 lambs born to matings with reference sires from Blackface Elite. meters for the current ewe and lamb traits in the index (using more animals and family groups that those originally average age (126 days at farm 1, 116 days at farm 2) and used by Conington et al., 2001), and to examine the rela- live weight (31 kg at farm 1, 26 kg at farm 2) at CT scan- tionships among these and CT traits. This information can ning, with similar standard deviations in each of these then be used to facilitate investigation into the relative variates in each line. merits of including CT-derived composition and muscularity The CT scanning procedures for these lambs, comprising traits in future selection programmes for hill sheep. cross-sectional reference scans and spiral scans, were described in full by Lambe et al. (2007). Previously derived prediction equations were used to estimate total weights of Material and methods carcass fat, muscle, bone, and internal fat from cross- Farms and sheep flocks sectional images (Lambe et al., 2006). Image analysis on Scottish Blackface sheep flocks from two SAC research hill spiral CT scans allowed calculations of muscle volume in the farms of contrasting severity, that have been described in hind leg and the lumbar region, as described by Navajas et al. detail previously (Conington et al., 2001 and 2006a), were (2006), and linear dimensions of the femur bone and spine, involved in the study. Both flocks were comprised of which were combined to produce values for muscularity approximately 600 ewes. Performance and pedigree data have indices in the hind leg (HLMI) and lumbar region (LRMI) for been collected at farm 1 since 1991 and at farm 2 since 1996. each lamb, following the method of Navajas et al. (2007). Within each flock, three genetic lines were run together: Increased values for these muscularity indices represented a the selection (S), control (C) and industry (I) lines. In the S greater volume of muscle relative to the length of the bone line, animals retained for breeding were selected according that it surrounds (De Boer et al., 1974; Purchas et al., 1991). to the highest score in a multi-trait selection index devel- oped by Conington et al. (2001, 2004 and 2006a). Animals were selected for breeding in the C line with average index Data set scores, and in the I line using normal commercial (visual) A summary of the traits studied, and the data available for means. Selection within these genetic lines began in 1998 each of these traits, is shown in Table 2. This included CT with the first lambs born into the lines in 1999. In addition, data from the 648 lambs, combined with further production on both farms, 40 ewes per year were mated by artificial data from 10 297 lambs from farm 1 and 5393 lambs from insemination to rams from the UK Blackface sire reference farm 2. Ewe production records were also included from scheme – Blackface Elite – to provide genetic links with farm 1 (7332 records) and farm 2 (5372 records). other commercial flocks (lambs referred to as line R). For one lamb with very low fat levels, carcass fat (CFAT) was predicted as negative, using the established prediction equation, and for another lamb internal fat (IFAT) was CT scanning predicted as negative. Since a negative tissue weight is not A sample of lambs from each farm were CT scanned in 2003, biologically possible, these two values were set to zero.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • English Nature Research Report
    3.2 Grazing animals used in projects 3.2.1 Species of gradng animals Some sites utilised more than one species of grazing animals so the results in Table 5 are based on 182 records. The majority of sites used sheep and/or cattle and these species were used on an almost equal number of sites, Ponies were also widely used but horses and goats were used infrequently and pigs were used on just 2 sites. No other species of grazing livestock was recorded (a mention of rabbits was taken to refer to wild populations). Table 5. Species of livestock used for grazing Sheep Cattle Equines Goats Pigs Number of Sites 71 72 30 7 2 Percentage of Records 39 40 16 4 I 3.2.2 Breeds of Sheep The breeds and crosses of sheep used are shown in Table 6. A surprisingly large number of 46 breeds or crosses were used on the 71 sites; the majority can be considered as commercial, although hardy, native breeds or crosses including hill breeds such as Cheviot, Derbyshire Gritstone, Herdwick, Scottish Blackface, Swaledale and Welsh Mountain, grassland breeds such as Beulah Speckled Face, Clun Forest, Jacob and Lleyn and down breeds such as Dorset (it was not stated whether this was Dorset Down or Dorset Horn), Hampshire Down and Southdown. Continental breeds were represented by Benichon du Cher, Bleu du Maine and Texel. Rare breeds (i.e. those included on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s priority and minority lists) were well represented by Hebridean, Leicester Longwool, Manx Loghtan, Portland, Shetland, Soay, Southdown, Teeswater and Wiltshire Horn.
    [Show full text]
  • DEFRA Blanket Bog Review V021107
    Review of Blanket Bog Management and Restoration TECHNICAL REPORT TO DEFRA PROJECT No. CTE0513 H O’Brien, J C Labadz & D P Butcher Nottingham Trent University School of Animal Rural & Environmental Sciences Brackenhurst Southwell NG25 0QF [email protected] 01636 817017 April 2007 CONTENTS 1 Introduction............................................................................................ 9 1.1 Principal Aims.................................................................................. 9 1.2 Objectives....................................................................................... 9 2 Methodology ......................................................................................... 10 2.1 Published Literature ....................................................................... 10 2.2 Grey Literature .............................................................................. 10 2.3 Interviews..................................................................................... 10 3 Blanket Bog: Definition, Classification and Characteristics........................... 12 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 12 3.2 Definition of Blanket Bog ................................................................ 12 3.3 Classification of Blanket Bogs .......................................................... 14 3.4 Blanket Bog Formation ................................................................... 16 3.5 Hydrology of Blanket Bogs .............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • St.Kilda Soay Sheep & Mouse Projects
    ST. KILDA SOAY SHEEP & MOUSE PROJECTS: ANNUAL REPORT 2009 J.G. Pilkington 1, S.D. Albon 2, A. Bento 4, D. Beraldi 1, T. Black 1, E. Brown 6, D. Childs 6, T.H. Clutton-Brock 3, T. Coulson 4, M.J. Crawley 4, T. Ezard 4, P. Feulner 6, A. Graham 10 , J. Gratten 6, A. Hayward 1, S. Johnston 6, P. Korsten 1, L. Kruuk 1, A.F. McRae 9, B. Morgan 7, M. Morrissey 1, S. Morrissey 1, F. Pelletier 4, J.M. Pemberton 1, 6 6 8 9 10 1 M.R. Robinson , J. Slate , I.R. Stevenson , P. M. Visscher , K. Watt , A. Wilson , K. Wilson 5. 1Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh. 2Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen. 3Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge. 4Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College. 5Department of Biological Sciences, Lancaster University. 6 Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield. 7 Institute of Maths and Statistics, University of Kent at Canterbury. 8Sunadal Data Solutions, Edinburgh. 9Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australia. 10 Institute of Immunity and Infection research, University of Edinburgh POPULATION OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................................... 1 REPORTS ON COMPONENT STUDIES .................................................................................................................... 4 Vegetation ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 Weather during population
    [Show full text]
  • Dynamics of Innovation in Livestock Genetics in Scotland: an Agricultural Innovation Systems Perspective
    Dynamics of Innovation in Livestock Genetics in Scotland: An Agricultural Innovation Systems Perspective Md. Mofakkarul. Islam 1, Alan Renwick 2, Chrysa Lamprinopoulou-Kranis 3, Laurens Klerkx 4 1Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), UK [email protected] 2Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), UK [email protected] 3Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), UK [email protected] 4Wageningen University, Netherlands [email protected] Paper prepared for presentation at the 131st EAAE Seminar ‘Innovation for Agricultural Competitiveness and Sustainability of Rural Areas’, Prague, Czech Republic, September 18-19, 2012 Copyright 2012 by Islam, M. M., Renwick, A., Lamprinopoulou-Kranis, C., and Klerkx, L. All rights reserved. Readers may make verbatim copies of this document for non-commercial purposes by any means, provided that this copyright notice appears on all such copies. Dynamics of Innovation in Livestock Genetics in Scotland: An Agricultural Innovation Systems Perspective Md. Mofakkarul Islam, Alan Renwick, Chrysa Lamprinopoulou-Kranis, Laurens Klerkx Abstract: The application of genetic selection technologies in livestock breeding offers unique opportunities to enhance the productivity, profitability, and competitiveness of the livestock industry in Scotland. However, there is a concern that the uptake of these technologies has been slower in the sheep and beef sectors in comparison to the dairy, pig and poultry sectors. This is rather paradoxical given the fact that Scotland’s research outputs in farm animal genetics are widely perceived to be excellent. A growing body of literature, popularly known as Innovation Systems theories, suggests that technological transformations require a much broader approach that transcends formal research establishments. Accordingly, this paper reports on preliminary work exploring whether and how an agricultural innovation systems perspective could help identify the dynamics of technology uptake in the livestock sectors in Scotland.
    [Show full text]
  • First Report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources"
    "First Report on the State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources" (SoWAnGR) Country Report of the United Kingdom to the FAO Prepared by the National Consultative Committee appointed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Contents: Executive Summary List of NCC Members 1 Assessing the state of agricultural biodiversity in the farm animal sector in the UK 1.1. Overview of UK agriculture. 1.2. Assessing the state of conservation of farm animal biological diversity. 1.3. Assessing the state of utilisation of farm animal genetic resources. 1.4. Identifying the major features and critical areas of AnGR conservation and utilisation. 1.5. Assessment of Animal Genetic Resources in the UK’s Overseas Territories 2. Analysing the changing demands on national livestock production & their implications for future national policies, strategies & programmes related to AnGR. 2.1. Reviewing past policies, strategies, programmes and management practices (as related to AnGR). 2.2. Analysing future demands and trends. 2.3. Discussion of alternative strategies in the conservation, use and development of AnGR. 2.4. Outlining future national policy, strategy and management plans for the conservation, use and development of AnGR. 3. Reviewing the state of national capacities & assessing future capacity building requirements. 3.1. Assessment of national capacities 4. Identifying national priorities for the conservation and utilisation of AnGR. 4.1. National cross-cutting priorities 4.2. National priorities among animal species, breeds,
    [Show full text]
  • ACE Appendix
    CBP and Trade Automated Interface Requirements Appendix: PGA August 13, 2021 Pub # 0875-0419 Contents Table of Changes .................................................................................................................................................... 4 PG01 – Agency Program Codes ........................................................................................................................... 18 PG01 – Government Agency Processing Codes ................................................................................................... 22 PG01 – Electronic Image Submitted Codes .......................................................................................................... 26 PG01 – Globally Unique Product Identification Code Qualifiers ........................................................................ 26 PG01 – Correction Indicators* ............................................................................................................................. 26 PG02 – Product Code Qualifiers ........................................................................................................................... 28 PG04 – Units of Measure ...................................................................................................................................... 30 PG05 – Scientific Species Code ........................................................................................................................... 31 PG05 – FWS Wildlife Description Codes ...........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Selected Readings on the History and Use of Old Livestock Breeds
    NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY ARCHIVED FILE Archived files are provided for reference purposes only. This file was current when produced, but is no longer maintained and may now be outdated. Content may not appear in full or in its original format. All links external to the document have been deactivated. For additional information, see http://pubs.nal.usda.gov. Selected Readings on the History and Use of Old Livestock Breeds United States Department of Agriculture Selected Readings on the History and Use of Old Livestock Breeds National Agricultural Library September 1991 Animal Welfare Information Center By: Jean Larson Janice Swanson D'Anna Berry Cynthia Smith Animal Welfare Information Center National Agricultural Library U.S. Department of Agriculture And American Minor Breeds Conservancy P.O. Box 477 Pittboro, NC 27312 Acknowledgement: Jennifer Carter for computer and technical support. Published by: U. S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library Animal Welfare Information Center Beltsville, Maryland 20705 Contact us: http://awic.nal.usda.gov/contact-us Web site: www.nal.usda.gov/awic Published in cooperation with the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Policies and Links Introduction minorbreeds.htm[1/15/2015 2:16:51 PM] Selected Readings on the History and Use of Old Livestock Breeds For centuries animals have worked with and for people. Cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, poultry and other livestock have been an essential part of agriculture and our history as a nation. With the change of agriculture from a way of life to a successful industry, we are losing our agricultural roots. Although we descend from a nation of farmers, few of us can name more than a handful of livestock breeds that are important to our production of food and fiber.
    [Show full text]
  • Introgression and the Fate of Domesticated Genes in a Wild Mammal
    Adaptive Admixture in Soay Sheep 1 1 Introgression and the Fate of Domesticated Genes in a Wild Mammal This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Feulner PGD, Gratten J, Kijas JW, Visscher 2 Population PM, Pemberton JM & Slate J (2013) Introgression and the fate of domesticated genes in a wild mammal population. Molecular Ecology 22: 4210–4221, which has been published in final form at 10.1111/mec.12378. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with 3 Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving. 4 Philine G.D. Feulner*1,2, Jacob Gratten*1,3, James W. Kijas4, Peter M. Visscher1,5, Josephine 5 M. Pemberton6, Jon Slate1 6 *joint first authors 7 8 1 Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK 9 2 Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306 Ploen, 10 Germany 11 3 The University of Queensland, Queensland Brain Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 12 4 Livestock Industries, CSIRO, Brisbane, Australia 13 5 The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 14 6 Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 15 Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK 16 17 Keywords: admixture; adaptive introgression; Soay sheep; domesticated alleles; natural 18 selection 19 20 Corresponding author: 21 Philine Feulner 22 Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology 23 August-Thienemann-Str. 2 24 24306 Plön 1 Adaptive Admixture in Soay Sheep 2 25 Germany 26 Tel: +49 (0) 4522 763-228 27 Fax: +49 (0) 4522 763-310 28 [email protected] 29 2 Adaptive Admixture in Soay Sheep 3 30 Abstract 31 When domesticated species are not reproductively isolated from their wild relatives, the opportunity 32 arises for artificially selected variants to be re-introduced into the wild.
    [Show full text]
  • SHEEP Blackface Sheep Breeders' Association
    SHEEP Blackface Sheep Breeders’ Association ................. 48 Tay Street, Perth, Scotland. Scottish Blackface Breeders’ Association ............... 1699 H H Hwy., Willow Springs, MO 65793 U.S.A. Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders Association .. Riverside View, Warwick Rd., Carlisle, CA1 2BS Scotland Border Leicester Sheep Breeders ........................... Greenend, St. Boswells, Melrose, TD6 9ES England California Red Sheep Registry ................................ P.O. Box 468, LaPlata, NM 87418 U.S.A. British Charollais, Sheep Society ............................ Youngmans Rd., Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 0RR England Mouton Charollais, Texel & Romanov .................... U.P.R.A., 36, rue du Général Leclerc, 71120 Charolles, France American Cheviot Sheep Society, Inc ..................... R.R. 1, Box 100, Clarks Hill, IN 47930 U.S.A. Cheviot Sheep Society ............................................ 1 Bridge St., Hawick, Scotland North American Clun Forest Association ................ W 5855 Muhlum Rd., Holmen, WI 54636 U.S.A. Columbia Sheep Breeders’ Association of P.O. Box 272, Upper Sandusky, OH America 43351 U.S.A. American Corriedale Association, Inc. .................... Box 391, Clay City, IL 62824 U.S.A. Australian Corriedale Sheep Breeders’ Sydney, N.S.W., Australia. Association Corriedale Sheep Society, Inc. ............................... 154 Hereford St., Christchurch, New Zealand. American Cotswold Record Association ................. 18 Elm St., P.O. Box 59, Plympton, MA 02367 U.S.A. Cotswold Breeders Association .............................
    [Show full text]
  • Beeston Castle Auction
    th 14 April 2017 th 7 June 2019 2017 BEESTON CASTLE AUCTION 308 POULTRY TO £34 7 COUPLES TO £136 HORTICULTURE TO £45 DAIRY TO £2050 665 PRIME, CULL STORE & BREEDING SHEEP 74 CULL COWS TO 156.0p or £1326 33 OLD SEASON LAMBS TO 135.0ppk 4 BUTCHERS CATTLE TO £1147 510 NEW SEASON LAMB TO 260.0ppk 74 STORE CATTLE TO £1190 108 CULL EWES AND RAMS TO £100 292 CALVES TO £360 297 WEANLINGS TO £850 SALES & TIMES NEXT WEEK AT BEESTON Every Monday BEESTON POULTRY SALE 10.00am Poultry EVERY MONDAY 2nd and 4th Monday Sale starts at 10am 10.30am Prime and Store Pigs rd Includes eggs and sundries 3 Monday Monthly To follow poultry Caged Birds BEESTON HORTICULURE SALE Every Wednesday EVERY WEDNESDAY From 10.30am Horticulture Sale starts at 10.30am st 1 Wednesday monthly From 9.30am Machinery & Implements BEESTON WEEKLY DAIRY SALE nd th 2 and 4 Wednesday monthly THURSDAY 13th JUNE - 11.00 AM From 10.00am Equine and Saddlery A SHOW & SALE Every Thursday Of Pedigree and Commercial Holstein Cattle and 8.30am Calves Youngstock which also includes a Special Section 10.00am Cull Cows for SHORTHORNS this week. Entries for 11.00am Dairy sale cataloguing to 01829 262120 11.15am (approx.) Prime Cattle 12 noon Store Cattle 12 noon Prime Lambs followed by Cull Ewes 12 noon Produce (Hay, Straw etc) 1.00pm Store and Breeding sheep Jj For further enquiries 1st and 3rd Thursday Monthly www.wrightmarshall.co.uk 1.30pm approx. Weanlings 308 POULTRY 10.00am Auctioneer Dafydd Williams 07775868821 308 forward for a pleasing sale with a great variety on offer.
    [Show full text]
  • UK National Action Plan on Farm Animal Genetic Resources November 2006 Front Cover Photos: Top Left: Holstein Cattle Grazing (Courtesy of Holstein UK)
    UK National Action Plan on Farm Animal Genetic Resources November 2006 Front Cover Photos: Top Left: Holstein cattle grazing (Courtesy of Holstein UK). Top Right: British Milk Sheep halfbred with triplets (Courtesy of Lawrence Alderson). Bottom Left: Tamworth pig in bracken (Courtesy of Dunlossit Estate, Islay). Bottom Right: Red Dorking male (Photograph by John Ballard, Courtesy of The Cobthorn Trust). UK National Action Plan on Farm Animal Genetic Resources November 2006 Presented to Defra and the Devolved Administrations by the National Steering Committee for Farm Animal Genetic Resources UK National Action Plan on Farm Animal Genetic Resources Contents Foreword 3 1. Executive Summary 4 1.1. Overview 4 1.2. List of recommended actions 4 2. Introduction 11 2.1. Why we need to protect our Farm Animal Genetic Resources 11 2.1.1. Economic, social and cultural importance of the UK’s FAnGR 11 2.1.2. International obligation to protect our FAnGR 14 2.1.3. Impact of national policies on the UK’s FAnGR 14 2.2. Why we need a National Action Plan 15 2.3. Structure of the Plan 16 3. What, and where, are our Farm Animal Genetic Resources? 17 3.1. Introduction 17 3.2. Identification of the UK’s Farm Animal Genetic Resources 17 3.2.1. Describing breeding population structures 17 3.2.2. Creating a UK National Breed Inventory 19 3.2.3. Definition of a breed 19 3.2.4. Characterisation 20 3.2.5. Molecular characterisation 21 3.3. Monitoring 21 3.3.1. Monitoring breeds 22 3.3.2.
    [Show full text]
  • Fresh from the Hills M in T Sa U C E Naturally Reared, Naturally Delicious
    y 440 assured 450 Juicy Chop d e e r b e r u P 3 42 43 44 45 46 47 Expert t n Handling a r r u c d e R 430 Succulent 420 Leg Spectacular 410 Rib 390 400 380 370 360 380 370 390 400 Fresh From The Hills M in t Sa u c e Naturally Reared, Naturally Delicious T T e n d e r n e s s nriva U l led Swee t F la v our 246 Wild Pastures Naturally 172 Fully traceable Reared 136 Roasted Shoulder Professional Breeders Fresh From The Hills The Blackface Breed is the most numerous breed in Britain accounting for over 1.7 million ewes, representing 11% of the British Pure-bred Ewe Flock. Source: 2003 Breed survey With the ability to fit into any farming situation, Blackface Sheep are one of the hardiest breeds in the country. They’re reared on the hills and glens throughout the UK with the majority found in Scotland where they have created and continue to manage the dramatic landscapes for which we are famed. The outstanding qualities of the breed are: • Survivability • Adaptability • Versatility • With an unrivalled ability to produce sweet flavoured, high quality tender meat. 3 Traditionally Reared The breeders of Blackface Sheep are amongst the best stockmen in the world and have years of experience and skill in raising this pedigree breed. The Blackface Sheep Breeders Association (BSBA), with 1,360 paid 29 up members, is not only promoting and marketing the breed but is at the forefront of trying to ensure that hill farming 13 has a viable future.
    [Show full text]